MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to inaugurate on Tuesday a Philippine National Railway (PNR) station in Calamba, Laguna to serve more commuters in their trips to and from metropolis.
"This is another step toward serving the increasing number of people from Laguna coming into Manila on a daily basis, reviving the railway’s iconic Bicol Express, and restoring the PNR to its former glory as a vehicle for economic prosperity and progress," DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said.
"This expansion of PNR’s commuter rail service provides affordable and convenient access to jobs and schools to more stakeholders south of Metro Manila. It will shorten traveling time for those who currently take the bus, and allow those who bring their own cars to bypass traffic," he added.
Joining Abaya and top PNR officials at the inauguration of the Calamba station are guest-of-honor Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, Calamba Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco, and Rep. Joaquin Chipeco Jr. of the 2nd District of Laguna.
A special train carrying the PNR management will leave the Tutuban station at 7:30 a.m., and will arrive at the new station for the ribbon-cutting and blessing ceremonies at 9 a.m.
The state-owned railway’s operations will now be expanded to a 56-kilometer stretch, up from the current 53 kilometers. It will serve an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 passengers everyday in addition to the current 70,000 daily passengers.
Two trains are assigned to ply the regular Manila-to-Calamba route, whose first trip will depart from Tutuban at 7 p.m. of December 2. The end-to-end fare is P45.00.
To assure Calamba-based passengers that there will be enough capacity to meet their needs and to avoid jam-packed trains, the Calamba route will begin with two daily trips, with a planned addition of two more trips by early 2015.
"This is the seventh station that the PNR has opened in the past 12 months. Clearly, we are on the right track in rehabilitating the railway system and soon reviving the service to Naga and Legazpi," Abaya said.
In December last year, the PNR opened four new stations: Muntinlupa, San Pedro, Biñan and Sta. Rosa. This was followed by two more station openings, Cabuyao and Mamatid, in March this year.