the PNR comeback

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RIHSPI video of the Bicol IV Test

Special thanks to the PNR management led by GM Ragragio

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Naga-Manila train run set
Published : Saturday, May 28, 2011 00:00
Written by : Sonny Sales

NAGA City – The Philippine National Railways will launch the Manila-Bicol train run on June 29, signaling the start of the regular train trips from Manila to Naga City.

PNR conducted three test runs since last year, the latest in January and May this year.

New PNR manager Junio “Jun” Ragrario said President Benigno Aquino ordered him to start the operations of the Bicol line this year.

Ragrario said one-third of the Manila-Bicol railway was rehabilitated by the previous administration. The repairs focused mostly on critical railtracks, bridges and embankments destroyed by calamities.

The PNR chief said under his term, the train engines have been reconditioned to run for at least nine and a half hours for its regular trips from Tutuban to Naga City Central Station.

The Bicol train run was originally set in July this year but new workforce and contracts for Quezon-Bicol railtracks, including the completion of the Cristobal Bridge in Laguna, sped up repairs.

The PNR will employ at least a thousand new workers including new linemen and security men called, “Railway Police” which will man major PNR stations and junctions from Manila to Bicol.

The most important assistance granted to PNR by foreign donors is the 80 decommissioned train coaches from a Japanese Railway firm.

Aquino ordered the release of P250 million for the freight cost of the Japanese donated rail-cars which is expected to arrive this year.

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Reviving the ‘Bicol Express’

By Danica Hermogenes, Fatima Reyes
INQUIRER.net
1:10 pm | Monday, May 30th, 2011

MANILA, Philippines – The plains of the countryside, the landscapes of hills and coconut trees, the serenity of remote villages, views of the sea and high bridges – these were some of the scenes that were unique to passengers aboard a Philippine National Railways (PNR) train which left Tutuban station in Manila a few minutes past 7 a.m. on May 22.

Looking through the glass windows, passengers saw people who lived near the railways – children playing, women busy with their laundry, and men taking their rest after a hard day’s work – waving their hands as the train went past them. Some of them covered their ears as they heard the loud sounds of cracking metal and blows of the horn.

The long wait for commuters who desire non-stop travel from Metro Manila to Bicol province might be over as refurbished PNR trains are expected to be up and running by July.

PNR successfully conducted its third trial run on Sunday, beating its target of a 10-hour travel time from Manila to Bicol, said Jera Sison, PNR spokesperson. The train, which ran from 40 to 60 kilometers per hour, left the Manila station a few minutes past 7 a.m. and arrived at Naga City in Bicol at 5 p.m. It left Bicol at 11:00 a.m. from the Naga station Monday and reached Tutuban at 9:00 p.m.

The trip, one-way, is about two to four hours faster than the run in March and six hours more than the trial run in September 2010, when train took 16 hours to ply the 400-kilometer route, said Jera Sison, PNR spokesperson.

Convenient, Cheap , secure alternative to buses

PNR General Manager Jun Ragragio, in an interview during the trial run, encouraged passengers to support the restoration of the Manila-Bicol train line saying it is a “cheap alternative to buses.”

“Our fares are cheaper compared to buses because PNR does not pay the SLEX [Southern Luzon Expressway] toll fees,” he said. “Plus our coaches are wider compared to buses.”

He said the trial run was part of a major PNR project which aimed to fully restore operations in the main line south railway system.

He said PNR would be offering a promo during the first months of their operations – rates from Manila to Naga would start from P500 to P550 for those who would avail of the seats in reclining coaches, P700 to P800 for those who would want to use the sleeper coaches and P1000 to P1400 for the VIP or solo cabins.

As part of PNR’s security measures, Ragrario said they would not be allowing vendors to enter the train as dining carts would be available.

First aid kits are also available, he added.

There are two trained and armed rail police officers assigned in every trip to ensure the security of passengers, said Ragrario.

“Our duty is to escort and assist the passengers and to secure them from pick-pockets and accidents,” said Mariano Baguio Jr. who has been
working as a rail police for two years.

“We were also part of the clearing team whose duty was to clear obstructions in railways,” Baguio said, adding that clearing illegal settlers were part of it.

