NSCR eyes 2027 launch

The government is stepping up efforts to complete the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), with the first phase targeted to begin partial operations by the end of 2027 as authorities work toward a rail network that could serve 800,000 passengers daily.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), lawmakers and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating the project during an inspection of key railway facilities on Oct. 13.

The inspection covered the main Operations Control Center at Clark Depot, construction progress at Balagtas Station and the Malanday Depot in Valenzuela, where officials examined train sets and tested a train simulator.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the DOTr to speed up construction of the railway, which is intended to provide commuters with a faster alternative to road travel between Metro Manila and provinces in Central and Southern Luzon.

Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said close coordination among government agencies, Congress and international development partners would be crucial to meeting construction deadlines and ensuring the railway delivers safe and reliable service.

DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said the initial 27-kilometer section, covering seven stations, is scheduled for partial operations by the end of 2027.

The next phase, extending 53 kilometers from Malolos to Clark International Airport, is targeted to open between late 2028 and early 2029. By 2029, the department aims to enable train travel between Clark International Airport and Malanday.

The southern extension from Alabang to Calamba is planned for completion by 2031, while full operations of the central section connecting Valenzuela to Alabang are targeted by 2033.

Spanning 147.26 kilometers across 30 local government units, the NSCR will have 35 stations linking Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba in Laguna.

Its fleet will consist of 51 commuter train sets and seven express train sets dedicated to airport services. The DOTr reported that all eight cars of the fourth train set had been delivered and positioned at the Malanday Depot.

Once fully operational, the railway is expected to carry about 800,000 passengers daily and cut travel time across the entire route from more than four hours to approximately two hours.

House Committee on Flagship Programs and Projects Chairperson Rep. Kenneth Gatchalian pledged congressional support for the project’s implementation timetable, emphasizing its potential to connect communities and expand access to jobs and essential services.

The project is being financed jointly by the Japanese government through JICA and the Asian Development Bank. Its completion is expected to ease road congestion, improve regional mobility and strengthen transport links between major economic centers across Luzon.