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
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]
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