There were also linemen assigned in every kilometer to inspect the safety of rails, said Ragrario.

PNR Bicol area Director Manager Constencio Toledano Sr. said their fare was “40 percent cheaper than other means of transportation.”

Toledano noted that their daily fare to and from Manila to Edsa is P10; Manila to Bicutan, P15; Manila to Sucat and Alabang, P20.

Airnel Abarra, a public school teacher and UP graduate student who was also onboard the train during the trial run, said people would surely support the PNR if they would ensure a “safe, reliable, comfortable, and fast” train ride.

He said the restoration of the Manila to Bicol train line would be a big help for passengers who seek convenience for long distance travel.

PNR will be having its inauguration last week of June, in time for St. Peter’s Day and will be fully operational in July. “This is so that our trip will be blessed,” Ragrario added.

New and refurbished coaches

During the trial run, guest passengers were able to have a taste of the experience of riding two types of fully-air-conditioned coaches the PNR would be using for the restoration of the operations.

The “tourist-bus” type of coach featured “reclining” and “rotating” deep-cushioned blue and yellow seats. The revolving mechanism of the seats made it possible for passengers to turn and face each other and easily communicate with one another. Ragragio said that these designs “fit” Filipino passengers well, as we are very “social” people.

Sleeper coaches, on the other hand, were more appropriate for those who would avail of the night trips, Ragragio said. Sleeper coaches featured rooms or cubicles where two double-deck-like types of couches were placed facing each other.

Ragragio said sleeper coaches elicit a “barkada feel” and would be good for groups of people who would want more privacy and a place of their own in the train for them to conduct different activities.

Need for Funds, More trains to boost economy

Ragragio said the refurbished coaches were all donated by Japan. He said around 80 coaches have been successfully imported from Japan and that the country was expecting 50 more by September.

He said PNR would need around P2 billion for the restoration project but only P 250 million pesos have been released.

“That’s why we are continuing our policy of being aggressive in asking for more donations from other countries,” he said.

Ragragio said more funds were needed to make the railway system more intact but the PNR is “making the most of what we have.” He said it was better for them to revive old trains instead of buying new ones since it would cost less and would allow them to contribute to the economy.

“Reviving old trains enable the PNR to provide job opportunities and improve our technology,” he said.

He said PNR expected to gain P800 million additional income and a 33 percent increase in employment opportunities during the first year of the revival of the Manila to Bicol train line operations.

“Around 4, 800 families could benefit from the restoration of the train line,” he said.

Ragragio said for the first month of the operations, there would be one train line from Manila to Bicol. There will be five short stopovers in stations in Lucena, Hondagua, Tagkawayan, Cagay, and Sipukot. He said with the arrival of more trains, eventually the PNR would be able to conduct six trips a day, three going to Bicol and three returning to Manila.

He emphasized the need for more trains for the PNR to provide more services to around 300,000 commuters.

“PNR could only provide services for around 50,000 passengers due to lack of trains,” he said.

Heritage-oriented, ‘Very Filipino’ vehicle

The train swayed like a boat at times, even rocked continuously, during the trial run but the passengers did not mind as they watched how the view from the window changed, depicting the differences between life in the city and the countryside.

The train ride gave the passengers access to see the shanties and houses near the railways, remote villages and nipa huts, the green plains filled with vegetables and fruits, and the day to day plight of men and women of the provinces.

“These are scenes you cannot see on a bus,” PNR spokesperson Sison said.

Ragragio said Bikolanos have loved trains because they’ve been part of their culture.

“Trains have been significant not only traditionally but also culturally,” he said.

He went on to describe the train as a very “Filipino vehicle” by saying that we Filipinos were very social in nature, and that the features of the train complemented this quality.

Karl Brouwers, president of the Railways and Industrial Heritage Society of the Philippines (RIHSPI), said the revival of the south line railways was a good way for the PNR to re-establish itself as one of the leading modes of transportation in the Philippines, and a way for Filipinos to realize how long they have come in terms of “industrial” heritage.

RIHSPI is a non-government organization that has been closely working with the PNR in its efforts to preserve and restore railways and educate the public about the industrial heritage of the Philippines.

