ACEREMONY was held in Manila on April 5 to mark the start of work on the long-planned Northrail project to rehabilitate the former Philippine National Railways Main Line North. Closed since 1982, the single-track 1067mm gauge line is to be rebuilt as a double-track route able to carry 350000 passengers a day in a fleet of Japanese DMUs. Provision will be made for electrification.
The first phase, due for completion by 2007, covers the 32 km from Caloocan to Malolos with intermediate stations at Malabon, Valenzuela, Bocaue and Marilao. Initial work includes rehousing thousands of squatters who have occupied the alignment.
The cost of this is partly covered in a funding package from the ExportImport Bank of China, which is providing US$421m towards the US$503m total cost; the Philippine government is contributing US$82m.
A second phase of work will see a branch built to the freeport zone in Zambales, and a third should see the route extended from Caloocan to Taguig. The next stage will cover rehabilitation as far as San Fernando, and the line will ultimately reach Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, the former Clark US Air Force base.
April 5 also saw an inaugural trip on LRT Line 2 over the central section between Betty Go/Belmonte Street in Quezon City and Legarda in Manila. Free rides were offered on the following day, with commercial service starting on April 7. Previously, only the 4·5 km section between Santolan and Araneta Center had been open. According to LRTA Administrator Pacifico Morales Fajardo, the final section from the interchange with Line 1 to Tutuban will open by October.
Meanwhile, the Investment Co-ordination Committee of the National Economic & Development Authority has granted provisional approval for a BOT scheme for Line 7, which would run between Quezon City and Tala in Caloocan City.
