The planned five-year hiatus of operations of the Philippine National Railways’ (PNR) Tutuban to Alabang line will begin by the middle of January next year, its general manager, Jeremy Regino, said Tuesday.
“We will be stopping the full line in Metro Manila by the middle of January. The January closure will not affect the completion of the project because preparatory works are being done, so there will be no idle time,” Regino told reporters at the sidelines of the 43rd annual ASEAN Railway CEO’s Conference in Makati City.
Late in June, the PNR chief said the temporary closure of the rail line’s Tutuban to Alabang and vice versa route will be moved after Christmas instead of October, pending the signing of contracts for the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project.
In July, the rail line’s Alabang to Calamba route ceased operations to make way for the construction of NSCR. The affected stations include Muntinlupa, San Pedro, Pacita Main Gate, Golden City, Biñan, Sta. Rosa, Cabuyao, Mamatid, and Calamba.
Regino said the closure of PNR’s Tutuban to Alabang route would affect as much as 35,000 daily during the peak holiday season.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) opened three routes for operators of public utility vehicles—buses and modern jeeps—to help commuters affected by the closure of certain PNR stations.
Regino, likewise, said the LTFRB is expediting the awarding of special franchises for additional new routes to be affected by the PNR’s closure.
The construction of the NSCR, a 147-kilometer urban railway network connecting Metro Manila to Pampanga and Laguna, is expected to last approximately five years until 2028. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
