DoTr wants NSCR on sked — Bautista
Rolling stock manufacturer Hitachi Rail was contracted to build the commuter railway project
Contractors of the ambitious North-South Commuter Railway or NSCR project led by Japanese firm Hitachi Rail must complete the project on time, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said yesterday.
Bautista said the government is banking on the project to benefit thousands of Filipino commuters from Metro Manila and adjacent provinces in Northern Luzon.
“I call on Hitachi to complete the project on time. We hope we will do this even earlier. We will work closely so that all issues are addressed so that we complete this project on time,” Bautista said during the signing of the Contract Package 04 of the NSCR Phase 1.
Rolling stock manufacturer Hitachi Rail was contracted to build the commuter railway project.
Awarded by the Department of Transportation, the contract will cover electrical and mechanical systems and track works, including digital signaling for the new commuter rail from Solis to Malolos.
Once operational, thousands of Filipinos are expected to benefit from the project with mobility and accessible connectivity eased, Bautista said.
“The first phase of the project involves the train line that will carry the most number of passengers of the NSCR Project,” he said, while extending his gratitude to the government of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the contractor Hitachi for supporting the rail infrastructure.
The Japanese government likewise expressed commitment in completing the project.
“We commit our support for the successful completion of the NSCR as build, better program as a whole,” Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa said.
As the contract for Electro-Mechanical Systems and Track Works, CP04 features the Design and Build contract for the NSCR’s first segment, including the design and main works for eight subsystems.
Composed of ten stations, the CP04 of NSCR Phase 1 has a span of 34.91 kilometers connecting Solis in Tondo, Manila and Malolos, Bulacan.
Japan funds project
Bankrolled by Japan International Cooperation Agency, the NSCR Phase 1 has a route length of 37.9-kilometers from Malolos, Bulacan to Tutuban, Manila, and will be eventually connected to the NSCR-Extension Project, which passes from Calamba, Laguna to Clark International Airport in Pampanga.
Designed to operate with a speed of 120 kilometers per hour, the rail line will reduce travel time between Makati City and Clark International Airport to less than two hours through the Airport Express Service, while servicing 350,000 passengers daily.
Designed to improve connectivity and economic activity in Northern Luzon, the project is also expected to generate employment with 59,000 jobs available during construction and 9,000 jobs for operations and maintenance.
Scope of the project includes nearly 35.4 kilometers and nine stations, as well as a 147 km commuter line from Calamba to Clark.
The project is expected to cut down carbon emissions in the railway sector and promote the use of eco-friendly public transportation over polluting cars.
NSCR will feature the European Train Control System Level 2 signaling technology, which will help monitor the train’s movement and speed limit on the track.
By enabling efficient operation of the trains, the ETCS technology will also help lower the energy footprint of the railway.
Furthermore, the technology will allow the automatic activation of train safety functions, including emergency braking.
Hitachi is offering complete turnkey E&M systems of signaling, electrification, telecommunications, depot equipment, fare collection, and trackwork for the railway sector in the Philippines.