Philippines To Build US$5.05B Manila-Clark Railway

Philippines: The Department of Transportation in the Philippines will begin construction of the Manila-Clark railway project in the fourth quarter of this year, and will be completed by 2021. 

The PHP 255 billion (US$5.05 billion) project will be funded by Official Development Assistance, an arm of the Ministry of Foreign Affirs from Japan. The railway will connect Manila with Central Luzon.

The Manila-Clark railway is one of the projects initiated by the nation’s current government under its ‘Build Build Build’ infrastructure programme.

“This project will ease traffic congestion and help thousands of commuters coming from Bulacan and Pampanga who travel daily to their workplaces or schools in metro Manila,” said Junn Magno, general manager at Philippine National Railways.

The railway project was initiated with the marking of five stations, which are Marilao, Meycauayan, Valenzuela, Caloocan, and Tutuban.

A total of 13 train sets will be initially deployed once the railway is completed, each comprising of eight coaches which will be capable of operating at a maximum speed of 120 km per hour.

The 106 km railway project will comprise a total of 17 stations and is expected to reduce the two hour travel time from Manila to Central Luzon to approximately 55 minutes. It is expected to benefit 350,000 passengers daily during the first year of its operations.

APMEN News