The Department of Transportation (DOTr) expects the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and South Long Haul Project (SLH) to revive the country’s rail industry and generate more jobs.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the NSCR and SLH would elevate the country’s railway to global standards, while generating jobs, boosting economic growth and easing traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
“We will build a world-class railroad network—the pride of not only Asia, but the entire world. New, modern and fast trains that will run from Clark to Calamba and continue to Bicol,” Bautista said.
He said the NSCR and SLH would provide much-needed critical connectivity to the Filipino people as the two mass rail infrastructures will link Metro Manila to the regions in northern and southern Luzon.
Bautista said the projects would generate more jobs, a prosperous economy and reliable public transportation.
“There is no doubt the NSCR and SLH Project will usher in the renaissance of the rail industry in the country,” Bautista said.
A massive 147-kilometer railway system, the NSCR will have 35 stations and will run on 51 commuter train sets and seven express train sets.
The NSCR is expected to cut travel time from Calamba, Laguna to Clark, Pampanga from 4.5 hours to less than two hours and service 600,000 passengers daily on full operations.
The entire South Long Haul Project is a 577-kilometer and 33-station rail connection from Metro Manila to Batangas and Bicol.
Once completed, the rail line will reduce travel time from Manila to Legazpi from 14 to 18 hours to six hours, using regular commuter trains and 4.5 hours, using the line’s express trains.