Airconditioned train rides from PNR to be available by March

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation and Communications will launch a special coach service for the Philippine National Railways line to help ease road congestion by March, the DOTC has just announced.

The DOTC said on Wednesday the service would help commuters and drivers affected by the construction of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 and the NAIA Expressway, and would be made available by March 3.

The special coach service will make use of air-conditioned train sets with features to ensure passenger convenience such as fixed seating, on-board comfort rooms, reclining seats and a lounge section, according to the DOTC.  The service would accommodate 120 people per trip, the DOTC.

“This is one of the DOTC’s first efforts towards easing the present traffic situation in Manila, Makati, Pasay, and other affected areas especially in the southern part of the metropolis.  Instead of taking private vehicles, motorists will now have a more efficient alternative,” DOTC spokesperson Michael Sagcal said.

“We are also working on other solutions, which we will be ready to implement as our infrastructure projects are rolled out later this

year to 2015,” he added.

PNR General Manager Joseph Allan Dilay said that “the Special Coach service is part of our program to revive the old glory of PNR, and to deliver improved services to the public.”

It will also enable riders from the south to take a reliable and faster means of transport into the heart of Metro Manila, according to Dilay.

The DOTC statement has provided details on the project.  In its initial phase, the special coach service will run four times per day, with the following schedules:

• Depending on ridership turnout, the PNR will evaluate whether it will be feasible to increase the number of trips further in order to serve more passengers.  The special fare will range from P 60.00 to P 90.00.

• To get to the Buendia station in Makati, it takes 31 minutes from the Tutuban station and one hour and fifteen minutes from the Sta. Rosa station.

• To further help in lessening the expected gridlock, the PNR will also extend its commuter rail’s normal operating hours from the current 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. to a longer period of 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Currently, the railway’s commuter line serves an average of 65,000 passengers on 70 trips per day.

RELATED STORIES

Malacañang asks for united sacrifice as Skyway 3 construction starts

Traffic rerouting options laid out due to Skyway 3 construction