Effective July 2, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) will suspend its daily trips on the Alabang to Calamba route to facilitate the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) system.
During the closure, only two trips will be affected: one departing at 4:38 AM and another at 7:56 PM.
Approximately 467 passengers rely on these trips each day.
Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Cesar B. Chavez announced that an elevated, double-track, and electrified train system will be constructed above the existing PNR tracks.
This modification will expedite the NSCR construction by eight months. The upcoming NSCR system will replace the current street-level, single-track, and diesel locomotive setup of the PNR.
”The Alabang to Calamba train service will be temporarily suspended to give way to a major construction that will result in a modern train service that will ferry more people, to more places, fast and safe,” Usec. Chavez said in a statement.
“Ang pansamantalang abala, ihahatid ay pangmatagalang ginhawa,” the transport official added.
During the NSCR construction period, several PNR stations will be temporarily closed, including Alabang, Muntinlupa, San Pedro, Biñan, Sta. Rosa, Cabuyao, Mamatid, and Calamba.
Once completed, the NSCR system, spanning 147 kilometers, will connect Clark, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna, effectively linking the Greater Manila Area with adjacent provinces.
Usec. Chavez emphasized that the NSCR will be among Southeast Asia's most advanced rail systems. Financial and technical assistance for the project will be provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
“We at the Department of Transportation expect the North-South Commuter Railway to provide quality transit service, contribute to the economic development, and generate jobs,“ Usec. Chavez affirmed.
