PHILIPPINE HEAVY RAIL

OPERATIONS/PROJECTS REPORT

COMPILED BY - BRAD PEADON

PHILIPPINE RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

FEBRUARY 2014

© Information contained in this website and page may be used for research and

publishing purposes provided acknowledgement is given to the author and the

‘Philippine Railway Historical Society’ .

We take copywrite infringement seriously, even if you don’t.

For further details please feel free to email us at PRHS.Society@gmail.com

Photo: Cadmiel Jared Peñaflor Pabellan

PHILIPPINE RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Starting as the ‘Philippine Railways SIG’ in 1999, the society set

up as a means to learn about the Philippines, share information and

connect people with a similar

interest.

The group is mostly internet based, though we did go through a

small period as an official group with the plan to help preserve rail-

way items in the Philippines. With mass scrapping of the majority of

rollingstock in 2010, the idea was set aside and we returned to our

original purpose.

Our occasional magazine/ ‘Along Da Riles’ is the last link to these

days and has taken on a life of its own. It continues solely through

contributions by myself and a few significant other people who care.

Our internet activities are vast. We are regularly emailed with en-

quiries both historical and of a more general nature and we are hap-

py to help where possible.

We have numerous websites accessible

through:

http://philippine-railways.blogspot.com

We also have a number of Yahoogroup

forums for sharing information and meeting

others:

PhilippineRailways

LocoShed_Photography_Philippines

Philippine_Modelling

Philippine_Transportation

Look forward to meeting you on a forum soon!

FIND US ON FACEBOOK!

CREDITS:

Thank you to Renante Bulaon, Arvin Dangalan,Brian Young, Brian South and the ’Philippine Railways Advocacy Group’

for their

contributions to this issue.

Thanks also to a few people from within the Philippine National Railways who graciously share information and wish to

remain anonymous.

REFERENCES:

Philippine Railway Historical Society (PRHS)- Various Websites

• PRHS Homepage: http://philippine-railways.blogspot.com

• PRHS Blogsite: http://philippinerailwayhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com

PhilippineRailways Yahoogroup (Operated by PRHS)

Philippine Modelling Yahoogroup (Operated by PRHS)

COPYWRITE Brad Peadon 2014

All rights reserved. This publication is produced by Brad Peadon for the ‘Philippine Railway Historical

Society’. It is intended for personal research use of anyone interested and personal photocopying is permitted.

Use of content within the publication for commercial or other publishing purposes can be granted by emailing the author

( PRHS.Society@gmail.com ) and including an appropriate credit in the final work.

RAILFANS GUIDE TO

THE PHILIPPINES

This guide is meant to share the latest information

with people around the world who share an interest

in Philippine railways.

The intention is to occasionally grow the guide

and issue updated versions electronically, while a

smaller hard copy version will be sent to PNR

people, railway archives and other places with sim-

ilar interests.

HOW CAN YOU HELP

Of course both this guide and our ‘other

publications require corrections, updates and any

additional information.

All our society publications rely on the

generosity of people who willingly share

information, and even funds, to benefit others.

This publication will cover the latest information

on the Philippine railways, while others in planning

will cover the railways in a more historical content

PRHS.Society@gmail.com

All our work is voluntary and solely to promote

the Philippine railways and its related hobby

PROJECT ANNOUNCED

COMMENCED

STAGE STATUS AS OF FEBRUARY 2014

LINKAGE TUTUBAN

TO CALOOCAN

Commenced

2009

Build started.

Suspended by Nov 2011

Stations all built with track work completed up to

about a kilometre from the terminus. Overgrown in

places.

LINKAGE TUTUBAN

TO ALABANG

Commenced

2009

Build Started

Suspended by Nov 2011

Track upgrading work to Alabang mostly completed.

Dual track section from Sucat awaiting completion.

DUPLICATION

SUCAT

TO CALAMBA

Commenced

2010

Suspended Some clearing work from Sucat to Alabang and a

second track on the new San Cristobal bridge.

BATANGAS

REOPENING

Proposed 2009 No Updates Proposed by the former Arroyo government.

STA CRUZ

REOPENING

Proposed 2009 No Updates Proposed by the former Arroyo government.

MAIN SOUTH

REBUILD - LEGASPI

Finished Due for opening to

Legaspi in June 2012.

Travesia bridge now completed with new railcar

having completed a trip this far. Still unoperational.

MAIN SOUTH

STANDARDISATION

Proposed 2010 Yet to commence. Project to see a standard gauge line initially laid

alongside the current narrow gauge line.

MAIN SOUTH

DUPLICATION

Proposed 2010 Yet to commence. Project to see second standard gauge track following

the laying of the above single line.

DARAGA TO

SORSOGON

Announced 2009 Yet to commence. Work yet to commence.

2016 Completion date.

PNR PROJECTS

Metro-Manila

Manila - Alabang - Manila Regular 30/60 minute service during daylight hours.

Sta Mesa - Sucat Two shuttle services per day.

Manila - Caloocan - Manila Due to open 2010. Still unopened as of 2014.

South Line

Manila - Santa Rosa - Manila One journey per day, out in evening, back early morning.

