The Philippine National Railways (PNR) announced that work on the Metro Manila segment of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project is scheduled to start in October of this year.
PNR chair Michael Ted Macapagal stated that fencing, track removal, and clearing operations will be the main focus of the first stage of construction, which is targeted to be finished by 2028.
"In Metro Manila, we’re putting up fences in areas so that people can no longer pass and no one can live there or whatever. We will secure those areas,” he said.
“Siguro by October tapos na ‘yung fencing at track removal activities, so construction immediately follows," Macapagal added.
Three-part plan in NCR
According to Mapacagal, there is a three-part plan that will see the relocation of old tracks to different sites while clearing operations and ROW concerns are already addressed.
From Blumentritt, Manila to Sucat, Parañaque City, elevated and at-grade tracks and stations will be built.
Concurrently, work on the NSCR's Alabang-Calamba segment began in July of last year.
The complete NSCR will cross Clark, Pampanga and travel more than 147 kilometers, stopping at 37 stations along the way, ending in Calamba, Laguna.
Project completion
Additionally, Macapagal stated that the NSCR's northern line is 50% finished and that he anticipates the project's completion by 2027.
The Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency are providing funding for the entire project, which will be served by a fleet of 60 electric multiple-train units.
The PNR's Tutuban-Alabang operations were put on hold on May 28 in order to facilitate the building of the NSCR.
