the PNR comeback

[absinthe]

Bicol Express fares under study

By KRIS BAYOS
Manila Bulletin Online
January 2, 2012, 4:47pm

MANILA, Philippines — The government is assessing whether to retain discounted fares for the Bicol Express or start charging regular rates starting this year.

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) Board will decide the fare issue on January 10, according to General Manager Jun Ragrario.

The PNR operates the Bicol Express and the commuter line from Tutuban in Manila to Alabang in Muntinlupa City.

Since the Bicol Express resumed its daily operation from Manila to Naga City in Camarines Sur last June 29, fare rates are discounted by 30 percent. The promotional rates are said to be effective only until December.

“We are still assessing if there is a need to revert to the regular fare rates or if we can retain the discount,” Ragrario said.

While the PNR is able to cover the train’s operational costs with the discounting, reverting to the regular rates is inevitable especially once the rail line is extended to Albay.

The PNR last deployed a trip to Bicol in November 2006. Ridership then was pegged at 100,000 annually, with daily trips going to and from Bicol.

At present, the PNR Manila-Naga trip is deployed every day at 6:30 p.m. and fares are still on promotional rates.

[CVT]

Ser CVT, baka naman yung COMMEX train ang nakita nyo, basura na talaga yun :D

Maaaring iyon nga ang nakita namin, bro.

Pero, wala bang balak i-improve ito? Araw-araw kasing ito ang sinasakyan ng mga tao rito sa Metro Manila... Talagang mukhang kaawa-awa...

14.6K:dj:

[jpdm]

Maaaring iyon nga ang nakita namin, bro.

Pero, wala bang balak i-improve ito? Araw-araw kasing ito ang sinasakyan ng mga tao rito sa Metro Manila... Talagang mukhang kaawa-awa...

14.6K:dj:

Di pa ba ginagamit yung blue na EMU trains from Japan?

[absinthe]

Bicol Express rates remain discounted

By KRIS BAYOS
Manila Bulletin Online
January 16, 2012, 5:57pm

MANILA, Philippines — Travelers can still enjoy discounted fare rates when opting to ride the Bicol Express line of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) in going to provinces in Southern Luzon.

This as the PNR board has not yet decided on lifting the promotional Bicol Express fare rates that has been charged to passengers since last June. Current fare rates are discounted by 30 percent on a promotional offering.

PNR General Manager Jun Ragrario said reverting to the original fare rates is “still under discussion” at the PNR Board and that “in the meantime, promotional rates will continue.”

At present, patrons of reclining tourist seats are being charged P300 instead of P605 while patrons of sleeper coaches will be charged P500 per berth instead of P950.

Presently, almost 50% discount pala BEx fares.

[absinthe]

Maaaring iyon nga ang nakita namin, bro.

Pero, wala bang balak i-improve ito? Araw-araw kasing ito ang sinasakyan ng mga tao rito sa Metro Manila... Talagang mukhang kaawa-awa...

14.6K:dj:

Pag napagana na nila yung EMUs, magpapahinga na si COMMEX siguro.

Pinagtataka ko lang, bakit kaya hindi nila gamitin yung Kiha 52 sa Calamba Commuter Service.

Di pa ba ginagamit yung blue na EMU trains from Japan?

Green-silver boss JPDM.

Meron isang EMU unit na asa Kalookan, pinagaaralan paano paandarin.

[absinthe]

Woman survives after train hits car in Laguna

ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 01/31/2012 3:05 PM | Updated as of 01/31/2012 9:40 PM

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – A woman survived after her car collided with a train in Sta. Rosa, Laguna Tuesday morning.

Senior Police Officer 1 George Platon, desk officer of Sta. Rosa police, said the collision occurred at around 9 a.m. in Barangay Tagapos.

Driver Christine Cuevas said the train suddenly appeared while she was crossing the train track and hit the rear part of her Honda Civic.

She was immediately brought to a hospital.

The 31-year-old Cuevas only sustained minor injuries, since it was the back portion of her car that was rammed by the train. The train came from Manila and was bound for San Pablo City.

Cuevas claimed she did not hear the approaching train.

“Wala talaga akong nadinig, nagulat na lang ako na nandiyan na ‘yung tren,” she said.

