Starting March 28, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) will halt its operations for the next five years in order to give way for the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project.
The last train trip will be on March 27, Holy Wednesday, from Governor Pascual to Tutuban and Tutuban to Alabang.
It can be recalled that the PNR's Alabang to Calamba route was the first to cease its operations in July 2023 to facilitate the construction of the NSCR system.
According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the construction of the NSCR will be expedited by eight months and will save at least PHP 15.18 billion from the project.
The 147-kilometer urban railway network connecting Metro Manila to Pampanga and Laguna is expected to be done by 2028.
"PNR services will be suspended to also ensure that passengers are safe while the construction of the NSCR is underway," Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said in a statement.
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.
Southbound buses will pass through the following areas:
- 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
- Alabang (Starmall)
Meanwhile, northbound buses will pass through the following areas:
- 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
- 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.
