^^Mas grabe pa sa squatters ang haharapin ng gobyerno sa A.C. The sisig industry of the city has one of its centers located along da riles. The Northrail project will definitely have a huge impact on the sisigan culture. When in Angeles, asking a local on where the best sisig can be found, the usual answer would be "sa crossing" or "malapit sa riles ng tren". Well I guess you have to give up something for the better good ika nga.

konting revisions lang. :) That's the area where the Canlubang Branch/Spur line lies. Yes it is in SLEX. I was trying to take a photo of the Cabuyao Branch line bridge and the San Pedro Branch line underpass.. Both are along SLEX. Eh ang hirap tumantya. :D

^^ Ooppssss!!!! :banana:

konting revisions lang. :) That's the area where the Canlubang Branch/Spur line lies. Yes it is in SLEX. I was trying to take a photo of the Cabuyao Branch line bridge and the San Pedro Branch line underpass.. Both are along SLEX. Eh ang hirap tumantya. :D

^^ Actually the best way to take a shot is to remain steady to have a nice focus. The one I took at the Buendia, steady lang ako but never nagpapahalata sa mga tao. ^^

^^Mas grabe pa sa squatters ang haharapin ng gobyerno sa A.C. The sisig industry of the city has one of its centers located along da riles. The Northrail project will definitely have a huge impact on the sisigan culture. When in Angeles, asking a local on where the best sisig can be found, the usual answer would be "sa crossing" or "malapit sa riles ng tren". Well I guess you have to give up something for the better good ika nga.


^^ Repossessing the original PNR right of way is steel much cheaper than to acquire new one. Not only that, railways to be profitable should always run on town centers and its very hard to find now available lots along town propers. Even if theres a lot of squatters, Northrail and PNR would have no choice but to look for a cheaper and yet very reasonable way finding railroad right of way..

^^ Actually the best way to take a shot is to remain steady to have a nice focus. The one I took at the Buendia, steady lang ako but never nagpapahalata sa mga tao. ^^

yep. ganun nga dapat.. Sa akin kasi since kapag naluwas ako bus ang sakay ko. hirap tanyahin speed ng mga bus. Sakto nga nung nakuha ko yung shot ng canlubang branch line di gaano kabilis takbo ng bus.. :)

yep. ganun nga dapat.. Sa akin kasi since kapag naluwas ako bus ang sakay ko. hirap tanyahin speed ng mga bus. Sakto nga nung nakuha ko yung shot ng canlubang branch line di gaano kabilis takbo ng bus.. :)


^^ He he he... ok na yun. The important is that we had an update. Sana January na para full swing ang mga updates natin. Kunbaga hindi nakakapanghinayang puntahan ang project pag maraming accomplishments. Sana matapos na nila agad ang mga station. I think for sure, malinis, maganda at very modern ang kahihinatnan ng Buendia Station at mga susunod pa.... :)

pero alam ko sa angeles para sa mga taga riles,doon sila ililipat sa Northrail Ville 3,Brgy.Cutud,Angeles City.sabi noon kumpare ko na taga Brgy. Jose..

pero alam ko sa angeles para sa mga taga riles,doon sila ililipat sa Northrail Ville 3,Brgy.Cutud,Angeles City.sabi noon kumpare ko na taga Brgy. Jose..

^^ Nice if they will be relocated to Northrail Ville. I think that's the best way for them to own their piece of land... Sad to say they will loss their home for almost 30 years but it's really sad to say were suffering from great loss of great transportation not only in the Philippines history but for all of the whole world. :bash:

ei, nastop nga tlaga ang operation sa malolos site sbi ng classm8 ko na thesis nya ung malolos station.. Kinonfirm ko na s kanya knina kc galing sya doon bgo mgsembreak at nakausap nya ung contractor, pero di sinabi what causes the halt of the construction, sana hindi kaugnay sa mga controversies between ZTE and Arroyo.

^^Mas grabe pa sa squatters ang haharapin ng gobyerno sa A.C. The sisig industry of the city has one of its centers located along da riles. The Northrail project will definitely have a huge impact on the sisigan culture. When in Angeles, asking a local on where the best sisig can be found, the usual answer would be "sa crossing" or "malapit sa riles ng tren". Well I guess you have to give up something for the better good ika nga.

Maybe the best way is to have a good station for Angeles City, lets say a major "world class" through type station that will serve passengers from DMIA and the people of Angeles City, then inside of it have lots of shops, and the best way to put all the "sisigans" and fastfoods there..it will also acts as a central node and "puntahan" because of the sisigans there,,,ano sa tingin nyo mga Pangga?...:cheers:

e2 nga pala ppost ko from Philippine Star dated: Oct 29,2007

http://file.uploadr.com/115b7-embed

http://file.uploadr.com/115b8-embed

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Dnaguilian%2520bridge%26y%3DSearch%26rd%3Dr1%26meta%3Dvc%253Dph%26fp_ip%3DPH%26fr2%3Dtab-web%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501&w=400&h=300&imgurl=www2.ttcn.ne.jp%2F%7EPhilrail%2F3naguilian5.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ttcn.ne.jp%2F%7EPhilrail%2Fnaguiliang.htm&size=13.3kB&name=3naguilian5.jpg&p=naguilian+bridge&type=jpeg&no=4&tt=6&oid=8d093005365570de&ei=UTF-8
check out this site, a rail bridge in north luzon, maybe in la union..

[QUOTE=kaelthas18;16174484]e2 nga pala ppost ko from Philippine Star dated: Oct 29,2007

^^ Hi Nathan!!! GOOD MORNING...he he he.... issue lang yan!!!.... wala pa kasi silang makitang major works.. And the best way here is to actually visit the Malolos Station for the confirmation... Not a single latest picture, wala silang mapost.... he he he.... On my own part, I will not post any developments here if actually I don't know what's really happening. But I have at least some true infos. So better go to the whole strech of the line from Caloocan to Angeles and have a bunch of picture.. Remember, this line is all new and everything must all be resolved firs....he he he....:):):)

ei, nastop nga tlaga ang operation sa malolos site sbi ng classm8 ko na thesis nya ung malolos station.. Kinonfirm ko na s kanya knina kc galing sya doon bgo mgsembreak at nakausap nya ung contractor, pero di sinabi what causes the halt of the construction, sana hindi kaugnay sa mga controversies between ZTE and Arroyo.

^^ Let's see if they can truly make a full blast construction by January next year, we still have 2 months more before finally making comments about this. Otherwise, another big reason to scrap this project and realize it was a only a big JOKE and panloloko sa tao!!!

Maybe the best way is to have a good station for Angeles City, lets say a major "world class" through type station that will serve passengers from DMIA and the people of Angeles City, then inside of it have lots of shops, and the best way to put all the "sisigans" and fastfoods there..it will also acts as a central node and "puntahan" because of the sisigans there,,,ano sa tingin nyo mga Pangga?...:cheers:


^^ Yup, that is exactly what they are planning to do at Angeles City... They are planning to make Angeles City a complete hub for all of the North Rails Central Operation. They will build build depots, motorpoll and stations with shops inside. Just what every Filipinos expecting of. Angeles hub will serve Subic, DMIA and San Fernando in the future.

ei, nastop nga tlaga ang operation sa malolos site sbi ng classm8 ko na thesis nya ung malolos station.. Kinonfirm ko na s kanya knina kc galing sya doon bgo mgsembreak at nakausap nya ung contractor, pero di sinabi what causes the halt of the construction, sana hindi kaugnay sa mga controversies between ZTE and Arroyo.