Jaime Tiongson, former president and treasurer of the organization, explained that the 100-year-old railroad route plied by the train was the first land route to Bicol, and that the trains have been part of Philippine heritage since the time of the Americans.

“Travelling by train reminds me of different events from our industrial history,” Tiongson said. He said that ever since, the growth and development of a country was characterized by the quality of its railway systems.

RIHSPI is planning to build an “industrial railway heritage museum” where they will showcase the “history of the PNR and the railway system in the Philippines.” The museum will educate the public on how the group deals with identifying and restoring locomotive motor and other heritage equipment for the PNR.

Abarra said the features of the train, like its wide leg rooms, will provide a means for train passengers to “interact” with other passengers, and might even allow them to gain new friends.

He said that with the long hours of travel, it was unavoidable for passengers not to get bored and eventually talk with one another.

“The train will grant Filipinos a very accessible means for them to go back to their home provinces,” he said.

[robot.sonic]

Kaya yan pero kailangan tambakan ng sangkaterbang ballast at matamper ang buong Line.

Yung 6-hours, nagagawa talaga dati pero yun yung non-stop Train.

Isa pa palang rason kaya tumagal ang byahe ay gawa patigil-tigil ang tren sa Quezon gawa ng mga skates (motorized trolleys). They even totaled one.

Ang Legazpi train ay sa October ata ang pagbalik. Hinihintay lang nila matapos ang Travesia Bridge.

Siguro naman gagawan ng paraan yan ng PNR management para mawala ang mga trolleys sa riles.

May sched ka na ba ng byahe nito?

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^^ Yung mga railroad towns sa Quezon, CaSur, imbis na kotse asa garahe, skates.

Pag nag recommence na ang daily services, mahihirapan na sila mag trolley along da riles. At bawal naman talaga to. Ang balak ang magkaron din ng commuter service sa Quezon. Kaso pag saktes nga, kahit kelan pwede ka mag arkila.

Wala pang sked na nilalabas PNR, intayin na lang natin.

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From GMANews TV:

Good News: Tren na biyaheng Manila-Bicol, bubuksan na ngayong Hunyo

Good News: Tren na biyaheng Manila-Bicol, bubuksan na ngayong Hunyo - Video - GMA News Online - The go-to site for Filipinos everywhere - Latest Philippine News

[fourtheboys96]

Ginawan kaya ito ng maayos na transportation demand study???

OK ang tren pero kung hindi kakagatin ng pasahero, lugi ito.

At hindi din pwede basta basta i-assume na sasakay ang mga pasahero dito kahit pa sabihin na bago or refurbished ang mga coaches allo na kung mabagal.

Ang mga pasahero minsan magtitiis yan sa masikip basta mas mabilis ang byahe.

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Tagalog news: Biyahe ng tren mula Metro Manila hanggang Naga, bubuksan sa Hulyo 2011

ni Danilo C. Abad
PIA

NAGA CITY Hunyo 7 (PIA) -- Magiging normal na ang biyahe ng Philippine National Railways (PNR) sa darating na buwan na Hulyo 2011, na magmumula sa Metro Manila hanggang Naga City at pabalik.

Ayun kay manager Constancio Toledano ng PNR Naga City station, puspusan na ngayon ang paghahanda ng kanilang opisina sa gaganapin na inaugural run at inaasahan sa okasyon na si Pangulong Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino lll ang sasakay sa biyahe ng tren.

Ayun pa kay Toledano na ang Bikol Express ay may anim hanggang pitong bagong tren ang bibiyahe na mayroong aircon sleepers, dining car at ordinary aircon. Aalis ang byahe mula Metro Manila ng alas-6 ng gabi at inaasahang darating sa Lunsod ng Naga mga alas-4 ng umaga ng susunod na araw.

Sinabi pa ni Toledano na walong oras ang target ng PNR na biyahe at pansamantalang ipapako muna ang travel time ng 10 oras mula Metro Manila hanggang Naga City habang nagkakaroon pa ng pagsasaayos ng mga section areas na may mahihinang trabesa.

Samantala, inaasahan naman na makakaabot ang biyahe ng tren sa Albay at Legazpi sa darating na Oktubre 2011.

