the PNR comeback

[absinthe]

^^ Yup, there used to be a branch line from Bulacan and Tarlac going to Nueva Ecija. You can still see the old ROW in Google Earth.

Yung TPLUEx, meron ng ginawang viaducts in case na mabuhay ulit yung Line.

[desert fox]

^^ Yup, there used to be a branch line from Bulacan and Tarlac going to Nueva Ecija. You can still see the old ROW in Google Earth.

Yung TPLUEx, meron ng ginawang viaducts in case na mabuhay ulit yung Line.

Sana nga buhayin uli nila...

bakit hindi gamitin ng ating gobyerno mga military personnel natin sa mga ganyang klaseng proyekto?

di ba mas makakatipid ang bansa natin?

[absinthe]

Manila-Naga v.v timetable. Courtesy of Philippine Railways

Source: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B_a2cjwaOe...ol+express.bmp

[desert fox]

Napanood ko sa TV yung initial run ng PNR...muntik pa madisgrasya...(me small portion ng riles na lumubog at di na pantay at kapag dumaan ang tren, sigurado maderail at kaboom.....)

mabuti na lang me isang lalaki na me malasakit at talagang inabangan nya ang pagdaan ng tren at pinahinto nya ang tren, at mabuti din at naging alerto yung nagmamaneho ng tren at huminto siya.....


otherwise, laking disgrasya.......

[absinthe]

^^ Kita naman ng makinista yun. Malayo palang nag slow down na sha. Initially no one was allowed to open the doors or disembark the train for safety and security reasons. After PNR police checked the area, passengers were allowed to disembark and uzi na.

---

Bicol Express configuration has now changed. It is now

DEL 918 + Sleeper + CAR + NR-01

Travel times have also changed, probably due to the fact that 918 is now hauling "less".

[docgorio]

Pardon my ignorance...

Looking at the schedule posted above, will the train stop at those stations or is it a non stop Tutuban-Naga run???

[absinthe]

^^ Sir, station names highlighted in bold are the ones where the B.E. train will make scheduled stops. Eventually, train will also stop in Calamba and San Pablo cities when services stabilize.

That timetable is also subject to change soon; services will soon be an initial once a day service.

[absinthe]

Some photos during the Inaugural Run last June 29-30, 2011.


^^ The old COMMEX coaches sits idly to be utilized for the Biñan service.


^^ The old and the new stand side-by-side in Tutuban.


^^ DEL 918 given the honor of bringing the T-611 Inaugural Train to Naga.


^^ The classic livery now used by the PNR. This was taken in the conductor's uniform.


Passengers and crew settle in for the long journey down South.

[absinthe]

^^ T-611 in the early hours of the morning.


^^ Rail police to ensure the safety and security of passengers and crew alike.


^^ Evidence of the collision with a skates carrying sacks of coal somewhere after Lopez, Quezon.


^^ DEL 918 coupled to 14-28.


^^ Old Filtrack livery can still be clearly seen underneath the classic livery.

[absinthe]

^^ DEL 918 uncoupled to 14-28 to test the stability of the eroded embankment.


^^ 14-28 in the morning in Malaguico, Sipocot, Camarines Sur.


^^ Rice fields abound in Libmanan, Camarines Sur.


^^ T-611 touches down in Naga City, signaling the return of passenger revenue service after almost five years of absence.


^^ NR-01 and CAR-04 back-to-back in Naga Station.

[absinthe]

^^ A Priest blesses the Inaugural Train in Naga Station.


^^ Shunting the train thru the Naga Trianggulo for the journey back home.


^^ Preparing for departure as T-612 on a rainy Thursday evening, June 30, 2011.

[absinthe]

Important update: PNR Bicol Express services are officially suspended until August 31, 2011 for construction activities in Malaguico, Sipocot, Camarines Sur.

[baludoy]

some good news for our peeps living up in the northern side of luzon

PNoy to pitch North Rail renegotiation with China
18-Aug-11, 11:43 AM | Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com

MANILA, Philippines -- President Benigno Aquino III will make a pitch for the renegotiation of the North Rail project before the Chinese government when he visits the country starting August 30.

Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) bared this Thursday when asked during the committee deliberations of his department's budget in the House of Representatives.

Roxas said that the North Rail issue is one of the matters to be discussed between the two countries as well as other development rights.

"We are seeking for amendments to the existing agreement such that problems can be addressed satisfactorily," he told the panel.