^^ Nathan, baka makapost tayo dito with details of the Malolos Station with the help of your classmate. Bka mayroon syang details dito at least the no. of tracks and platforms for the Malolos Stations and other Northrail Stations design... Bka pwede you can talk to your classmates again if ever he'd ask for that detail. Many thanks Nathan.....:banana:

i think there will be a spur before the Angeles Station going to DMIA that serves the dedicated Airport Express rail...

i think there will be a spur before the Angeles Station going to DMIA that serves the dedicated Airport Express rail...


^^ Yup, thats true. It was indeed an airport line they call it. Designed to Interconnect NAIA Terminals to Fort Bonifacio to Caloocan and Clark... I may not be sure about this but Northrail is all about an Airport Express Train from Fort Bonifacio/NAIA to DMIA plus a commuter line from Tutuban and Caloocan to Subic, Clark/Angeles and San Fernando, La Union. The Airport Express Trains and the Commuter Trains will maximize their passenger service by sharing lines in the double track line spanning about 85km for Phase 1. Plus the container service in which plans to operate at night time.

In other words, Northrail tracks must be so designed in order to make an express ride from airport to airport. No wonder the cost and design will truly warrant the construction of a modern railway system. One thing I've noticed about it is that from Caloocan to Clark to DMIA, the design was to avoid all possible level crossings in major througways by building viaducts and over passess (Malolos 1.7km, Valenzuela 3.7km) thus lowering the risk of accidents and raising the efficiency of the travel. It is also very obvious that their Phase 3 (Caloocan to Fort Bonifacio) is an elevated/underground line, again avoiding most major level crossings. Phase 3 will run elevated above the PNR right of way from Caloocan passing through Blumentrit, Espanya, Sta. Mesa, Pandacan, Makati and left turn to FTI Central Terminal (future site), then a spur line to Fort Bonifacio Terminal.

No wonder why the PNR is really serious in clearing its line from Caloocan to Calamba.

i think there will be a spur before the Angeles Station going to DMIA that serves the dedicated Airport Express rail...

ang pangit nmn if spur line going to dMIA ang nauna bago mag-angeles station from malolos...Eh di anong use pa ng angeles station....? stop over..nyak..if there will be a city station, dpat dyan pakinabangan..

ang pangit nmn if spur line going to dMIA ang nauna bago mag-angeles station from malolos...Eh di anong use pa ng angeles station....? stop over..nyak..if there will be a city station, dpat dyan pakinabangan..

^^ Spur line nga lang talaga. I thought your friend did research about it. I hope he had this Northrail alignment data's. The line to DMIA is a spur line from Angeles Junction. Subic is also a spurline from San Fernando or Angeles. Spurline lang kasi sinunod nila ang original alignment ng PNR Northline so it shows the railroad between San Fernando to Angeles is the Main Line North.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2051/1806156811_a1dec34935_o.jpg

i think there will be a spur before the Angeles Station going to DMIA that serves the dedicated Airport Express rail...


^^ That is exactly their plan to have a dedicated Airport Express Line.

^^ That is exactly their plan to have a dedicated Airport Express Line.

what about the express line that will connect naia3 to lrt1.....is this included in the interconnection of dmia to naia3?

ang pangit nmn if spur line going to dMIA ang nauna bago mag-angeles station from malolos...Eh di anong use pa ng angeles station....? stop over..nyak..if there will be a city station, dpat dyan pakinabangan..

^^ Tol, I had this latest discovery about the delays of the Northrail. Bka mali yung dati kong analysis na sa Pampanga sila nahirapan sa right of way. Actually sa Phase 1 mismo ang makipot na right of way.

Talagang madedelay ang construction ng Section 1. Masyado kasi tlagang makipot ang right of way sa parte ng Valenzuela at Bulacan.. Some only measures 12m and though others vary from 15m to 20m and 20m to 30m but some are too narrow. Kahit heavy equipment nila mahihirapang pumasok at magtrabaho sa site. You need at least extra space to maneuover a back hoe. In this case, they can't really start unless things get resolve first..

Let's look at his google earth figure. This is along the vicinity of Valenzuela. You can really see in the picture that the right of way is too narrow for the construction. The narrowest was 12m and 13m. I think this stretch is almost 2 km long. In this case, i'ts hard to built an enbankment since the working space is too narrow. Railway enbankment requires wide right of way at least for a double track, 30meters. Unlike Southrail which was built in 1930s has 30meters right of way on most of it's track length.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2240/1806346071_6b79c9fa6f_o.jpg


Another location along Bulacan.... In this section, the right of way ranges from 12m to 20m. Check it out at google earth to see how narrow this section is.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2322/1806399593_40aff5ddae_o.jpg


Im not sure about this place but clearly shows that the ROW is only 18m to 20m. It is surrounded also by big buildings.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2024/1806412667_563935a3a8_o.jpg


I suspect this site will be the Proposed Northrail Depot. Check it out... Nice place at Valenzuela.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2016/1806446107_f2446f781e_o.jpg



I hope they finally fix this problem to proceed for the full blast construction by January. At least in this way, we can present what really causes some delays in the construction.. Hope they could finally acquire what they requiring.

what about the express line that will connect naia3 to lrt1.....is this included in the interconnection of dmia to naia3?


^^ On Northrail Phase 3, up to Fort Boni but eventually to NAIA3 Terminal in the future. Northrail Phase 3 wll run from Caloocan to Fort Boni.

tignan niyo 'to, diba ang maximum designed speed ng Northrail is 120 km/h? kapag operational na ang Manila-Clark International Airport, dun sa above mentioned top speed, mula Manila hanggang DMIA ang byahe is less than an hour... DMIA is located 84 kms from Manila and more than 90 kms from Makati... that's like traveling on the fastest train from Downtown Tokyo to Narita Airport in the present fastest train... so dapat from the start palang eh standard gauge na ang Northrail to accomodate high speed airport trains, para in more or less than 30 mins yung mga Airport Train passengers nasa DMIA na...

the problem with our gov't is nung una palang eh dapat ang rehabilitation ng Southrail also includes changing the narrow gauge railway to a standard gauge railway so it can accomodate high speed trains and if hindi pinalitan ang plano ng Northrail to have standard gauge rails, can also provide interchageability between the two lines...

tignan niyo 'to, diba ang maximum designed speed ng Northrail is 120 km/h? kapag operational na ang Manila-Clark International Airport, dun sa above mentioned top speed, mula Manila hanggang DMIA ang byahe is less than an hour... DMIA is located 84 kms from Manila and more than 90 kms from Makati... that's like traveling on the fastest train from Downtown Tokyo to Narita Airport in the present fastest train... so dapat from the start palang eh standard gauge na ang Northrail to accomodate high speed airport trains, para in more or less than 30 mins yung mga Airport Train passengers nasa DMIA na...


the problem with our gov't is nung una palang eh dapat ang rehabilitation ng Southrail also includes changing the narrow gauge railway to a standard gauge railway so it can accomodate high speed trains and if hindi pinalitan ang plano ng Northrail to have standard gauge rails, can also provide interchageability between the two lines...


^^ Narita Express is a narrow gauge railroad system. 1067mm silmilar to the Northrail.. Narita Express Train is a 1Hour ride from Tokyo Station and 95min from Ueno.. Narita Airport is about 100km North of Tokyo and slightly longer than Northrail 1. Narita Express runs on grade level railway similar to Northrail 1 with a top speed of 130km/h.....

JR Network is a narrow gauge railway similar to us. Philippine Islands along with Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa, New Zealand, Queensland and some parts of Europe where mostly mountainous areas prefer to use narrow gauge. Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmanr and Vietnam has an even narrower gauge at 1 meter implement also with this type. Max. speed recorded for Narrow Gauge was in Australia at 170km/h Hitachi Tilting Train made in Japan.

^^ Wala pong problem sa design. The problem really is the delays it causes....

