Construction begins for P873-B Clark-Laguna railway project

Philippine National Railways chair Michael Ted Macapagal (left) and Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez (right) hold the map of the railway tracks for the country’s big train project. Photo from DOTr

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Railways (PNR) said the construction for the 147.26-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway Project from Clark in Pampanga to Metro Manila and then to Calamba City in Laguna has begun.

PNR chair Michael Ted Macapagal said the country’s railway project will be completed within the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help in easing traffic problems not inly in Metro Manila but ina nearby provinces. 

The Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency are financing the project at a cost of P873.62 billion.

Acciona-DMCI and Leighton-First Balfor have been awarded the contracts to undertake the construction of elevated rails for commuters and ground-level rails for freight. Three depots and 35 stations will be built along the way.

Marcos and the Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista attended the contract signing ceremony in Malacañang in April 2023.

Two Japanese firms, Sumitomo Corporation and Japan Transport Engineering Company, will provide, initially, a fleet of 13 electric multiple units (trains) with 13 cars each. 

Once the project is completed, PNR will be able to ferry 800,000 passengers everyday safely and in comfort. Travel time on the entire length of the railway system will be cut in half, from four hours to two hours, which also applies to the movement of goods.

Macapagal was appointed to his post on April 28. After taking his oath of office before the secretary of the Department of Transportation, he remarked that Marcos will go down in history as “the father of the Philippine railway system.” 

He said he was grateful for having been given a role in the history making process.  

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