"We want to have an operational working rail that would link to the north rail, for instance, Clark," he added.

Aquino's state visit, which covers Beijing, Shanghai, and Xiamen, has been tentatively scheduled on August 30 to September 3.

Roxas will join the delegation.

The 80-kilometer railroad, a flagship program of the Arroyo administration, will link the northern flank of Metro Manila with the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at the Clark free port in Pampanga.

From an original budget of $421 million, the North Rail project cost has now gone up to $621 million.

The DOTC earlier suspended the contract for the NorthRail project with
Sinomach (formerly China National Machinery and Equipment Corporation) due to slow progess and cost overruns.

PNoy to pitch North Rail renegotiation with China - Interaksyon.com

[absinthe]

Update:

Manila-Naga train service is set to resume on September 1 on an every other day basis.

Starting September 7, services will now be daily. Departure in Tutuban and Naga stations will be at 6:00pm.

[mark_t]

Paano kaya masusugpo itong mga pasaway na ito? kaya di umaasenso ang Pilipinas....dapat tangkilikin, pangalagaan ang mga public properties....di ganyan...

nga pala congrats sa mga kababayan nating bicolanos, me public transport na kayo na can afford....

unfortunately you have to shoot some of them, that is how law enforcement works

[absinthe]

Bicol Express, balik biyahe na ngayong araw

Bombo Radyo Philippines
Monday, 05 September 2011 10:16

NAGA CITY - Muli ng babiyahe ngayong araw ang Bicol Express matapos ang isang buwan na pagkakasuspinde nito.

Ayon kay Mr. Constancio Toledano, Operations Manager ng Philippine National Railways (PNR)-Naga, mamayang alas-6:30 ng gabi ay bibiyahe na ito mula Metro Manila papuntang Bicol.

Natapos na umano nilang ayusin ang mga riles at gawin ang tulay sa Barangay Malagico, bayan ng Sipocot, Camarines Sur kung saan mas naging moderno at konkreto ito.

Kung maaalala, sa naturang lugar nagkaroon ng aberya ang biyahe ng tren nang gumuho ang lupa bunsod ng sunud-sunod na pag-ulan.

Maging ang ibang riles sa bayan ng Quezon at Laguna ay tuluyan na rin umanong natapos noong Agosto 12.

Samantala, umaasa naman si Toledano na oras na maibalik na sa normal ang biyahe nito, hindi na magkakaroon ng anumang aberya lalo na ngayon na dumarami na ang pumupunta sa lungsod ng Naga para sa Peñafrancia Festival.

[absinthe]

Bicol Express rolls out again


^^ [SIZE="1"]A Philippine National Railways (PNR) commuter train prepares to depart Tutuban Central Station in Divisoria, Manila Monday morning, Sept. 5, 2011, to make its first trip to Naga City upon the resumption of the so-called ‘Bicol Express.’ (Photo by LINUS G. ESCANDOR II) (>>> This made me laugh...a DMU commuter train for TG-NG? Good luck :lol[/SIZE]

By KRIS BAYOS
Manila Bulletin
September 5, 2011, 3:40pm

MANILA, Philippines — Bicolanos and tourists planning to make the long trip to Naga City for the feast of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia this month may heave a sigh of relief after the Philippine National Railways (PNR) resumed Monday the operation of its Bicol Express.

PNR Operations Manager Estelito Nierva said the Bicol Express resumed its interprovincial operation this week after the successful construction of a steel bridge that supports the government-owned rail tracks in Camarines Sur.

He said the construction of the steel bridge in Barangay Malaguico in Sipocot town will permanently solve the perennial disruption of the Bicol Express’ operation whenever heavy rains wash away the loose soil embankment of the PNR’s rail tracks in the province.

It was recalled that PNR officials decided to suspend last month the recently revived operation of the Bicol Express after Typhoon Juaning’s wrath caused soil erosion along the PNR rail tracks in Camarines Sur, making it impassable to trains going to and from Naga City.

“The PNR board met last Wednesday and decided to resume the operation of Bicol Express on September 5. The resumption of operation is made in time for the upcoming feast of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia this month,” Nierva said.

But Nierva clarified that the resumed operation of Bicol Express will be on a “trial basis” until December.

“This means that the operation of the Bicol Express is not yet considered a commercial one since we are still testing the market and viability of commercial operation,” he added.