^^ Some photos of Tokyo Narita Airport Express Train...

http://www.apricot.com/~outis/comike2001/P8080101.JPG


http://www.rei.org/JPN/Tokyo/Smalls/IMG_0017-Narita-Tokyo.JPG


The picture below proves that Narita runs on a Narrow Gauge Tracks....
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cove/5750/nex.jpg


http://japanese-trains.com/tarn/narita253.jpg

^^ Some photos of Tokyo Narita Airport Express Train...

http://www.apricot.com/~outis/comike2001/P8080101.JPG


http://www.rei.org/JPN/Tokyo/Smalls/IMG_0017-Narita-Tokyo.JPG


The picture below proves that Narita runs on a Narrow Gauge Tracks....
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cove/5750/nex.jpg


http://japanese-trains.com/tarn/narita253.jpg


VIDEOS FOR NARITA EXPRESS TRAIN!!!

^^ Narita Express Train caught on video at a level crossing with a speed of 130kph...Nice!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAd3t6rTYEA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J-gwlmkSfI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5vmr-sTSwI

^^ahh.. so it is no problem still even if we have narrow gauge tracks? It would still be fast enough to serve clark-manila?

^^ahh.. so it is no problem still even if we have narrow gauge tracks? It would still be fast enough to serve clark-manila?

^^ Just exactly what I wanted to hear.... he he he... Thanks!!! Absolutely no problem.... Japanese sets their grade level maximum speed at 160km/h. But of course trains can even move faster if run on elevated and absolutely free from any dangerous level crossings.... he he he!!!

^^ahh.. so it is no problem still even if we have narrow gauge tracks? It would still be fast enough to serve clark-manila?


^^ 120 kph is already fast enough. What else we would want for?.... he he he...1 Anyway Northrail can still run at 130kph since trains depends on the integrity of the railroad. The more brand new and maintained the tracks, the lesser the risk from accidents and the greater revenues for the company... Well anyway at least train can bring the passengers in no less than 1hour at least to DMIA from NAIA/Fort Boni....

^^ Japanese Double Decker Train Super Hakucho on narrow gauge!!!
See how beautiful narrow gauge railway is... You would not think at first that trains can run fast at this gauge very much comparable to standard gauge of Amtrak and VIA..

http://www.japaneserailwaysociety.com/jrs/month/y03/mar/215shin_kawasaki.jpg

VIDEOS FOR SUPER HAKUCHO...

^^ Experience riding on this train from inside at 140kph...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_A_ijBmKxA


^^ Diesel Powered Locomotive Hokkaido Express Train....

http://japanese-trains.com/tarn/hakodate-kiha281.jpg

^^ 120 kph is already fast enough. What else we would want for?.... he he he...1 Anyway Northrail can still run at 130kph since trains depends on the integrity of the railroad. The more brand new and maintained the tracks, the lesser the risk from accidents and the greater revenues for the company... Well anyway at least train can bring the passengers in no less than 1hour at least to DMIA from NAIA/Fort Boni....

Ahhh... That's very good indeed which makes me even more excited for the Northrail! Thanks.

Ahhh... That's very good indeed which makes me even more excited for the Northrail! Thanks.

^^ Sana nga wala nang delay. Ang gusto kasi ng tao nakikita na ginagawa na para wala na masyadong tanong. Mapapadali sana pag relocate if talagang may ginagawa na... Sana this January kasi nakakainip na rin... wheeewww!!! he he he...:banana:

In my opinion, your right ! :)

oi, that would be of great help in Mindanao. Sana lang huwag pasabugin ng mga NPA at terrorista.

lol. or nakawin ang riles.. ibenta sa junk shop :lol::lol::lol:

^^totoong nangyayri yan sa Manila.

In my opinion, your right ! :)

sikandamosyon....:lol:

^relax lang pre. Dadating din yan. Though nakakainip talaga. :D

teka kaw ba yung nasa first photo dun sa narita rail photos mo?

March 29, 2007

ANGARA BATS FOR MINDANAO RAILWAY NETWORK

Cagayan de Oro Senator Edgardo J. Angara today asked the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to prepare the master plan for a Mindanao Railway Network, which would link the remote and underdeveloped areas to the major commercial, trading and educational centers.

The Mindanao Railway Network is an imperative for Mindanao. It should break ground in this decade, said Angara.

Angara said that the rail network would spur the development of underdeveloped regions and further boost the already booming economies of areas such as this city, Davao, Zamboanga City.

The rail network will also speed up the shipment of critical goods, bring students from the barrios into the educational centers at less cost, and lead to the development of commercial centers along the rail networks central terminals and stations.

Immense economic and social opportunities will be opened by the establishment of the rail network, said Angara, a staunch advocate Mindanaos development agenda.

Angara said the rail network would be a welcome complement to the existing road and highways, the seaports and the airports.

He said the trend in all booming areas in the world is multi-modal transport, which means employing all available means of transport and integrating all of these to make sure the movement of people and goods is done at the most competitive cost.

We cannot have an integrated mass transport system for Mindanao unless we fill the void, which is the rail network, said Angara.

During his term as agriculture secretary, Angara also prepared several big agri-business programs for Mindanao, which transport, he said can be done via an efficient rail transport.

He believes that the development of Mindanao agriculturally would ensure enough food supply for the country because Mindanao is the ideal food basket.

http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2007/0329_angara1.asp

^relax lang pre. Dadating din yan. Though nakakainip talaga. :D

teka kaw ba yung nasa first photo dun sa narita rail photos mo?

he he he...definitely not.. :):):) sshhhh... kuha ko lang ito sa internet...

This is the Sta. Mesa side. This clearly shows how the Napocor, Meralco and MWSS took advantage of the previliges given by the PNR right of way for a long time.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2060/1797442686_b82c758059_o.jpg

Howdee guys,
Been a while since I have been here. Been very busy with work and trying to get out next e-zine out. Sadly I need more than one page for the Philippine news, perhaps next time I will go to two.

Interesting comparisons to be made between this shot and the ones I took there earlier this year. Amazing efforts being made there.

Brad

JR Network is a narrow gauge railway similar to us. Philippine Islands along with Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa, New Zealand, Queensland and some parts of Europe where mostly mountainous areas prefer to use narrow gauge. Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmanr and Vietnam has an even narrower gauge at 1 meter implement also with this type. Max. speed recorded for Narrow Gauge was in Australia at 170km/h Hitachi Tilting Train made in Japan.

Hi WoS,
The same gauge as the Philippines is used in many states of Australia besides Queensland. Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia all use it, while the Northern Territory used to and NSW has it for tourist purposes.
Narrower gauges used for passenger conveyance over the years have been 2ft and 2ft6.

Speed record was actually a tilt train built in Queensland and I am sure it is the speed you mentioned. I can't recal any tilt train used here that was built in Japan.

Cheers
Brad

^^ahh.. so it is no problem still even if we have narrow gauge tracks? It would still be fast enough to serve clark-manila?

It is a common myth that narrow gauge is lesser than its standard gauge counterpart and is considered as accepting less.
Around the Philippine forums there has mean a lot of carrying on about Bullet trains being needed etc. In reality the distances discussed really don't need bullet trains and in reality if speeds of 170kph are possible on 3ft6, then why bother.
If they could achieve these speeds between Manila and Clark then you are in for a trip that will blitz all other land transport there.

On the freight side of things, Australia's heaviest coal trains operate on 3ft6, these being far longer than ours on standard gauge.

