PNR trains idled; rails checked for stolen parts

THE DERAILMENT of two cars of a southbound train last week prompts the PNR to halt operations starting May 5 to give way to the inspection of the entire length of its operational railroad tracks, which spans 60 kilometers. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

BETWEEN 60,000 and 70,000 daily riders of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) will have to look for other means of getting to their destinations after the agency announced the indefinite suspension of its train operations starting May 5.

PNR assistant general manager Diosdado N. Silva said on Tuesday all train operations were on hold to give way to the inspection of the agency’s operational railroad tracks

—spanning a length of 60 kilometers—following last week’s derailment.

According to PNR spokesperson Paul de Quiros, scheduled to be checked was the stretch of tracks between the stations in Tutuban, Manila, and Calamba, Laguna.

He said in an interview that particular attention would be given to bolts, angle bars and rail clips. Concrete rail ties and other parts would also be inspected, he added.

“Replacement of parts or repairs will be done as needed,” De Quiros stated, adding that the company would update the public on future developments. The resumption of operations would also depend on the results of the inspection, he said.

On April 29, two cars of a southbound PNR train headed for Muntinlupa City were derailed around 3:50 p.m. between the Edsa and Nichols stations. De Quiros said 70 passengers were injured and taken to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The derailment was caused by missing angle bars and rail clips used to support rails and rail joints—parts believed to have been stolen, he added.

Earlier, the PNR announced it would spend about P2.5 billion this year to upgrade and refurbish existing infrastructure, among other plans, to increase ridership.

Only recently, the National Economic and Development Authority approved two projects worth P288 billion—the 36.7-km North-South Commuter Railway from Tutuban to Malolos, Bulacan, and the 653-km North-South Railway project-South Line (Manila to Legazpi City, Albay province).

Construction of the North-South Commuter Railway is expected to begin by the first quarter of 2017 and end by the third quarter of 2020. Under the project, which is anticipated to raise daily ridership to 340,000 passengers by 2020, there will be 15 stations with an estimated travel time of 35 minutes.

The Department of Transportation and Communications said the larger North-South Railway Project-South Line will include long-haul railway operations stretching from Tutuban, Manila, to Legazpi, Albay; the branch line between Calamba and Batangas, and an extension between Legaspi City and Matnog, Sorsogon.

Initially, however, the project will consist of commuter railway operations between Tutuban and Calamba, Laguna. Construction is estimated to begin in the first quarter of next year with the start of operations by the first quarter of 2020.