Manila-Bicol rail service to resume

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Railways (PNR) will resume its Manila-Quezon-Bicol route  the so-called Bicol Express  on June 29, Malacañang announced yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the resumption of the rail service is one month ahead of schedule, “made possible by a new workforce and contracts for the Quezon-Bicol portions of the tracks, and vital infrastructure rehabilitation including the completion of the 50-meter San Cristobal Bridge in Laguna.”

The rehabilitation plan includes the renovation of train stations in the provinces of Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Sur and Albay.

Lacierda said one-third of the railway had been rehabilitated under the Arroyo administration and the remaining two-thirds was undertaken under the present administration.

He said PNR administrator Junio Ragragio had received orders from President Aquino to reopen the railway line this year.

He said PNR earmarked P1.8 billion for the rehabilitation of the railway and P250 million for the acquisition of new trains that included 83 air-conditioned sleeper and commuter coaches.

He said the new coaches donated by Japan are due to arrive later this year.

Lacierda said three test runs have already been made, covering the 400-kilometer railroad.

The restored Bicol Express will have at least three classes of coaches: tourist class with reclining seats and in-coach movie and sound systems with sleeping cars that can accommodate a family or groups of four to six persons; executive class with individual compartments: and a dining car with first class dining amenities.

“With the forthcoming resumption of the Bicol Express, new impetus to tourism and the transport of goods has been given. Manila-Bicol rail service resuming this month is a promising start,” Lacierda said.

The rehabilitated line will employ about a thousand workers including railway police to monitor and patrol the tracks and junctions.

The rail service between Manila and Bicol started in 1938 but the devastating weather of the early 1970s destroyed the South railway and only token efforts were made to restore rail services.

The railway was rehabilitated in 1985 but operation of the rail service stopped in 2006 due to typhoon damage. – Delon Porcalla, Aurea Calica