Brad

http://www.japaneserailwaysociety.com/jrs/month/y03/mar/215shin_kawasaki.jpg


http://japanese-trains.com/tarn/hakodate-kiha281.jpg

Wow Japan has some pangit designs :lol:

Brad

Hi Brad, yup they are planning to set up a standard rail gaue railways here in Mindanao. Although there is a possibity that all Philippine Islands will be interconnected by tunnels and subways, still we need to address how it's gonna be? I hope that extreme consideration must be planned in order to arrive in a seamless interconnection train ride between Luzon, Samar, Leyte, Surigao and eventually Mindanao islands.. :banana:

Lets not forget a branch to Roxas for when I semi retire there :lol:

Brad

It is a common myth that narrow gauge is lesser than its standard gauge counterpart and is considered as accepting less.
Around the Philippine forums there has mean a lot of carrying on about Bullet trains being needed etc. In reality the distances discussed really don't need bullet trains and in reality if speeds of 170kph are possible on 3ft6, then why bother.
If they could achieve these speeds between Manila and Clark then you are in for a trip that will blitz all other land transport there.

On the freight side of things, Australia's heaviest coal trains operate on 3ft6, these being far longer than ours on standard gauge.

Brad

^^ Hi Brad!!! Good Morning... Long time no hear... he he he... We'll anyway it's really good that you back again... WelCome!!!

Yup, I don't see a big reason to shift to standard gauge. First of all, Philippines is an Island and most part is a mountainous area. Greatly recommended the use of narrow gauge in the likes of Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia. Although the planned for Mindanao is standard already, we'll at least tunneling now is a lot more common and cheap to construct than to run a railway in the sides of the mountain that limits the use of standard gauge.

Malaysia also insisted the use of Metre Gauge, probably the same reason why they arrive to that gauge.

Yes, the distance is not so valid to warrant the use of Bullet Trains. I think to be viable bullet trains should be built between megacities. Remember, the extra billions of dollars needed to construct it..:)

Wow Japan has some pangit designs :lol:

Brad

^^ He he he.. you probably right... It has no face really... :lol::lol::lol:

Howdee guys,
Been a while since I have been here. Been very busy with work and trying to get out next e-zine out. Sadly I need more than one page for the Philippine news, perhaps next time I will go to two.

Interesting comparisons to be made between this shot and the ones I took there earlier this year. Amazing efforts being made there.

Brad


^^ Infact a lot more interesting things happening here. For example, there is a large pile works taking place at the leftmost corner of that picture. Im not sure if it related to the big water pipe relocation or the tower relocation of the Meralco. Aside from pile works, there are also cranes and other constructions stuffs. I think these all are co-related to the construction of Southrail...

are they going to use DMU's for the northrail?

inip na rin ako....sa tagal nde na ako tinubuan ng buhok...:lol:

why put a railway in mindanao? the inter-province roads there are wide and well paved. their buses and v-hires are excellently maintained and are numerous.

baka naman may kikita diyan :wink:

bakit naman hindi? mas mabilis ang transport ng goods kung meron.


meron talagang kikita siempre,:lol: pero yung mga illegal na kita dapat yan ang bantayan natin.

well... why rely on road networks when a rail system can help continuous flow of commerce... freight trains may be able to carry more than what trailer trucks can... and trains run on dedication railways which may be from from traffic congestion...

yeah i agree... :okay:

well... why rely on road networks when a rail system can help continuous flow of commerce... freight trains may be able to carry more than what trailer trucks can... and trains run on dedication railways which may be from from traffic congestion...

not only that railways help can help ease our environment than putting expressways and road networks :)

not only that railways help can help ease our environment than putting expressways and road networks :)

better if electric rail :okay:

^^ Here is the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project Fund details...

PROJECT COMPONENTS NORTHRAIL-SOUTHRAIL LINKAGE PROJECT / SOUTH MANILA COMMUTER RAIL PROJECT PHASE 1

- Improvement and rehabilitation of tracks and other civil works P712,040,000.00

Includes new tracks from Caloocan to Espanya. This is the total regrade and replace of the stabilizing ground with the unearthing of the old soil to be replace by a new one. Also included in the project is the replacement of rails from 32kg/m to 50kg/m, wooden ties to concrete ties and ballast renewal. Installation of automatic pneumatic crossover switches. Also modernizing the entire level crossings by the installation of warning signs, booms and warning bells. Plus the additional of flashing lights for major crossing.


Rehabilitation of Major Bridges P235,704,000.00

- This includes the rehabilitation of major bridges in Pandacan and Alabang and other small bridges. Details in which is the raising of the Pandacan Bridge to the desired height. Installation of culverts and other waterways infrastructure.


Fencing P19,992,000.00

- This includes the construction of 2m prefabricated blocks to be used as fence in it's entire right of way length.


Improvement of Stations and Depot P134,288,000.00

- Rehabilitation of all stations including the platform raising and other station premises infrastructure. Also the rehabilitation of the Caloocan Depot with the improvement of maintenance system.


Supply of 21 Diesel Multiple Units P1,604,064,000.00

- Acquisition of brand new 3-car formation rolling stocks. To be made by Rotem Co. of Korea


Consultancy Services for Design and Construction Supervision P70,672,000.00


Service Charges P1,960,000.00


Contingency 44,800,000.00

^^"contingency" --- is that for the pockets of *tooooot!* (censored)...

inip na rin ako....sa tagal nde na ako tinubuan ng buhok...:lol:

Oh man... Well, I cant remember a government project in RP that has been completed ahead of schedule...

My pessimistic attitude the past few months paid off... that way, I didn't have to worry and expect too much out of this govt project :).

Oh man... Well, I cant remember a government project in RP that has been completed ahead of schedule...

My pessimistic attitude the past few months paid off... that way, I didn't have to worry and expect too much out of this govt project :).

^^ tssskkk!!!! Oh boy you're too negative.... :ohno::ohno::ohno: tssskkkk!!! Ako nga, sinikap kong makakuha ng picture sa Buendia Station and all the way I came from Albay just to sneak it and then returns the same day. Kahit pagod na pagod me, at least I know the whole truth and I was paid off!!! Just observe this thread when I posted the photos, umabante ng at least 5 pages.

Ang linis na pala ng ibang portion ng Linkage Project... Wow!!! for 30 years, this is only the time I've seen that area free of slums.

Hindi po pwedeng hindi ipatapos yan. Kailangan natin yan, slow lang tlaga. If we hate this project, we can concentrate for a while in some other thread. Or maybe no posting of reply for a while.

^^ Pasensya na kayo ha, paulit ulit na lang mga JR Train photos ko dito. Just trying to make this thread more interesting. Wala pa kasi tayo.. Sa totoo lang, inis na inis me pag nagyouyoutube me watching the trains in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia so advance and running fast. tssskkkk.... but but but.. we have to work out. I swear to you people that prosperity can move faster when this Northrail and Southrail projects. Not only the MRT/LRT trains....

When I come back again in Metro Manila this November, I promised to take photos again, more and more photos and videos.

Actually, in one month time meron ulit tayong developments dyan especially in the Buendia and Pasay Station Construction. Sandalli lang kasi ito, repair lang.. See my PNR project fund allocation post...

^^favor naman. post ka ng specs ng magiging northrail?

hindi ko na kasi makita

^^favor naman. post ka ng specs ng magiging northrail?

hindi ko na kasi makita

^^ Bongang bonga po ang Northrail kaysa sa Southrail... pero sorry xp ha, medyo nakalimutan ko na rin but I will research it again so as to have an updated information kasama na yung status ng October deadline sa land acquisition sa Phase 1.. Naging problema nila dito kc ang makipot na right of way sa parteng bulacan but ciguro ok na ito ngayon. This is the old stuff (panahon ng Kastila)...

With regards to your question of the train type that they are using. Absolutely we have 2 choices, DMU and Loco pulled train, as the viability of electricity is not yet iminent assuring that we can't use EMU trains.

