The Manila to Clark railway project is on target to be fully operational by 2024, according to the Department of Transportation.

The Malolos to Clark segment, costing P150 billion, is part of the 148-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System in Luzon. It recorded an overall progress rate of 32 percent as of July while the P106 billion PNR Clark phase 1 (Tutuban to Malolos segment)is now 48 percent complete.

NSCR will have a total of 35 stations and will operate 464 train cars, with 58 8-car train sets configuration.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the Malolos-Clark would have six train stations — Calumpit, Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, Clark, and Clark Airport.

Over 25,000 direct job opportunities will be generated during the construction of the entire NSCR line.

“The DOTr, in all of its projects, has always aimed to revitalize the country’s economy. A transport infrastructure project like the NSCR will spur economic growth in Central Luzon, particularly the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga,” Tugade said.

Once operational, PNR Clark Phase 2 will improve transport connectivity and mobility across the Central Luzon region. It will reduce time between Malolos, Bulacan and Clark, Pampanga, from 1.5 to 2 hours, to just 30-35 minutes.

The Malolos-Clark segment will also feature the country’s first-ever Airport Railway Express Service, which will connect Makati to the Clark International Airport in just 55 minutes, from the current 2-3 hours,” Tugade said.

The NSCR System is the single largest infrastructure project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and is the longest greenfield commuter railway project to be financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

It is also the biggest project to be undertaken so far under the Duterte administration’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ Program with a total cost of P777.55 billion.

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Manila-Clark railway on track to be fully operational by 2024
Source: Filipino Daily Inquirer