DoTr: Two rail projects to generate more jobs

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) on Friday said that the game-changing North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and South Long Haul (SLH) rail projects are expected to revive the country's rail industry.

Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista said the NSCR and SLH will elevate the country's railway to global standards, while generating jobs, boosting economic growth, and easing traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

«We will build a world-class railroad network — the pride of not only Asia, but the entire world. New, modern, and fast trains that will run from Clark to Calamba and continue to Bicol,» Bautista said.

He said the NSCR and SLH will provide much-needed critical connectivity to Filipino commuters as the two mass rail infrastructures will link Metro Manila to the regions in northern and southern Luzon.

Bautista added that the two projects will generate more jobs, and contribute to making the country's public transportation more reliable.

«There is no doubt the NSCR and SLH Project will usher in the renaissance of the rail industry in the country,» Bautista emphasized.

A massive 147-kilometer railway system, the NSCR will have 35 stations and will run on 51 commuter train sets and seven express train sets.

The NSCR is expected to cut travel time from Calamba, Laguna, to Clark, Pampanga, from the current 4.5-hour travel time to just less than 2 hours, and service 600,000 passengers daily on full operations.

The entire South Long Haul Project, meanwhile, is a 577-kilometer and 33-station rail connection from Metro Manila to Batangas and Bicol.

Once completed, the rail line will reduce travel time from Manila to Legazpi from the present 14 to 18 hours to 6 hours, using regular commuter trains, and 4.5 hours, using the line's express trains.