Next time ko na lang iddetail ha... :):):)

^^ok thanks. so magkaiba yung trains nagagamitin sa southrail?

elo.. musta na mga rail addicts... wla pa rin bago noh?...hehe. nakasakay ako kahapon ng mrt2..nadaanan ung pnr sta.mesa station, wla parin progress guys, bagal tlaga..

i watched last nov3 sa discovery channel about the highest railway in the world.. ung sa Tibet-("..."), china railway... 5 years lng ginawa .. infairness madaming odds pero still natapos nila ung 1 track line sa himalayas..

elo.. musta na mga rail addicts... wla pa rin bago noh?...hehe. nakasakay ako kahapon ng mrt2..nadaanan ung pnr sta.mesa station, wla parin progress guys, bagal tlaga..

i watched last nov3 sa discovery channel about the highest railway in the world.. ung sa Tibet-("..."), china railway... 5 years lng ginawa .. infairness madaming odds pero still natapos nila ung 1 track line sa himalayas..

^^ You can take a look at the Buendia Station and Pasay Station, there you can see contruction. You can update us actually from time to time , you did this before di ba and besides you always there sa Manila.

^^ You can take a look at the Buendia Station and Pasay Station, there you can see contruction. You can update us actually from time to time , you did this before di ba and besides you always there sa Manila.

meron naman nangyayari....mabagal nga lang.....anyway...basta umuusad...ok na rin....binabaan ko na expectations ko para nde ako ma disappoint....

^^I guess that is the best and only way to go...

I hope we will not find the S.rail project comparable to the Skyway (bitin!), but I have a gut feeling...:nuts:

Optimistically speaking --- IMO the N.rail to Clark will surely be completed on schedule, since this goes right through PGMA's bailiwick... much like the SCTEX which was done against all odds.

Good luck!

^^I guess that is the best and only way to go...

I hope we will not find the S.rail project comparable to the Skyway (bitin!), but I have a gut feeling...:nuts:

Optimistically speaking --- IMO the N.rail to Clark will surely be completed on schedule, since this goes right through PGMA's bailiwick... much like the SCTEX which was done against all odds.

Good luck!


^^ Yup, that's right, we have to lessen na lang expectation. When I got into Manila, medyo natuwa me, Buendia at Pasay Stations, start na construction and first time ko nakita Sta. Mesa malinis na at sa may Blumentrit and Muntinlupa paunti unti nang umaalis, but medyo frustrated ng konti andami pa rin squatters sa may FTI at Tondo. tsskkkk....

We just pray it hard na lang lalo na sa Northrail. I guess this is my last expectation for them this January (the deadline!!!). Pag ala pa ring nangyari sa January, we'll I guess stop ko muna lahat post ko for Northrail and instead concentrate na lang sa Linkage Project. Di na baleng slow but umuusad, tama si daddy... Thank you dad!:lol:

I check this thread, hoping after a year gone some progress, some pictures, you know like putting down the first rail spike or whatever, first train ride. But noooooo:ohno:

I check this thread, hoping after a year gone some progress, some pictures, you know like putting down the first rail spike or whatever, first train ride. But noooooo:ohno:

^^ Don't worry, it has started already, the Southrail only this October. Normally a project in the Philippines full blasts starts 2 years after its ground breaking and normally finishes at least 1 year delayed.. That's normal!!!!
:lol::lol::lol:

i am so excited with this project, too many places to visit and take photos of. but, i hope some person will find a way to lay the tracks faster, so that the project will move ahead FASTER than expected. is the track-laying automated?

automated in a sense that, they use high-tech machineries comparable to the one used in the london-paris tunneling?

exactly, how fast is the development going? is it like the trinoma mall that has been very fast in its construction. who is the lead on the project, was it the bcda people again?

i am so excited with this project, too many places to visit and take photos of. but, i hope some person will find a way to lay the tracks faster, so that the project will move ahead FASTER than expected. is the track-laying automated?

automated in a sense that, they use high-tech machineries comparable to the one used in the london-paris tunneling?

exactly, how fast is the development going? is it like the trinoma mall that has been very fast in its construction. who is the lead on the project, was it the bcda people again?

^^ In the Northrail, yes, I guess so... every thing will be modern and hightech. But in the case of Linkage Project of PNR, we'll we don't have to expect much more with a budget of only $50M.. Good only for Rehabilitation and Repair.

BTW, Northrail Projects are owned by BCDA and Linkage and Southrail Projects belongs to PNR. PNR and BCDA are different operators company.

Now Enrile is on the spotlight becuase he wants to resurrect the Northrail "scam." He is now incriminating JDV as the "godfather" of the said project. He also said the same lame accusations such as overpricing etc etc!!! Funny, he compared the northrail with the Southrail! Stupid! Perhaps he doesn't know that the Northrail would be a new double track line with new trains unlike Southrail which would just be rehabilitated. Grrr^&$&^$*... So what's the next drama?

Now Enrile is on the spotlight becuase he wants to resurrect the Northrail "scam." He is now incriminating JDV as the "godfather" of the said project. He also said the same lame accusations such as overpricing etc etc!!! Funny, he compared the northrail with the Southrail! Stupid! Perhaps he doesn't know that the Northrail would be a new double track line with new trains unlike Southrail which would just be rehabilitated. Grrr^&$&^$*... So what's the next drama?

^^ Yes you're right XP, they designed Northrail to be an airport express and the commuter service between two most important regions in the Philippines in the near future. Other incomparable features is that Northrail will have a very limited level crossings, infact if I'm not mistaken, Phase1 will absolutely be free from crossings. Therefore enabling trains to utilize maximum line speed of up to 160kph. But of course, trains will run only at 80-120kph for safety reasons. Visible signs of zero level crossings are the Malolos and Valenzuela Viaducts and several tunneled sections in Pampanga. While Southrail boasts of many level crossings, it's line speed will be up to 130kph in some straight sections..

ito pa lang yung nakikita kong specs so far with regards to northrail, phase 1:

$400M loan from China payable for 25 years with 5 year grace period and 3% interest per annum and a counterpart fund of $82M from the NG = $500M

32.2km double track from Caloocan to Malolos = 64.4km

30 Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs)

All brand new

please correct if there are errors.

Sa Northrail-Southrail Linkage:
$50M loan from RoK

Rehabilitation of tracks and stations only. Not sure with the rolling stocks. My guess is that they (PNR) would be using the same old trains.

The NG is asking an additional $70M loan. But I haven't seen any news yet if the Korean gov't granted this one.

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/8370/alexsminmadrid106up9.jpghttp://

XP,apparently JDV asked him not to question the project because the filipino people need it badly.So,what's wrong with that?! Don't we the ordinary people who has long been suffering because of our very poor transport system deserve to have a real mass transport system(Like the Northrail).Enrile,putting malice on JDV's support of the project?Look who's talking.Isn't he the same guy who lied to the filipino people,when he claimed he was ambushed so Marcos could declare Martial Law!Look who's talking!

ito pa lang yung nakikita kong specs so far with regards to northrail, phase 1:

$400M loan from China payable for 25 years with 5 year grace period and 3% interest per annum and a counterpart fund of $82M from the NG = $500M

32.2km double track from Caloocan to Malolos = 64.4km

30 Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs)

All brand new

please correct if there are errors.

Sa Northrail-Southrail Linkage:
$50M loan from RoK

Rehabilitation of tracks and stations only. Not sure with the rolling stocks. My guess is that they (PNR) would be using the same old trains.

The NG is asking an additional $70M loan. But I haven't seen any news yet if the Korean gov't granted this one.

^^ Tama po ung sa Northrail

Southrail Trains will also be brand new...

