The PNR South Long Haul (PNR Bicol) is a project to reconstruct the railway in Southern Luzon in the Philippines. The line will start at Banlic station in Calamba, Laguna and it will terminate at Daraga, Albay. The line will be 565 km in length with 35 stations, and passenger trains will travel at a top speed of 160 km/h.
The project is a complete rebuild of the old PNR South Main Line (the Bicol Express). The old railway is a narrow-gauge railway, while the new line is on a standard-gauge railway.
The line will be linked to Manila by the North–South Commuter Railway, which starts in New Clark City and runs through Metro Manila to Calamba. The railway will form part of a long-distance railway that will travel the length of the island of Luzon.
PNR South Long Haul Maps
[Map of PNR South Long Haul.]
[Map by Philippine Railways Institute, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.]
Links and resources
PNR South Long Haul Project – Information page from Philippine National Railways.
PNR South Long Haul (New PNR Bicol Express) | Length: 561.1 km | 29 Stations – News and discussion at skyscrapercity.com.
News archive
2025
No funding, no timeline: Bicol, Mindanao rails hang in the balance – [05/05/25]
“There is still no certainty on whether the Marcos administration can break ground during its term for the P257-billion railways in Bicol and Mindanao without an identified source of funding.”
PNR South Long Haul project attracts new potential funder – [13/04/25]
“Following the stalled loan deal with China for the Philippine National Railways South Long Haul (PNR-SLH) project, France has expressed strong interest in stepping in as key financier.”
Japan keen on funding Bicol train study – [07/04/25]
“Japan is very interested in doing a feasibility study on a high-speed rail project from Metro Manila to Bicol, according to Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte.”
PNR confirms progress on South Long Haul project – [27/03/25]
“Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Engr. Deovanni S. Miranda assured that the South Long Haul Project remains on track, with right-of-way and site acquisitions already underway.”
Marcos orders expansion of Naga airport, PNR-Bicol Express revival – [12/03/25]
2024
Japan express interest in funding PNR South Long Haul – [09/08/24]
After China exit, other countries, multilaterals eye funding Bicol Express – [08/08/24]
Multilateral loans eyed for revival of Bicol railway – [19/07/24]
DOTr to work with DOST on second hybrid electric train – [24/06/24]
“The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will work with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to develop a second, improved prototype of the latter’s Hybrid Electric Train (HET) for use on the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul, or Bicol Line.”
Gov’t should tap Japan as funding source for Bicol Express revival, says Yamsuan – [07/04/24]
China sidetracked as funding source for PNR Bicol – [13/03/24]
Philippines still looks to China for funding South long haul project – [27/02/24]
Solon proposes Bicol Express modernization using Maharlika funds – [08/01/24]
2023
Railway study eyes 2024 approval – [22/11/23]
“The Philippine National Railways (PNR) North-Long Haul Inter-Regional Railway project’s feasibility study is set for completion by March next year, aligning with National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approval timelines that could fast-track its realization.”
Tap Maharlika fund for Bicol Express – Rep. Brian Yamsuan – [20/11/23]
“The government can use the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) — the country’s first sovereign wealth fund expected to be fully implemented before 2023 ends — to finance the derailed South Long Haul project, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan suggested in a statement on Monday.”
PHL waiting until Dec. for China action on loan for PNR south long-haul railway project – [14/11/23]
“The Philippines will wait until December for the Chinese government to make a decision on a P142-billion loan to finance the South Long-Haul project, the Department of Transportation said on Tuesday.”
Bicol solon wants Japanese-style bullet train for South Long Haul Railway project – [09/11/23]
“Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuertewants to see a bullet train for the Philippine National Railway’s (PNR) South Long Haul Railway project.”
Yamsuan asks House colleagues to back Bicol Express revival – [09/11/23]
Lawmaker optimistic of Bicol Express revival – [01/11/23]
PH eyes other funding source for transport projects after loss of interest from China – [27/10/23]
“DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista confirmed that the department is currently finding other lending sources after three DOTr projects — the South Long Haul Project, Mindanao Railway Project, and Subic-Clark Railway — were supposedly dropped as interest for its funding through the Chinese official development assistance (ODA) has “waned.””
