The Philippine National Railways (PNR) has opened its latest San Pablo-Lucena Commuter Line.
This new PNR route aims to cut down the travel time from San Pablo, Laguna and Lucena, Quezon to just 30 minutes.
Outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte inaugurated the 44km line last June 25. The public operations began on June 26, 2022.
As per the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the San Pablo-Lucena line has a daily passenger capacity of 3,683.
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President Duterte said that they acknowledge the importance of an effective transport system as they will make places in the country more accessible and manageable thereby “strengthening trade within rural and urban areas.”
The commuter line stopped its operations in October 2013. Until its reopening, travel times from San Pablo to Lucena usually takes an hour.
San Pablo-Lucena line’s revival is part of the Bicol Express project. Back in January, the transportation department signed a contract for the initial funding of electromechanical works and construction for a 565km line that connects Metro Manila all the way to Sorsogon.
Dubbed as the South Long Haul Project or PNR Bicol, it will cut the usual 12-hour travel time to just four hours.
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The newly reopened San Pablo-Lucena commuter line is part of the PNR Bicol Package 1, which costs Php142 billion to make. It connects Banlaic in Cabuyao to Daraga, Albay and consists of 23 stations, 10 tunnels, 230 bridges, and a 70-hectar depot located in San Pablo.