PNR eyes UV Express units to cover train routes during halted operations

The inaugural run of the new Philippine National Railway train at Dela Rosa station in Makati City on January 28, 2021. RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is looking to tap UV Express units to cover train routes affected by its suspended operations in Metro Manila starting March 28.

The UV Express will add to the current deployment of buses plying along several affected train routes which the PNR earlier arranged in collaboration with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“We do not want to flood the streets with buses […] so we are considering if it would be possible to add UV Express (units) to the current number of buses,” PNR chairperson Michael Macapagal told INQUIRER.net in an interview on Tuesday. He also said around 30, 000 commuters use the PNR in Metro Manila.

The PNR said eight to 10  buses are currently deployed to cover the affected train routes. Bus fares, however, are “a little bit more than the trains,” according to Macapagal. In a text message, the PNR official said bus fare would be P15 for the first five kilometers (km) and that P2.65 will be added to the base price for every succeeding km.

READ: PNR to suspend Metro Manila operations for 5 years starting March 28

PNR’s bus augmentation program will run for five years, while PNR operations in Metro Manila are suspended. Macapagal said the LTFRB has granted 25 bus operators a five-year franchise to operate along the affected PNR routes. Their full deployment is set for March 28.

A previous Inquirer report enumerated the routes under the PNR’s bus augmentation program. These are:

• Southbound:

Divisoria (Tutuban), Mayhaligue Street, Abad Santos Avenue, Recto Avenue, Legarda Street, Quirino Avenue, Nagtahan Flyover, Mabini Bridge, Quirino Avenue, Osmeña Highway, Nichols Entry, SLEX, Bicutan Exit, Bicutan Entry, and Alabang (Starmall).

• Northbound:

The northbound buses will pass through Alabang (Starmall), Manila South Road, East Service Road, Alabang (Entry), SLEX, Bicutan Exit, Bicutan Entry, Nichols Exit, Osmeña Highway, Quirino Avenue, Legarda Street, Recto Avenue, Abad Santos Avenue, Mayhaligue Street, and Divisoria (Tutuban).

The Tutuban-Alabang (Southbound) bus trips will start at 7:30 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 3:00 p.m., 3:20 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. while the Alabang-Tutuban (Northbound) bus trips will start at 5:00 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 11:00 am, 11:45 a.m., 5:00 p.m., and 6:10 p.m.

PNR operation’s 5-year suspension

In a statement released also on Tuesday, Macapaga justified anew the PNR’s decision to halt its operations in the capital region for five years.

He said the suspension  is necessary to allow the construction of the P873.62 billion North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).

READ: PNR: Laguna to Pampanga North-South Commuter Railway done in 2028

The NSCR is a 147 kilometer railway project stretching from Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City in Pampanga province to Metro Manila, and further south to Calamba City in Laguna province.

“We tried to keep certain parts of the route open for as long as we could to minimize the inconvenience, but now that construction work is moving in earnest, we have to stop all train service in Metro Manila. We simply could not risk the safety of our passengers and workers,” Macapagal said.

“Yes, it will be a long haul, but look at the reward that awaits our people for their patience. The clanky, diesel-fed trains will have been replaced by a fleet of electric multiple unit trains, each of which is at par with world standards in terms of safety and comfort,” the PNR official added.

Macapagal said the NSCR project will be able to transport up to 800,000 passengers a day and would reduce travel time from Angeles City to Calamba City by half.