Photo from: DOTr’s Facebook page
The Philippine National Railways (PNR) has formally signified its intent to purchase more trains for its revitalization program, according to a Facebook post by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
The contract entails the purchase of 21 trains to be delivered by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive by 2021. These new trains will be added to the PNR South Long Haul Project, also referred to as the PNR Bicol. This covers the route from Calamba, Laguna, to Naga City before eventually extending all the way to Legazpi City, Albay.
In addition to the new trains, the number of stations will also be increased from 17 to 35. The tracks on the railway will also be improved.
Due to this rehabilitation of the PNR, PNR general manager Junn Magno and DOTr head Arthur Tugade claimed that it will reduce the travel time from Manila to Bicol by 80%.
“This is a very momentous occasion for us because this is where we will start the railway service and transform the Philippine National Railways,” Magno said. “This train will represent the first trip for the South Long Haul Project or what we call the PNR Bicol, and it would cut down significantly 80% of the travel time between Manila and Bicol region.”
Here’s the full post on Facebook.
The Philippine National Railways (PNR) has formally signified its intent to purchase more trains for its revitalization program, with the contract signing ceremony for the procurement of standard gauge Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) between PNR General Manager Junn Magno and CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co. Ltd. Vice President Wang Qiaolin, held today, 18 December 2019.
The contract signing was witnessed by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, together with Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan.
Also witnessing the signing ceremony was CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive General Manager Fu Chengjun.
The new trains, which will be delivered by June 2021, will be used for the PNR South Long Haul (PNR Bicol) project, which will service the route from Calamba, Laguna to Naga City, Camarines Sur initially, and eventually to Legazpi City, Albay.
“Today, we are gathered here, in order to put the first stepping stone to realizing that dream of putting connectivity between Manila and Bicol. That dream which, many years back, were the glorious days of railroads story—where we can travel from Bicol to Manila, using the railways and the trains,” Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
For his part, PNR General Manager Junn Magno noted the importance of the contract signing for the realization of the PNR Bicol.
“This is a very momentous occasion for us because this is where we will start the railway service and transform the Philippine National Railways. This train will represent the first trip for the South Long Haul Project or what we call the PNR Bicol, and it would cut down signficantly 80% of the travel time between Manila and Bicol region,” GM Magno expressed.
Moreover, Secretary Tugade lauded the invaluable efforts of the PNR, under the leadership of General Manager Junn Magno, in bringing back the glory of country’s railways.
“Because of PNR under the leadership of Junn Magno, the retrogation that has happened in the past becomes a progressive effort to recapture the glory that was of PNR. And that is why, Junn Magno and his team, are trying to revive the glorious days of PNR by putting more stations, increasing it as we start from 17 to 35, improve the railway tracks, and would like, not only to put the railway tracks but put new trains and new coaches so that the realization of that glorious moments of Manila and Bicol will come to form. So today, I congratulate Junn Magno, aptfully referrered to as the ‘transformer’ of PNR. I really appreciate your effort, Junn and the men and women of PNR. You guys are making a great difference.” he underscored.
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