Nevertheless, the PNR’s Bicol Express will still deploy 6:30 p.m. trips every other day from Tutuban in Manila and from Naga in Camarines Sur and fares will still be on promotional rates at P548 for reclining seats, P950 for sleepers and P1,400 for executive sleepers with four berths each.

Nierva assured the public that PNR engineers have also inspected and rehabilitated all the bridges supporting the rail tracks going to and from Bicol aside from constructing the Malaguico bridge.

“We at PNR are ready for the exodus of passengers to Bicol for the feast of Peñafrancia and even for the upcoming Christmas break. Despite our limited rolling stock, we assure the public that PNR is safe to transport passengers to their destination,” he said.

[absinthe]

Update:

Bicol Express train services are now daily. Train departs in TU and NG at 6:30 pm.

[absinthe]

New PNR trains coming soon

By GABRIEL S. MABUTAS
Manila Bulletin Online
August 31, 2011, 3:18pm

MANILA, Philippines — Trains from Japan are expected to start coming in next week to augment the Philippine National Railway’s (PNR) present fleet of railway cars running in Luzon, the PNR announced Wednesday.

PNR spokesperson Paul de Quiros said the first batch of trains donated by East Japan Railway Co. (JR-EAST) is expected to arrive in the country around Sept. 12-15. The first set of trains coming, he said, is composed of 20 rail cars, which would be used for both Metro Manila and provincial travels.

He told Manila Bulletin that once inspected and field tested, 10 of the cars would be made to service passengers in Metro Manila, and seven would be made to service travels to and from Bicol.

The remainder of the 20, he added, would be reserved by the PNR for emergency operations.

Estelito Nierva said the trains had already been loaded in Nagata port and are tentatively scheduled for shipment around Sept. 6-8.

De Quiros said that after the first shipment, more trains would be sent every month. “The plan is to deliver 10 trains every month after the first batch is sent, until the total number of donated trains are delivered.”

JR-EAST earlier agreed to donate some 50 trains to the PNR. While the trains were already obsolete under Japanese standards, the PNR believes they could still be used in the Philippines to meet its needs.

The government has approved the disbursement of around P250 million to cover the shipping costs of the donated trains from Japan to Manila.

[absinthe]

Bicol Express now runs daily

PhilStar Online
By Jun Pasaylo
Updated September 13, 2011 01:36 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Here’s good news for Bicolanos and tourists planning to visit Naga City to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia this month.

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) announced that it has resumed its operations and now offers daily trips at special fares from Manila to Naga and vice versa as part of the celebration. The feast of Penafrancia has become a yearly tourist attraction in the Bicol region.

PNR general manager Junio Ragragio Jr., said the Bicol Express resumed its Manila-Naga City operation since early last week. “The temporary halting of operation during the month of August was in part to prepare the PNR to ensure that our commuters who wish to travel to Naga City to celebrate the feast of Penafrancia can avail of our train services,” he explained.

He said the successful construction of the steel bridge in Barangay Malaguico in Sipocot town and other track repairs in the Bicol will help solve the perennial disruption of the Bicol Express’ operation whenever heavy rains wash away the loose soil embankment of the train system's rail tracks.

Last month, PNR officials decided to suspend the recently revived operation of the Bicol Express after Typhoon Juaning’s wrath caused soil erosion along the rail tracks in Camarines Sur, making it impassable to trains going to and from Naga City.

However, Ragragio clarified that the resumed operation of Bicol Express will still be on a “trial basis” until December.

“This means that the operation of the Bicol Express is not in full since we are still testing the market and viability of regular operation and the status of the tracks and trains,” he added.

PNR’s Bicol Express provides 6:30 p.m. trips everyday from Tutuban in Manila and from Naga in Camarines Sur and fares will still be on promotional rates at P548 for reclining seats plus a 30% discount for the sleeper and executive coaches. The sleeper coach is now priced at P665 from P950 and P997.50 from P1, 425 for executive sleepers with four berths each. The regular train configuration for the regular trip is one reclining seats and two family sleeper coaches.

Ragragio said that on September 16 PNR patrons can avail of a special trip with a train configuration bound for Naga City composed of two family sleeper and one executive cabins and a dining car.

The train executive likewise assured the public that PNR engineers have certified all the bridges and rail tracks going to and from Bicol.

“We at PNR are ready to lend a hand to the exodus of passengers to Bicol for the feast of Peñafrancia. Despite our limited rolling stock, we assure the public that the PNR will do its utmost in delivering on its mandate to fulfill public railroad service,” Ragragio said.