The travel time from the Clark International Airport (CRK) to Makati City will soon be just under an hour. This is made possible through an Airport Railway Express Service that’s part of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) North-South Commuter Railway project (NSCR).
PNR Clark Phase 2
The agency’s NSCR includes projects such as the PNR Clark Phase 1, and the PNR Clark Phase 2. The DOTr reported that the PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban to Malolos segment) is now 48 percent complete while the PNR Clark Phase 2 (Malolos-Clark segment) has a progress rate of 32 percent.
The PNR Clark Phase 2 is a 53-kilometer railway that will feature six stations namely Calumpit, Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, Clark, and Clark International Airport. The DOTr said that travel time between Malolos, Bulacan and Clark, Pampanga will just take 30 to 35 minutes once the PNR Clark Phase 2 is operational. It will also feature an Airport Railway Express Service, which connects CRK and Makati in just 55 minutes, offering faster and more convenient travel.
PNR Clark Phase 2 now has a progress rate of 32 percent
The PNR Clark Phase 2 is a $2.75 billion (more than Php 138.1 billion) project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The DOTr shared that the project has generated 7,000 direct jobs that opened during the construction phase of the PNR Clark Phase 2. The agency is expecting that 3,000 more job opportunities will be generated once the project becomes operational.
PNR Clark Phase 2 is part of the massive North-South Commuter Railway project
ADB Country Director Kelly Bird said that the railway project is important to the economic recovery of the region.
"This project is going to be incredibly important to the economic recovery and particularly in this region. So, you can imagine you got a lot of employment that's being created, a lot of supply contracts - so this is the direct effects. And then there's the indirect effects - the second round of effects - the creating of new income opportunities for the region," said Bird.
Visit Philkotse.com for more updates on the country’s railway projects.