Residents were surprised that the train passed by at 9 a.m., when trains usually pass that route at 3 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) explained that the train involved was not a passenger train but a maintenance train.

The agency added that it is impossible that the train driver did not attempt to alert Cuevas.

“Siguro kaya hindi nadinig dahil naka-aircon ang kotse niya,” said PNR official Lito Nierva

The victim's family asserted that the accident may have been averted if warning signs or a level crossing were in place.

They now plan to sue the PNR.

“When you are crossing a railroad track, stop, look and listen para maiwasan ang aksidente,” reminded Senior Superintendent Ismael Fernandez, chief of Sta. Rosa police. – Reports from Dennis Datu, dzMM; Zyann Ambrosio, ABS-CBN News; ANC

LOL, sila pa magdedemanda sa PNR. :D

[fourtheboys96]

Anu yun tren ng ng Hogwarts. Bigla na lang susulpot.

Bata pa lang tayo STOP, LOOK and LISTEN na nga ang bilin eh tsk tsk.

At alam naman natin ang kundisyon ng rail system natin so dapat sa sarili natin alam natin kung paano mag-ingat kahit pa walang busina or railroad signs.

[Jiggs]

That's why It's More Fun in the Philippines....

Onli in the Philippines...Train don't have the right of way. As if parang car ang train na could stop at their whim.

[mark_t]

Mag sue pa siya ha? Paano kung ipa reenactment ng PNR ang incident? Hindi pa rin kaya nya marinig?

[baludoy]

i saw the post accident pics and all i can say is she should thank her lucky stars she's alright. the rear portion of the jazz (it wasn't a civic as reported above), for the lack of a better word, was creamed.

i think she really was not "in the moment" because it appears the road she was traversing was pretty much free of heavy traffic. parang swerte lang talaga siya at hindi na puruhan iyong kotse

[absinthe]

Warning: Massive picture and video upload...Mods, please do not brig me. :D

All sourced from SSC Philippines

Stopped by at Pansol Laguna for drivers wanting to buy some buko pie before proceeding back to Manila.


Kiha is being driven by the train drivers and trainees for familiarization of the Kiha52. They just went back and forth from IRRI up to Masaya Station at Laguna. Masaya station is an abondoned station. The funny thing is the guard at the IRRI gate reported to their office that the train is going back and forth so we have to adjust our stopping point just before the crossing, how silly. Next Monday PNR will be back at IRRI for more practice.

On the way to the IRRI at Sta Rosa Laguna we swiped a small white Honda Jazz at its back. Fortunately the driver survived after turning her car 360 degrees, not a flip over 360. Cops went to the scene after the accident and hold us for couple of minutes. The conductor talked with the police officers, after a 10 minutes of waiting we continued towards IRRI.




Some parts of the car where thrown away on nearby creek. The crossing has gate keeper as it is an illegal crossing.

^^ This was posted by Shranethomas who was onboard K52 when it collided with the white Honda Jazz in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Take note the incident happened on an illegal railroad crossing. Believe it or not, PNR has a list of all its legitimate rail crossings from Tutuban up to Legazpi.

[absinthe]

Taken by yours truly :D

PNR IPB-UPLB ROW 01.31.12

Boundary between LB and Bay, Laguna. While waiting for the TU-bound K52 blue, took some photos.

The ROW from IRRI up to the uphills of Bay, Laguna is really suited for high speed trial runs due to the minimal amount of informal settlers and wide spaces, not to mention that this section runs in a straight line up to the pineapple plantations in Calauan. I remember during the early 90s seeing locomotives doing speed runs here.


^^ This rail bridge borders the town of LB and Bay, Laguna. Curiously, I didn't saw any speed restrictions at this bridge, as compared to the rail bridge near IRRI, which is less than the length of this bridge. New PC ties and clips installed at both ends of the bridge. Direction: Northbound


^^ Rust accumulating at the side beams.




^^ Ballast still here. Direction: Southbound

[absinthe]

^^ Newly installed PC ties before the bridge approach showing the Pandrol mark.


^^ Theft of Pandrol clips is not confined to populated areas. I saw a lot missing.


