BCDA downscales plans for Manila-Clark railway system

Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) president and chief executive officer Rufo Colayco announced yesterday that the BCDA has decided to downscale its plans for the long-delayed Manila-Clark Rapid Railway system project due to the current budget restrictions of the government.

According to Colayco, instead of a high-speed railway system, the government is now eyeing a much slower commuter train system which will be one-third of the cost of the original plan for a high-speed railway system.

The high-speed railway system, originally estimated to cost $2.5 billion, would have a top speed of 200 to 300 kilometers per hour and would have been a non-stop service from Manila to Clark.

"The much slower commuter railway system, is deemed more suited for the needs of the time and the current budget restrictions of the government," Colayco said, adding that "because the revised railway system will be a commuter train, it would be able to service more towns."

The railway system is just part of the government’s grand plan for the Subic-Clark Alliance Development (SCAD).

Colayco said he is urging the government for the simultaneous implementation of other related projects such as the Subic containerized terminal project, the Subic-Clark expressway, the Clark airport and the North Railway project.

The Subic containerized terminal project would have one-half the capacity of the Manila port.

The Subic-Clark expressway is intended to cut travel time between the two former US military bases to anywhere from one hour to 30 minutes.

"Undertaking one project ahead without the others on-stream at the same time would only lead to a dead-end," Colayco said.

The railway system was conceptualized during the term of former President Fidel V. Ramos sometime in 1997. It is aimed at providing commuters with a fast, efficient and modern mode of transportation.

It was, however, delayed because of misunderstanding and confusion among consortium members as well as funding problems.