PNR incurs net loss from 79 days of no operations
State-run Philippine National Railways (PNR) has incurred a net loss of million after 79 days of suspending its trips across Metro Manila.
PNR general manager Joseph Allan Dilay said that while the company lost revenues amounting to million, it nevertheless saved million from operating costs such as fuel and personnel services.
Dilay admitted that at least 109 ticket sellers, gate checkers and other contractual personnel were left jobless since PNR suspended its ManilaLaguna trips last May 5. But these contractual personnel are now back to work after the PNR resumed trips between Tutuban in Manila and Alabang in Muntinlupa yesterday.
With the resumption of PNR's Metro South Commuter (MSC) line, Dilay said "we are deploying six trains with one reserved unit. This fleet size is equivalent to 46 trips daily." However, MSC trips will be limited between Tutuban and Alabang since rail rehabilitation and station improvement works are still on going along the tracks between Alabang and Calamba in Laguna.
Furthermore, PNR trips will take longer than usual due to slower speed limit. Dilay said trains between Tutuban and EDSA stations can run up to 40 kilometers per hour but the trains will have to go slower up to 25 kph between EDSA and Alabang. To recall, a derailment accident between EDSA and Nichols stations last April 29 forced the government to shut down PNR to assess and reinforce the integrity of the tracks.
"The implementation of a slower speed limit especially along the derailment site was prescribed by TÜV Rheinland," Dilay said, referring to the third-party rail expert that issued the necessary certification on the safety of the PNR tracks.
Dilay accompanied Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya in riding the PNR from Buendia to Nichols Station and back to EDSA station. Onboard the trains, Abaya interviewed passengers who commented on their ride. Quoting passengers he interviewed, Abaya said PNR rides are "cooler" and the trains are "more stable" than before. PNR trains are unbelievably roomy on the first day of the resumption of operations even during the morning rush hour.
Abay said he personally rode the PNR to prove commuters that the State-run transportation facility is safe and reliable. "The fact that we rode the PNR proves that it is now safe and back to normal operations," he told reporters yesterday.
The DOTC chief said rehabilitation works of Southeast Asia's oldest rail line is ongoing as well as the upgrade of the PNR line from Manila to Legazpi City with the upcoming auction of the NorthSouth Railway Project (NSRP), which is a contract to revive and upgrade the interprovincial operations of the PNR.