PNR Commuter Trains Return

NAGA CITY (5 September) - - THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAYS (PNR) commuter train will service passengers from Ligao City in Albay, to Naga City and Sipocot town in Camarines Sur, during the Peñafrancia Week festival this month.

PNR manager Emmanuel "Ower" Andal revealed in a briefing with newsmen at the PNR site here on Friday (Sept. 4) that initially the PNR-rehabilitation of the Southrail portion from Quezon province to Bikol, had an initial budget release of some P 500 - Million in funds, but total rehabilitation cost could reach P 2 - Billion.

Andal stated that under the current budget, train diesel-engines had been reconditioned with 18 train coaches having been refurbished at about P 5 - Million. Also included in the budget was the reconstruction of the Naga Central Station at the cost of some P 24 - Million, while similar reconstruction of other major train stations in Camarines Sur and Quezon provinces were undertaken.

Initially, a commuter train will service passengers during the Peñafrancia week to help decongest passengers using land transports but only on the train's limited route, he added.

The PNR manager also noted that critical sections of the railway repairs in the Southrailway route are the softened rail-tracks in Lupi and Del Gallego section, while two major bridges in Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay and in San Cristobal, Calamba have to be reconstructed, after the structures were destroyed by previous typhoons.

The delays on the railway-tracks work are due to the awaited delivery of imported clips from South Korea which are vital in holding the rails and in the installation of concrete ties on the rail-tracks, Andal explained.

Major reforms in the work-force of the PNR are also being implemented with the retirement of the majority of some 1,700 old employees serving the railways since 1970s; they will be replaced by younger personnel to operate the new facilities.

He also said that despite some delays, the Bikol-Manila route of the PNR will start to service commuters by March 2010.