South Long Haul: How failing Chinese loan talks delay PNR’s railway dream – [20/10/23]
China cuts loan rate for PNR Bicol – [18/10/23]
Philippines still pursuing China loan for South Long Haul Project —PNR – [17/10/23]
Metro Manila to Bicol Express railway project frozen as China funding uncertain – [17/10/23]
Housing projects built for railway informal settlers – [16/10/23]
“The National Housing Authority (NHA) will build housing projects in the provinces of Laguna and Quezon for 3,651 informal settler families (ISFs) who will be relocated to give way to the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul Project-Segment 3.”
Yamsuan cites potential benefits from Bicol railway reconstruction – [09/10/23]
Yamsuan prods DOTr to pursue PPP mode to ensure ‘Bicol Express’ revival – [18/09/23]
Yamsuan asks DOTr to seek PPP over China loan for ‘Bicol Express’ – [13/09/23]
‘No clear funding source yet for Bicol Express revival’ – [05/09/23]
Gov’t mulls PPP for South railway as China deal drags – [04/09/23]
PH may drop China funding for railroad project by year-end without Beijing’s confirmation – [04/09/23]
Top firms urged to help revive ‘Bicol Express’ – [28/07/23]
Bicolano lawmaker backs revived railway project – [16/07/23]
Solon urges PBBM to prioritize revival of PNR Bicol – [12/07/23]
PNR to deploy buses for duration of train ops suspension – [05/06/23]
PNR Calamba-Alabang route to undergo 5-year shutdown starting July 2 – [02/06/23]
Blended financing eyed for China rail project – [06/03/23]
“The Department of Finance (DOF) is exploring the possibility of a blended currency mechanism to fast-track the approval from the Chinese government of the P142-billion railway project in Bicol.”
PNR says talks for China-backed South Long Haul underway – [28/02/23]
Salceda pushes for Naga-Legazpi Rail ahead of PNR South Long Haul project – [19/02/23]
Revival of Manila-Bicol rail link a gov’t priority, solons say – [18/01/23]
2022
Here’s why it’s crucial for Marcos admin to finish Bicol railway – [16/07/22]
“Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda has described the completion of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Bicol project as a “critical” mission for the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.”
Manila to Legazpi City in 4.5 hours? The PNR Bicol could make it reality – [06/07/22]
“The “Bicol Express” train line is finally making a comeback.”
Construction works for P142-B PNR Bicol package 1 to start in Q1 —PNR exec – [20/01/22]
DOTr awards $2.76bn design-build contract for PNR Bicol project – [19/01/22]
The PNR Bicol project’s first 380km will span from Banlic, Calamba to Daraga, Albay.
2021
Tugade expects Quezon segment of PNR Bicol to open by April 2022 – [26/09/21]
Design bids solicited for PNR Bicol project – [10/06/21]
“The Transportation department has started seeking bidders for the detailed design and construction contract of the China-funded Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul Project (Banlic to Daraga package).”
DOTr eyes partial operability segment of PNR Bicol in 2022 – [15/05/21]
2020
Hundreds of Cabuyao families face eviction due to PNR South Long Haul Project – [23/07/20]
2019
Philippines, China sign $219 million loan for PNR project consultancy – [31/08/19]
“The Philippine government has forged a $219.78 million loan agreement with China to fund the project management consultancy for the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul Project, the Department of Finance (DOF) said yesterday.”
2018
PNR South railway project to kick off next year: Salceda – [07/12/18]
“Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said he is optimistic that the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Rail Project covering Manila to Matnog town in Sorsogon will be partially operational by 2022.”
2017
P175-B development aid from China to revive PNR’s Bicol Express – [21/10/17]
““It is not a rehabilitation,” Chavez said at the Bicol Express Modernization Forum held here on Friday. “It will be a reconstruction. Everything will be new. New railways. New train wagons. New stations. New modalities.””
DOTr bares Bicol Express plans – [20/10/17]
NOT going to happen anytime soon. Huge, HUGE Project. Cost and time to build. Can’t see a FULLY operational Manila to Matnog train running at 120kmh happening within the next decade ( before 2034 )