^^ Took this photo while standing at the Masaya bridge.


^^ "Daang matuwid"




^^ K52 was not able to fully totaled the one-peso coin as it fell on the ballasts.


^^ IRRI's Experimental Farm in Bay, Laguna

[absinthe]

K52 sprint runs in IPB-IRRI ROW.



Following videos were taken by Shranethomas as they went to Palikpik-Ayungin Bridge, the deepest ravine in the PNR MLS.



Pagkatapos kumain nag simula na ulit mag praktis mag drive.
Ito ay kuha duon sa ginawa naming station para sa pag praktisan sa paghinto.

After naman matapos kaming mag praktis umakyat kami sa Palikpik bridge para masilayan ang bridge at idemonstrate sa drivers yung tamang pag akyat ng Kiha sa matarik na lugar.

[absinthe]

Posted by Happosai. The government really has to show political will and have the same zeal and obsession ala Gloria/Corona to have the defunct Manila Pier Port Line reopened.

^^ The orange kiha is being used for commuter while the single blue kiha for training.


^^ The orange kiha with the blue at the left


^^ Daang matuwid??


^^ MRR Logo at the Tutuban Mall

[absinthe]

Second Kiha 52 training runs.

Kiha 52-153 training run kanina along Brgy. Masaya ROW.

Shranethomas driving the Kiha 52 blue.

^^I was fortunate to have a ride on 917 the other night up to Alabang. Tama mala halimaw nga ang busina nya.

By the way ito nga pala yung isa sa vid sa Kiha driving, censya na pangit kasi ang gamit ko na CP.

Ito naman yung pag maneho ng friend ko ng pauwi na kami. Si Mark922 ang nasa harap ng video.

Third Kiha 52 training run wherein they utilized the red-orange Kiha 52 units. Videos by Mark922


^^ Running between Sitio Prez to Masaya, Bay, Laguna



Last video upload. Kiha52, which had its training run in Laguna, passing in EDSA Station enroute to Tutuban.

Huwag naman sana hehe, as much as possible wala tayo sana masagasaan na tao. Kailangan lang nila na maeducate about railway safety at kung iisipin
wala naman gumagawa nito kaya madami pa ring kababayan natin ang nadadali.

Ito rin pala ang Kiha52 after ng training nila sa San Pablo passing EDSA.
May pasaway dito na lalaki na pinipigilan namin na tumawid pero tumawid pa rin.

Ito naman arrival ng BEX sa Alabang station. Using 917

^^ DEL 917 is one of the most strongest and reliable among the 900 series locomotive. Basta 917, maasahan :D

[absinthe]

Blast from the past:

The Bauang Rail Bridge, completed in 1929 spanning the Bauang River in La Union, was the longest bridge ever to be built by the Manila Railroad Company.


^^ This is how the bridge looked before.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7...ge.jpg?force=1


^^ Now, only the concrete pillars are left standing in this once proud bridge.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...04842674_n.jpg

Posted by Riles28 in SSC. Photos courtesy of goriob in Flickr. He really has beautiful photos of the grand old days of Philippine Railways. Nakakahinayang na decades of mismangement, corruption, squatter, disasters, etc. etc., halos wala ng natira.

Another Memorable Picture of MRR and PNR.



PNR Nikko train on his first day on Tutuban being inspected.



PNR Rail Bicycle for rail and signal and switching inspection.



MRR Promotional Ad. for the passengers who want to travel by train.

Courtesy to goriob from Flickr.

[jpdm]

Hingi pa tayo ng mga trains sa Japan for our PNR.

[absinthe]

PNR to soon recommence commercial rail service to Albay.

From Albay Go. Joey Salceda's FB Page:

MAYON LIMITED
PNR Promo Run "starts on MONDAY up to GUINOBATAN".

FARE P715
LEAVE MLA: 8AM
LEAVE LIGAO: 8PM

Daily. Note, though, only one train would be the tourist train but the other train would be ordinary (kasalubungan)

[still 10meters to go in the Bongalon rehab; Legazpi by end-April]

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...6&id=652921755

[absinthe]

^^ Mayon Limited. From PNR's FB Page: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...50216834_n.jpg