The Department of Transportation said the construction of PNR Clark Phase 1(Malolos to Tutuban) segment of the North South Commuter Railway reached a 42.66-percent completion rate as of December 2020.
“Amid the current pandemic, the construction works continue at an accelerated pace, under the strictest implementation of health protocols, including the construction of temporary access roads, temporary bridges, temporary facilities, as well as the bored piling works, structural excavation works and fabrication of precast segment,” the DOTr said.
Upon completion, PNR Clark Phase 1 is projected to reduce the travel time from Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan from 1 hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes, with a scheduled partial operability seen by the end of this year upon the arrival of its first set of trains.
The project is scheduled to be partially operational by December 2021.
Meanwhile, PNR Clark Phase 2 (Malolos to Clark) is expected to ease road congestion in Central Luzon and reduce annual traffic-related economic costs.
It will help push economic activity to regional growth centers like Clark in Pampanga province.
The Asian Development Bank’s board of directors approved in May 2019 a $2.75-billion facility for the Malolos-Clark Railway Project, a flagship project of the Philippine government under its “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure development program.
The whole North South Commuter Railway will have 37 stations, spanning 26 local government units and connecting three regions. The project will feature the country’s first airport express service, which will slash travel time between Clark International Airport in Pampanga and Makati City from more than two hours by car to just under one hour.
The project is expected to be completed by 2024.