The construction of the Malolos-Clark portion of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) will soon start following the signing of three civil works contracts amounting to PHP 84.9 billion (US$ 1.75 billion) in October 2020.
In an online press release, Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said the construction of the railway will begin in the next two months. It is expected to reach partial operability by 2023 and full completion by end of 2024.
DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said the project will create the “first-ever airport express service” in the Philippines, connecting the Clark International Airport (CRK) to Metro Manila by railway. This express, non-stop train system will run at 160 km per hour and will reduce travel time from Manila, Makati to Clark by at least 48 minutes.
The Malolos-Clark portion of the NSCR is divided into three contract packages, as follows:
- The first contract was awarded to a joint venture of Korean firms Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd., Dong-ah Geological Engineering Company Ltd., and Filipino firm Megawide Construction Corporation, and was valued at PHP 28.38 billion (US$ 586 million). The 17-km first phase covers Malolos, Bulacan; Calumpit, Bulacan; Apalit, Pampanga; and Minalin, Pampanga.
- On the other hand, the joint venture of Acciona Construction Philippines and Korean firm Daelim Industrial Co. Ltd. will build the second phase worth PHP 33.71 billion (US$ 696 million). The 16-km phase is from Minalin, Pampanga, and will pass through Santo Tomas, Pampanga up to San Fernando, Pampanga.
- The third contract was awarded to Italian-Thai Development Public Co., Ltd., worth PHP 22.78-billion (US$ 470 million), which will build a 12-km railway from San Fernando, Pampanga passing by Angeles, Pampanga up to Mabalacat, Pampanga.
Aside from rail tracks, the contracts cover the construction of all civil engineering and structural works of the project including viaducts, bridges, and five stations. The five stations are Calumpit, Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, and Clark.
(Source: Philippine News Agency)
