North-South railway faces nearly yearlong delay
Full operations of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) have been moved from 2032 to 2033, with the government adjusting the project’s timeline amid procurement and right of way issues.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said on Thursday the revised schedule was approved during the 11th meeting on Wednesday of the Economy and Development Council chaired by President Marcos.
Under the new timeline, the first partial operation from Valenzuela to Malolos stations is set in December 2027, followed by the Malolos to Clark segment in the fourth quarter of 2028.
The Clark-Solis-Alabang to Calamba section is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2031. Full operation of the Clark to Calamba segment is expected in the third quarter of 2033—from the original schedule of January 2032.
Stretching at 147 kilometers, the railway that will run from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba in Laguna is expected to cut travel time between the two points from four hours to just two, easing travel across 27 cities and municipalities, including the congested greater Metro Manila area.
The 35-station rail system is expected to generate 350,000 jobs and serve almost one million passengers daily at full operations.