Manila - Naga - Manila Daily overnight loco hauled sleeper (Bicol Express) (Suspended)

Manila - Ligao - Manila Three times weekly overnight Kiha 52 service (Mayon Limited Ordinary)(Suspended)

Manila - Ligao - Manila Three times weekly overnight Kogane 59 service (Mayon Limited Deluxe)(Suspended)

Bicol Services

Naga - Sipocot - Naga One morning and afternoon service. (Bicol Commuter)

Naga - Ligao - Naga Service suspended as of 2013 (Bicol Commuter)

OPERATIONS

STATUS OF PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAYS

FEBRUARY 2014

SERVICES SUSPENDED

South Line

* Tayuman - North Port (partially removed)

* Sta Mesa - Antipolo Branch (Closed/Removed)

* Paco - Cavite Branch (closed removed)

* San Pedro - Carmona Branch (Closed/Removed)

* Los Banos - Sta Cruz/Pagsanjan Branch (closed/Removed

* Calamba-Batangas/Bavan (Closed/Removed) Proposed rebuild up to Batangas announced.

* Malvar - San Pablo (Closed/Removed)

* Santa Rosa - Sipocot

* Naga - Legaspi

North Line

Mainline north of Caloocan Workshops , inc all branches (Closed and Mostly Removed)

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAYS

PROJECT ANNOUNCED

COMMENCED

STAGE STATUS

NORTHRAIL Commenced

2006

Build started Rebuild of lines north of Caloocan.

Work suspended 2011

CEBU ELEVATED

RAILWAY

Proposed

2009-10

Proposal Proposal may have been scrapped in faavour of a

rapid bus system.

BICOL BULLET

TRAIN

Proposed

2010

Proposal No word as of early 2014

MINDANAO

RAILWAY

Proposed Feasibility Studies Project commenced under Ramos administration and

later revived during the Estrada and Arroyo admin-

istration.

Work yet to commence.

December 2012 - reported that the project had be-

come to expensive.

April 2012 - Project revived

2014 - Appears project has stagnated.

CENTRAL LUZON

CORPORATION

Proposed

2011

Proposal Caloocan to Tarlac, Clark and region.

OTHER RAILWAY PROPOSALS

PROJECT ANNOUNCED

COMMENCED

STAGE STATUS

PANAY RAILWAY

REBUILD

Proposed

2007 and 2010

Expressions of interest

called.

Yet to start.

Rebuild of Iloilo City to Roxas City line.

Proposal suspended in 2011.

Various reports in March 2012 contain announce-

ments that a toll road will be built instead and that

squatters are being removed from Lapaz in prepara-

tion for rebuild.

AKLAN BRANCH Proposed

2007 and 2010

Proposal Caloocan to Tarlac, Clark and region.

PANAY RAILWAY

PROJECT ANNOUNCED

COMMENCED

STAGE STATUS

CEBU ELEVATED

RAILWAY

Proposed

2009-10

Proposal Proposal reported to likely be scrapped in favour of a

rapid bus system.

CEBU RAILWAY

SOUTH LINE

REBUILD.

KOREAN DONATION

Offered 2013 Yet to commence. According to media sources the Koreans offered a

‘donated’ south line rebuild on condition of being

able to run freight.

Aquino government yet to accept.

FUN PARK TYPE TRAIN RIDES PROJECTS - JULY 2011

FESTIVAL MALL - ALABANG

SM MALL - FAIRVIEW, QUEZON CITY

Both malls have a small scale internal trains for kids, and interested adults, to ride around on.

In the case of SM Fairview, it is part of a larger fun park type theme on the top level.

PROJECT ANNOUNCED

COMMENCED

STAGE STATUS

SEMIRARA ISLAND

PRIVATE

Commenced

2011

No Advice Numerous steam and diesel locomotives hipped

from Negros to Semirara Island for operations there.

As of 2014 no advice on system building.

CALOOCAN RAILWAY

MUSEUM (RIHSPI)

Proposed 2009 Cancelled Museum proposed opposite Caloocan workshops by

now closed ‘Railways and Industrial Heritage Socie-

ty Phils Inc’ group

SUBSCRIBING

This railfan guide and our occasional magazine

‘Along Da Riles’ is available to anyone interested in

the railways of the Philippines.

Along Da Riles:

Is a small magazine covering mostly railway

topics (past and present) from around the

Philippines. News, sightings, trip reports,

photographs and anything else of interest .

Contributions are always very welcome.

Railfan Guide:

The Railfan Guide aims to be a regularly updated

list of locomotives, light rail vehicles and

rollingstock in use around Luzon.

It will be expanded in subsequent issues.

SUBSCRIBE via blank email to

Along_Da_Riles-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

UNSUBSCRIBE via blank email to

Along_Da_Riles-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

PHILIPPINE RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Since 1999

PRHS.Society@gmail.com

Website: Information, News, Photos & Forums.

http://philippine-railways.blogspot.com

PRHS.Society@gmail.com

WEBSITES OF PHILIPPINE RAILFAN INTEREST.

Philippine Railway Historical Society and Forums (PRHS)

http://www.prhsociety.wordpress.com/

Philippine Railway News & Historical Chat (PRHS)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PhilippineRailways

Philippine National Railways

http://www.pnr.gov.ph/

LRT

http://www.lrta.gov.ph/

MRT

http://www.dotcmrt3.gov.ph/

Philippine Railway Advocacy Group

http://philippinerailways.blogspot.com

Railway and Industrial Heritage Society

Http://www.rihspi.org (Society has now folded)

INTERESTED IN PHILIPPINE RAILWAYS AND MODELLING?

Come find the ‘Philippine Railway Historical Society’ on Facebook and join in the fun.

We aim to make everyone welcome and to help promote the wonderful hobby of trains.