PROJECT COMPONENTS NORTHRAIL-SOUTHRAIL LINKAGE PROJECT / SOUTH MANILA COMMUTER RAIL PROJECT PHASE 1

- Improvement and rehabilitation of tracks and other civil works P712,040,000.00

Includes new tracks from Caloocan to Espanya. This is the total regrade and replace of the stabilizing ground with the unearthing of the old soil to be replace by a new one. Also included in the project is the replacement of rails from 32kg/m to 50kg/m, wooden ties to concrete ties and ballast renewal. Installation of automatic pneumatic crossover switches. Also modernizing the entire level crossings by the installation of warning signs, booms and warning bells. Plus the additional of flashing lights for major crossing.


Rehabilitation of Major Bridges P235,704,000.00

- This includes the rehabilitation of major bridges in Pandacan and Alabang and other small bridges. Details in which is the raising of the Pandacan Bridge to the desired height. Installation of culverts and other waterways infrastructure.


Fencing P19,992,000.00

- This includes the construction of 2m prefabricated blocks to be used as fence in it's entire right of way length.


Improvement of Stations and Depot P134,288,000.00

- Rehabilitation of all stations including the platform raising and other station premises infrastructure. Also the rehabilitation of the Caloocan Depot with the improvement of maintenance system.


Supply of 21 Diesel Multiple Units P1,604,064,000.00

- Acquisition of brand new 3-car formation rolling stocks. To be made by Rotem Co. of Korea


Consultancy Services for Design and Construction Supervision P70,672,000.00


Service Charges P1,960,000.00


Contingency 44,800,000.00
__________________
RILES

^^ Guys hindi po biro and project na ito. Cost of 1DMU train is at least $1million dollar plus transport and taxes.. Mura na nga eto. Lalo na sa locomotives, Malaysia's KTM recently bought German Made Narrow Gauge Locomotive at $5Million dollars each... So let us celebrate, pag natapos na ang Linkage Project Phase 1 next year. Train would be all brand new. :banana:

^^That is kung hindi madelay yung project dahil ke Enrile. Nagpaparamdam siguro mga ito sa 2010. Hay Politics.. :(

^^That is kung hindi madelay yung project dahil ke Enrile. Nagpaparamdam siguro mga ito sa 2010. Hay Politics.. :(

^^ Haay naku!!! wag nyo kasi pagpapansinin ang mga issues na yan... Press release yan eh!!! Pagpapapogi... Wala na silang magagawa. The media is the one confuses the people.

Ang totoo nyan, January pa magsstart ang Northrail at sa Southrail, nag start na sa Buendia at Pasay.

yep.. gawa ng kwento para kumita. hehe.. Anyway, sana nga wala na delays.. Teka paano pala malalaman sked ng biyahe ng mga tren na papunta alabang-buendia or vice versa? Onga pala galing ako ng manila last monday, sayang di ko naagapan yung mga tren. hehe meron isa nakapark sa pasay road terminal (speaking of which, R.I.P. Ex-DSWD Sec. Dulce Saguisag. Grabe accidental prone talaga yung area na yun ah) tapos meron isa sa pagitan ng Pasay road terminal tsaka ng Magallanes terminal. Meron din akong konti nadiscover.. Habang naghahalungkat ako ng gamit sa bahay, me nakita ako lumang brochure ng pinas *circa 1960-1970 or baka older pa*, Map ng San Pablo(nakaindicate yung Los Baños line tsaka most likely Alaminos-Batangas Line) tsaka Map ng Manila (circa 2000-05). Dun sa lumang brochure me maliit na photo ng PNR Train. I-scan ko tomorrow or asap. basta kapag ok na pakiramdam ko hehe.

OT: hay hirap ng panahon ngayon ah. Under the weather ako ngayon. Sana bukas ok na pakiramdam ko. :(

yep.. gawa ng kwento para kumita. hehe.. Anyway, sana nga wala na delays.. Teka paano pala malalaman sked ng biyahe ng mga tren na papunta alabang-buendia or vice versa? Onga pala galing ako ng manila last monday, sayang di ko naagapan yung mga tren. hehe meron isa nakapark sa pasay road terminal (speaking of which, R.I.P. Ex-DSWD Sec. Dulce Saguisag. Grabe accidental prone talaga yung area na yun ah) tapos meron isa sa pagitan ng Pasay road terminal tsaka ng Magallanes terminal. Meron din akong konti nadiscover.. Habang naghahalungkat ako ng gamit sa bahay, me nakita ako lumang brochure ng pinas *circa 1960-1970 or baka older pa*, Map ng San Pablo(nakaindicate yung Los Baños line tsaka most likely Alaminos-Batangas Line) tsaka Map ng Manila (circa 2000-05). Dun sa lumang brochure me maliit na photo ng PNR Train. I-scan ko tomorrow or asap. basta kapag ok na pakiramdam ko hehe.

OT: hay hirap ng panahon ngayon ah. Under the weather ako ngayon. Sana bukas ok na pakiramdam ko. :(



:):) he he ... relax lang tol... basta ako full confidence na. Si Chairman Bayani Fernando na kasi ang incharge sa railway demolition. This man really cares and has the greatest potential. Kung meron pa ring baha at trapik, hindi naman yata superman si Chairman para mapigilan ito sa isang beses lang. This man continous to find a way to solve our problems here. Kaya, medyo balik me sa confidence status.. he he he..... :banana::banana::banana:

yep.. gawa ng kwento para kumita. hehe.. Anyway, sana nga wala na delays.. Teka paano pala malalaman sked ng biyahe ng mga tren na papunta alabang-buendia or vice versa? Onga pala galing ako ng manila last monday, sayang di ko naagapan yung mga tren. hehe meron isa nakapark sa pasay road terminal (speaking of which, R.I.P. Ex-DSWD Sec. Dulce Saguisag. Grabe accidental prone talaga yung area na yun ah) tapos meron isa sa pagitan ng Pasay road terminal tsaka ng Magallanes terminal. Meron din akong konti nadiscover.. Habang naghahalungkat ako ng gamit sa bahay, me nakita ako lumang brochure ng pinas *circa 1960-1970 or baka older pa*, Map ng San Pablo(nakaindicate yung Los Baños line tsaka most likely Alaminos-Batangas Line) tsaka Map ng Manila (circa 2000-05). Dun sa lumang brochure me maliit na photo ng PNR Train. I-scan ko tomorrow or asap. basta kapag ok na pakiramdam ko hehe.

OT: hay hirap ng panahon ngayon ah. Under the weather ako ngayon. Sana bukas ok na pakiramdam ko. :(

^^ Thanks el... Godbless to your works and hope you be fine by tommorrow.. Sana ok yung scan... It will be a great stuff really for our railway history. Infact, the Batangas line will be rebuilt soon after the Calamba-Lucena section has been finished. The gov't continous to provide super infrastructure to industrial place like Batangas for connection to the Urban Belt Developments.. Can you imagine guys, after 4 years, meron na tayong seamless connections between the most important regional and industrial centers in the Philippines, The Batangas-FTI-Clark-Subic container and passenger line... :banana: Bonga!!!:banana:

^^ Hi Brad!!! Good Morning... Long time no hear... he he he... We'll anyway it's really good that you back again... WelCome!!!


Yes, the distance is not so valid to warrant the use of Bullet Trains. I think to be viable bullet trains should be built between megacities. Remember, the extra billions of dollars needed to construct it..:)

Howdee,
Been a while between visits again :)
That work thing keeps getting in the way, however it is slowing down a little.

The big problem with going to a bullet train type of operation is the huge need to ease curves. You would start needing to put hundreds of thousands of people out of home that were not illegally there in the first place.
This would be an even bigger headache for the government.

Brad

^^ You can take a look at the Buendia Station and Pasay Station, there you can see contruction. You can update us actually from time to time , you did this before di ba and besides you always there sa Manila.


