Philippines launches mega train project

Rail service will cut travel time from Tutuban to Malolos City by 35 minutes

Officials broke ground for the construction of the first phase of a train service linking provinces in Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

The event, which took place in Marilao, Bulacan, will be the second time in more than a decade that such a ceremony was held. A similar project during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had been dogged with problems, prompting the government to cancel the endeavour that was undertaken by a Chinese government contractor.

A railway link between Metro Manila and provinces further north is critical for decongesting the overpopulated national capital region and will be vital to spreading economic growth to other areas.

Laying down the tracks

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said since the important project had undergone failed starts, it was important that the endeavour begin immediately. “DoTr [Department of Transportation] understands the need to complete this project faster. That is why we pursued these works parallel with the procurement of the general contractor, which is scheduled to be selected by the second quarter of 2018 for PNR [Philippine National Railways] Clark Phase 1,” Tugade said.

PNR is the state-run railway concern. Clark, in Pampanga province, was identified as the main station connecting it with Tutuban in Manila’s downtown area.

An old railway used to run from Tutuban until the early 1990s; however, due to the PNR’s inability to generate funds for upkeep, the rail system fell into a state of disrepair.

During the ground-breaking rites that were held last Friday, Tugade called on Bulacan’s local government officials to settle right-of-way concerns by telling their constituents the benefits of having a railway system.

Initially, the rail system will be constructed along the 38-kilometre segment, from Tutuban, Manila, to Malolos, Bulacan.

It will have 10 stations and is expected to service around 340,000 passengers daily.

Easy travel

The rail project, when finished will cut travel time from Tutuban to Bulacan’s Malolos City by 35 minutes.

Current travel by road to these two areas take between an hour to three hours.

Tugade said the contractors aim to finish the project’s first phase by 2020.