The Department of Transportation said Tuesday it expects the San-Pablo, Laguna to Lucena, Quezon route of the Philippine National Railways to reopen in the first half of 2022.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the PNR San Pablo-Lucena route would not only link the rail line to the Bicol network, but would also unlock economic potentials and enhance mobility in Southern Luzon.
He said that aside from being a passenger commuter service, the PNR Lucena-San Pablo route could also be converted into a commercial or cargo freight service.
“Mahalaga rin po na sabihin na itong rutang ito ay convertible hindi lamang papuntang Bicol, kundi maging convertible na maging commercial route dito sa Lucena,” Tugade said.
Stalled for almost a decade, the PNR San Pablo-Lucena route is a 44-kilometer inter-provincial commuter railway which was part of the commuter train service to Bicol with stations and flag stops for daily commuters or short travels.
The PNR Lucena-San Pablo commuter line ceased operations in October 2013 after the collapse of an abutment.
Once operations resume, the line will have two terminal stations and four flag stops in between, with travel time of 1 hour and 32 minutes from Lucena to San Pablo.
Parts of the long-distance rail network’s right-of-way will also be utilized for the PNR South Long Haul Project or the “Bicol Express”.
The DOTr earlier signed a P142-billion contract with Chinese companies to build the first 380 kilometers of the PNR Bicol Project from Banlic, Calamba to Daraga, Albay.
The agency tapped China Railway Group Ltd., China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group Co. Ltd. and China Railway Engineering Consulting Group Co. Ltd. for the design, construction and electromechanical works of the project.
The first 380 kilometers will span 39 cities and municipalities, four provinces and two regions. It will involve the construction of 23 stations, 230 bridges, 10 passenger tunnels and a 70-hectare depot in San Pablo, Laguna.
The project will be funded by official development assistance from China. The Chinese government may finance up to 85 percent of the contract amount, with the balance to be funded by the local counterpart budget.