Noted a couple of days ago in this area was locomotive 5008 with caboose FCD-8 which we had thought never to operate.
FCD-8 is used as a mobile police unit for dealing with the clearing project.
If anyone gets a photo of this train I would love a copy for the PNR section of the ezine.

Regards
Brad

I check this thread, hoping after a year gone some progress, some pictures, you know like putting down the first rail spike or whatever, first train ride. But noooooo:ohno:


Probably best to get the formation completed first isn't it?
No point having a new railway if the job is done bodgy and is useless in a few years.
These things take time anywhere.

Brad

Now Enrile is on the spotlight becuase he wants to resurrect the Northrail "scam." He is now incriminating JDV as the "godfather" of the said project. He also said the same lame accusations such as overpricing etc etc!!! Funny, he compared the northrail with the Southrail! Stupid! Perhaps he doesn't know that the Northrail would be a new double track line with new trains unlike Southrail which would just be rehabilitated. Grrr^&$&^$*... So what's the next drama?

Who knows what drama is next as the ignorant dribble continues spurting forth in a effort to further their political careers.

Politicians :bash:

Some of you may be interested.

There are a number of old Philippine railway photos for sale on Ebay. Taken during the war years they are quite interesting to look at.
Do searches for 'Luzon' or 'Philippines'.

Cheers
Brad

Howdee,
Been a while between visits again :)
That work thing keeps getting in the way, however it is slowing down a little.

The big problem with going to a bullet train type of operation is the huge need to ease curves. You would start needing to put hundreds of thousands of people out of home that were not illegally there in the first place.
This would be an even bigger headache for the government.

Brad

^^ Hi there Brad, Hello!!!

Yes, while we can use the Narrow Gauges for Ordinary Trains, Cargo, Container and Garbage Service, we can still construct Bullet Trains if it's really needed. We can built it parallel to the Narrow Gauge Line...:lol:

Noted a couple of days ago in this area was locomotive 5008 with caboose FCD-8 which we had thought never to operate.
FCD-8 is used as a mobile police unit for dealing with the clearing project.
If anyone gets a photo of this train I would love a copy for the PNR section of the ezine.

Regards
Brad

^^ Actually we've got one posted by Nathan back in Thread II. Remember it was the time when before they demolished the Sta. Mesa shnties. It was really the cabbosse you're looking for. Try to remember it or go back to the archive of Northrail Southrail II.

We'll when I went to Buendia and Pasay stations, I noticed that there were actually four tracks at the Pasay Station. Two tracks for the mainline and 1 track in each outer side of the platform. I guess they will retain this formation since I've seen many markings there. And what really wonders me is that the drainage beside it measuring at least 4 meter in width is being coverred with a thick slab of concrete, probably another extra track for it...

JdV defends Northrail, says it’s RP-China gov't project (http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN20071110108199.html)

Speaker Jose de Venecia yesterday said the Northrail is a project approved at the highest levels of the Chinese government and negotiated by three finance secretaries and other members of the Arroyo government and any complaint about the rail project should be taken up with both governments.

De Venecia defended his interest in the railway project, saying it was only to "promote it and get it done" because the railway from Manila going north to the Central and Northern Luzon provinces had been completely abandoned by the government for more than 30 years.

"President Arroyo and I appealed to the Chinese government to get it started," Fe Venecia said, because the railway "is good for the country and good for the economic development of the Central and Northern Luzon provinces, aside from helping solve a major problem of illegal settlers in Metro Manila."

De Venecia said the Northrail is financed by a long-term concessional loan from the Chinese Export-Import Bank and its construction is being undertaken by a Chinese government subsidiary, CINMEC.

He said that negotiations for the 20-year loan, which former Secretary General Romulo Neri of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said made the project viable, was undertaken by a high-level team from the Arroyo government.

Aside from Neri, the Philippine government negotiators included two foreign secretaries, three finance secretaries, the president of Northrail, and the head of the Philippine National Railways.

De Venecia said the project was discussed at the highest levels of the Chinese government that included two Chinese presidents, two Chinese Prime Ministers, two Speakers of Parliament (National People’s Congress), and three Chinese Ambassadors to the Philippines.

JdV defends Northrail, says it’s RP-China gov't project (http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN20071110108199.html)

Speaker Jose de Venecia yesterday said the Northrail is a project approved at the highest levels of the Chinese government and negotiated by three finance secretaries and other members of the Arroyo government and any complaint about the rail project should be taken up with both governments.

De Venecia defended his interest in the railway project, saying it was only to "promote it and get it done" because the railway from Manila going north to the Central and Northern Luzon provinces had been completely abandoned by the government for more than 30 years.

"President Arroyo and I appealed to the Chinese government to get it started," Fe Venecia said, because the railway "is good for the country and good for the economic development of the Central and Northern Luzon provinces, aside from helping solve a major problem of illegal settlers in Metro Manila."

De Venecia said the Northrail is financed by a long-term concessional loan from the Chinese Export-Import Bank and its construction is being undertaken by a Chinese government subsidiary, CINMEC.

He said that negotiations for the 20-year loan, which former Secretary General Romulo Neri of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said made the project viable, was undertaken by a high-level team from the Arroyo government.

Aside from Neri, the Philippine government negotiators included two foreign secretaries, three finance secretaries, the president of Northrail, and the head of the Philippine National Railways.

De Venecia said the project was discussed at the highest levels of the Chinese government that included two Chinese presidents, two Chinese Prime Ministers, two Speakers of Parliament (National People’s Congress), and three Chinese Ambassadors to the Philippines.


:banana::banana::banana:Thank you so much Sir Sinjin!!! Many thanks for the info..... :banana::banana::banana:

No problem. H'wag na po akong i-sir, Sinjin nalang :colgate:

No problem. H'wag na po akong i-sir, Sinjin nalang :colgate:

^^:okay::okay::okay:^^

No problem. H'wag na po akong i-sir, Sinjin nalang :colgate:

I agree also with SinJin:

The problem with our Political system is that, we just talk and talk
and talk Just to get attention or for Political ambition and they care
about the welfare of the common people. When I was in China, the
government builds roads, bridges, hospitals etc.. they dont care if
there is corruption there or not, but the majority of the people
beniffted in this project. Kaya sa akin lang alisin na mga politiko
sa Senado.

:banana:

I agree also with SinJin:

The problem with our Political system is that, we just talk and talk
and talk Just to get attention or for Political ambition and they care
about the welfare of the common people. When I was in China, the
government builds roads, bridges, hospitals etc.. they dont care if
there is corruption there or not, but the majority of the people
beniffted in this project. Kaya sa akin lang alisin na mga politiko
sa Senado.

:banana:


^^ I also agree with you Positive Thinker... China is powerful now with so many infrastructure being built. The're railways are one of the largest with thousands of kilometers of effiecient mass transport including some 350kph lines. The're reputation is becoming more strong now as their technology advances rapidly. Economy is in full swing so we must put our confidence with them instead of putting baseless criticism.. You're right, if there is something to be crushed now, it's got to be the SENATE!!!

^^ Thanks el... Godbless to your works and hope you be fine by tommorrow.. Sana ok yung scan... It will be a great stuff really for our railway history. Infact, the Batangas line will be rebuilt soon after the Calamba-Lucena section has been finished. The gov't continous to provide super infrastructure to industrial place like Batangas for connection to the Urban Belt Developments.. Can you imagine guys, after 4 years, meron na tayong seamless connections between the most important regional and industrial centers in the Philippines, The Batangas-FTI-Clark-Subic container and passenger line... :banana: Bonga!!!:banana:

Thanks.. Sorry I forgot to bring the brochure. I won't be able to scan it. :D Anyway, promise! Next week, I'll bring and scan it here in our shop. It is quite informative. Never thought there was two Railway companies before PNR. wow.

