PNR to stop operations starting March 28 to give way for NSCR construction

The operations of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) will stop beginning March 28, Maundy Thursday, to give way for the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told GMA News Online PNR’s closure will be “until the NSCR is completed and starts operations.”

Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Jeremy Regino, meanwhile, said the last train trip of the PNR “will be on Holy Wednesday, March 27.”

In particular, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the PNR will temporarily close its Governor Pascual-Tutuban and Tutuban-Alabang operations.

In October last year, Regino, who was then general manager of the PNR, had said the temporary closure of the line’s Metro Manila operations will begin by the middle of January this year. 

Sought to clarify why it was moved to late March, Regino said, “Too give more time for the public to adjust on the stoppage of operations which will better commence during the Holy Week.” 

As early as February 2023, DOTr authorities have announced that the PNR will temporarily stop operations for five years to give way for NSCR’s construction. 

The PNR’s Alabang to Calamba route was the first to cease operations in July last year. The affected stations include Muntinlupa, San Pedro, Pacita Main Gate, Golden City, Biñan, Sta. Rosa, Cabuyao, Mamatid, and Calamba.

For the suspension of PNR’s Metro Manila operations, the DOTr said the construction of the NSCR will be expedited by eight months, and save at least P15.18 billion from the project.

Bautista said that “PNR services will be suspended to also ensure that passengers are safe while the construction of the NSCR is underway.”

The construction of the NSCR, a 147-kilometer urban railway network connecting Metro Manila to Pampanga and Laguna, is expected to last approximately until 2028. 

To cater to passengers who will be affected during the PNR suspension, the DOTr and the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) arranged alternative bus routes.

“Buses on the Tutuban route to Alabang and vice versa are expected to drop off and pick up passengers near the current PNR route,” the DOTr said.

It said the southbound buses will pass through 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).

Meanwhile, 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 bus trips on the Tutuban-Alabang (Southbound) route will start at 7:30 AM, 9:10 AM, 3:00 PM, 3:20 PM, 7:30 PM, and 9:00 PM. On the other hand, the bus trips on the Alabang-Tutuban (Northbound) route will start at 5:00 AM, 6:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:45 AM, 5:00 PM, and 6:10 PM,” the DOTr said.

The NSCR, on the other hand, is expected to shorten travel time from Clark, Pampanga, all the way to Calamba, Laguna by less than two hours. 

The rail project is expected to accommodate 800,000 passengers per day, the NSCR is poised to decongest Metro Manila traffic, and strengthen economic growth in all the cities and municipalities it will be passing through. —KBK, GMA Integrated News