The North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) is fast making headway with the arrival of the line’s trains in December 2021, and the arrival of the training simulator for the PNR Clark Phase 1 project between September and October 2021, Secretary Art Tugade announced Wednesday, May 26, 2021.

“’Yung mga tren na gagamitin sa proyektong ito ay darating na sa December. Mayroon tayong lugar na tinatayo ng DOTr na paglalagyan ng simulator. Ito ang gagamitin para sa training ng mga taong magpapatakbo at gagabay sa proyektong ito. Handa na ‘hong dumating ang mga simulator ng September o October,” Tugade said of the PNR NSCR Project, of which he made stops to inspect the Valenzuela and Bulacan segments of the project.

GIRDERS TO BE SET ON PILES STARTING JUNE

With four attempts to build it, the PNR Clark Phase 1 project did not take off until the Duterte administration took office. At present, the construction of the rail project is at a 45.82% overall progress rate, the transportation chief said. He added that girders will be set on piles over the next two weeks.

“Yung mga girders na nakikita n’yo diyan, sa susunod na dalawang linggo, ipapatong na ‘yan sa mga nakikita n’yong piles, then makikita ninyo na itong proyektong ito ay talaga namang tuloy-tuloy na at nagkakatotoo,” Tugade said.

Conceptualized in 1993 and with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the PNR Clark Phase 1 Project is a 38-kilometer railway that runs from the Tutuban Station in Manila through the cities of Caloocan, Valenzuela and the municipalities of Meycuayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto and ends in Malolos, Bulacan.

Meanwhile, the PNR Clark Phase 2 (Malolos – Clark line), on the other hand, is a 54-kilometer rail line, which will connect Malolos, Bulacan and Clark, Pampanga. The project will also feature the country’s first-ever Airport Express, which will slash travel time from the Clark International Airport (CRK) in Pampanga to Makati City to about an hour.

Shelved for two decades, the PNR Clark Phase 2 Project is now at a 28.79% overall progress rate.

Completing the PNR NSCR Project is the PNR Clark Phase 3 Manila – Calamba section.

The NSCR Project forms part of the Duterte administration’s flagship “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure development program, which aims to provide efficient mass transportation and spur economic activity in the country. (PR)