PNR trains back on limited run; gov’t sets sights on South Rail

AFTER being suspended due to a train derailment in April, the operations of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) resumed on a limited scale on Thursday.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said safety concerns earlier raised by third-party consultant TUV Rheinland had been “satisfactorily addressed.”

“However, only the commuter service from Tutuban in Manila to Alabang, Muntinlupa City, will run in the meantime,” the DOTC said, adding that repair works on the stretch from Alabang to Calamba, Laguna province, stretch were still in progress.

PNR, which serves about 70,000 passengers daily, is at the center of the Aquino administration’s biggest public-private partnership project thus far, which aims to revitalize what remains of Southeast Asia’s oldest railway line.

The government recently rolled out the P170.7-billion South Line of the PNR’s North-South Railway Project. The massive deal involves 653 kilometers of railway, including a link from Metro Manila to Legazpi City, Albay province. It is expected to be completed by 2020.

Upon full operations, the DOTC said it would have 10 daily trips with seven train sets passing through 66 stations.

The submission of prequalification documents is set in the fourth quarter of the year. Instructions to prospective bidders will be made available starting Aug. 31.

The private sector partner for the project is expected to design, construct, operate and maintain the existing 56-km commuter rail line from Tutuban to Calamba. It is also expected to do the same for the 478-km long haul rail operations from Tutuban to Legazpi City, with the possible spur lines extension of 58 km from Calamba to Batangas City, and 117 km from Legazpi to Matnog, Sorsogon province.

The department is hoping to award the project before President Aquino steps down in mid-2016. The actual opening of bids will be held in January 2016 while the awarding is set in March.

The winning bidder will operate, maintain, and upgrade the South Line for a 34-year period, which includes the construction phase.