Gumastos na ang pamahalaan nasyonal ng 30 milyong piso sa panimulang pagbuhay ng tren na biyaheng Bikol. Karamihan ng mga tren at makina ay donasyon ng pamahalaang Hapon sa Pilipinas. (MAL/DCA, PIA Camarines Sur)

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PNR’s ‘Bicol Express’ to resume running July 1

By Juan Escandor Jr.
Inquirer Southern Luzon
1:43 am | Thursday, June 9th, 2011

NAGA CITY—More than four years since Super typhoon “Reming” derailed its commercial run from Manila to Bicol, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) is set to run again on July 1.

The PNR will run a six-coach train from Naga City to the Tutuban Station in Manila, and another from Manila to Naga City, said Constancio Toledano, manager of the South Railways’ Area 3 covering routes from Tagkawayan, Quezon to Legazpi City, Albay.

He said the trip would last less than 10 hours. Diesel-fed engines would pull the coaches.

A fare rate of P700-P800 would be charged for air-con sleeper coaches and at least P300 for the reclining seat coaches.

Toledano said there would be two air-con sleeper coaches: a 28-person capacity coach with a double-deck bed in one room and a 38-person capacity coach with two double-deck beds in one room.

He said there will also be two reclining seat coaches with a carrying capacity of 68 and 72 persons.

Another coach will serve as dining car for passengers, he said.

Toledano said the PNR would conduct two test runs on June 22 and June 28 before the July 1 commercial run.

He said it took the train nine hours and 50 minutes to reach Naga City from Manila during a test run on May 22 that carried top PNR officials, several journalists and guest passengers.

A return trip on May 23 took nine hours and 35 minutes, said Toledano.

Toledano said the PNR would expand its Bicol commercial run as soon as 10 motorized train cars and 40 trailer cars donated by the Japanese government arrive in July.

He described the motorized train cars as akin to buses with one coach attached to an engine and with accommodations for passengers. It pulls several other passenger trailer cars.

The current PNR train has a separate coach to house the engine which consumes more fuel than motorized train cars that are similar to buses in terms of fuel efficiency.

The arrival of the train cars from Japan would allow the PNR to service short distance routes, said Toledano.

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PNR’s ‘Bicol Express’ to resume operations June 29

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 06/09/2011 1:15 PM |
Updated as of 06/09/2011 2:37 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Malacanang said the famous “Bicol Express” of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) will be up and running starting June 29, years after it was mothballed due to harsh weather conditions and lack of finances.

In a press release, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the rail service between Manila and Bicol will resume a month ahead of schedule “made possible by a new workforce and contracts for the Quezon-Bicol portions of the tracks, and vital infrastructure rehabilitation including the completion of the 50-meter San Cristobal Bridge in Laguna.”

The so-called Bicol Express, which started in 1938, was halted in the 1970s because of devastating weather. It was rehabilitated in 1985, only to experience deteriorations in the coming years. It ceased operations in 2006 due to typhoon damage.

“With the forthcoming resumption of the Bicol Express, new impetus to tourism and the transport of goods has been given. Manila-Bicol rail service resuming this month is a promising start,” Lacierda said.

He said PNR has earmarked P1.8 billion for the rehabilitation of the railway, on top of P250 million for the acquisition of the new trains. These include 83 air-conditioned sleeper and commuter coaches donated by Japan, which are due to arrive within the year.

The 400-kilometer long rail service between Manila’s Tutuban Station and Naga City’s Central Station will also “employ an additional thousand workers including ‘railway police’ to monitor and patrol the tracks and junctions,” Lacierda said.

The fully-rehabilitated Bicol Express will have 3 kinds of coaches in the future: tourist class with reclining seats and in-coach movie and sound systems; sleeping cars for families and for the executives; as well as a dining car with first class amenities.

“The projected journey of less than ten hours will put the Bicol Express at a competitive advantage with buses which take a full ten hours to make the trip, while offering travelers a superior riding experience at attractive fares,” Lacierda said.

Full service at 4 round trips a day (with a six-coach, 400-passenger capacity) is expected in September in time for the pilgrimages to the Festival of the Virgin of Peñafrancia.

An additional 16 round trips will start next year.