Man, 4 years.. I really dream of some day our Country will have a railway system that connects Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. :D

Thanks.. Sorry I forgot to bring the brochure. I won't be able to scan it. :D Anyway, promise! Next week, I'll bring and scan it here in our shop. It is quite informative. Never thought there was two Railway companies before PNR. wow.

Man, 4 years.. I really dream of some day our Country will have a railway system that connects Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. :D

^^ Oopss, not necessariy all will be completed simultaenously. Next year of after 1 year, the PNR Linkage Project 1 (Caloocan to Alabang) will be operational. Another 2 years more on 2010, The PNR Linkage Project 2 (Alabang to Calamba), The PNR Southrail Phase 1a (Calamba to Lucena) and the BCDA's Northrail Phase 1 Section (Calooncan to Malolos) will also be operational and after one year 2011, the Northrail Phase 1 Section 2 (Malolos to Angeles City with Airport Express Spur Line to Clark) will be completed..

Project will continue the Pipeline to Batangas might start immediately after the completion of Southrail 1a.. Southrail 1b will commence till 2013 onwards Legazpi and by 2015, up to Matnog. At the same time after the completion of Northrail Phase 1, the construction of Northrail's Phase 2 (San Fernando to Subic) will be underway, then Phase 3 (Elevated/Underground section from Caloocan to Fort Bonifacio and Phase 4 (Angeles City to San Fernando, La Union to Loag City).

wow hanep,thanks!

wow hanep,thanks!

Hi, there,.

Thanks Mr. Cuba.... he he he... Meron u na ba update dyan sa may Angeles Area? Bka may nakikita u changes sa may Balibago, di ba may railroad doon dati, I hope you can pass there by and at least we can see how's its' going...

^^ Yung mga taga Maynila dyan, especially yung mga Railroaders!!!!... Hoy!!! Gising!!! Update naman kayo dyan oh.... :lol::lol::lol:

^^ Yung mga taga Maynila dyan, especially yung mga Railroaders!!!!... Hoy!!! Gising!!! Update naman kayo dyan oh.... :lol::lol::lol:

:lol: wla pa update .. slow tlaga e.. gustohin ko man, un at un din lng, wla na iba...

:llama: = politicians...
we should group together na tlaga:grouphug:

JdV defends Northrail, says it’s RP-China gov't project (http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN20071110108199.html)

Speaker Jose de Venecia yesterday said the Northrail is a project approved at the highest levels of the Chinese government and negotiated by three finance secretaries and other members of the Arroyo government and any complaint about the rail project should be taken up with both governments.

De Venecia defended his interest in the railway project, saying it was only to "promote it and get it done" because the railway from Manila going north to the Central and Northern Luzon provinces had been completely abandoned by the government for more than 30 years.

"President Arroyo and I appealed to the Chinese government to get it started," Fe Venecia said, because the railway "is good for the country and good for the economic development of the Central and Northern Luzon provinces, aside from helping solve a major problem of illegal settlers in Metro Manila."

De Venecia said the Northrail is financed by a long-term concessional loan from the Chinese Export-Import Bank and its construction is being undertaken by a Chinese government subsidiary, CINMEC.

He said that negotiations for the 20-year loan, which former Secretary General Romulo Neri of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said made the project viable, was undertaken by a high-level team from the Arroyo government.

Aside from Neri, the Philippine government negotiators included two foreign secretaries, three finance secretaries, the president of Northrail, and the head of the Philippine National Railways.

De Venecia said the project was discussed at the highest levels of the Chinese government that included two Chinese presidents, two Chinese Prime Ministers, two Speakers of Parliament (National People’s Congress), and three Chinese Ambassadors to the Philippines.
I could still remember when I read Time (or Newsweek) magazine which shows a beaming Ms. Arroyo and a proud Hu Jintao because of their $1B loan package for the Philippines which includes the Northrail. It said that it was the highest and most important Chinese investment in SEA. Now, I bet Hu is scratching his head everytime he hears Northrail and the Philippines. The Chinese must have been very embarassed.

:llama: = politicians...
we should group together na tlaga:grouphug:
Hay naku, if only murder and massacre at that is legal!

Supply of 21 Diesel Multiple Units P1,604,064,000.00

- Acquisition of brand new 3-car formation rolling stocks. To be made by Rotem Co. of Korea
I can't believe it. Php1B for 21 DMUs? It means that a train costs more or less Php76M or $1.5M. Isn't that too low?

^^ Hi there Brad, Hello!!!

Yes, while we can use the Narrow Gauges for Ordinary Trains, Cargo, Container and Garbage Service, we can still construct Bullet Trains if it's really needed. We can built it parallel to the Narrow Gauge Line...:lol:

This is where it gets hard.
A Bullet train will be on standard gauge and will requiee far wider curvature. Thus it could never possibly operate next to the same formation of the current PNR.

I do wonder what the speed limit on a narrow gauge tilt train my be. While the Aussie one goes fast, this may just be a limit set about by transport regulators here.
I wonder if 200kph could be achieved easily enough?

Brad

^^ Actually we've got one posted by Nathan back in Thread II. Remember it was the time when before they demolished the Sta. Mesa shnties. It was really the cabbosse you're looking for. Try to remember it or go back to the archive of Northrail Southrail II.

We'll when I went to Buendia and Pasay stations, I noticed that there were actually four tracks at the Pasay Station. Two tracks for the mainline and 1 track in each outer side of the platform. I guess they will retain this formation since I've seen many markings there. And what really wonders me is that the drainage beside it measuring at least 4 meter in width is being coverred with a thick slab of concrete, probably another extra track for it...


Thanks mate, I shall look back.

From memory a couple of stations has extra tracks that were now somewhat dismantaled or buried.
I think it was Pandacan that also had a third track there on the up (Manila bound) side.

Brad

Thanks.. Sorry I forgot to bring the brochure. I won't be able to scan it. :D Anyway, promise! Next week, I'll bring and scan it here in our shop. It is quite informative. Never thought there was two Railway companies before PNR. wow.

D


El,
Check out bookshops over there (smaller ones with older stocks) for the book 'A Colonial Iron Horse'.
It is full of info like this and is an amazing insight into the history of railways there. A very good read.

Brad

Hay naku, if only murder and massacre at that is legal!

Hmmm was going to make some comment about the Bali bombers and their very easy sentences almost making it seem legal to do this in Indonesia.
But nah, I wont. :(

While it is a lot of stree and possibly embarrasing for the Chinese, the proof will be in the pudding (a saying here in Australia meaning that when it is done it will prove its worth).
Lots of critics now - lots of people with egg on their faces later :lol:

Brad

I can't believe it. Php1B for 21 DMUs? It means that a train costs more or less Php76M or $1.5M. Isn't that too low?

Suppose it depends on where it is built.
You wouldn't get one out here for that. In China, well there is a reason most Aussie companies get their stuff made there for sale here. It is far cheaper.
However the pitfall is that make things to a price, not to a standard. If you want a train built for $100 you may likely get one, but don't expect much more than a motorised sled.

Best wishes
Brad

I can't believe it. Php1B for 21 DMUs? It means that a train costs more or less Php76M or $1.5M. Isn't that too low?

^^ Yes!!! Mura na po yan sa self-propelled train. A self propelled train really cost much higher than loco pulled coaches. It has its own power plant like diesel engines to drive generators that supplies power to the traction motors at the boogies. Normally, PNR coaches are loco-pulled and second handed, just donated by Japan. It is being pulled by a locomotive, all power supplied including the lightings, airconditioners, exhaust fans, breaks all comes from the Locomotive and and Generator Cars.

This is where it gets hard.
A Bullet train will be on standard gauge and will requiee far wider curvature. Thus it could never possibly operate next to the same formation of the current PNR.

I do wonder what the speed limit on a narrow gauge tilt train my be. While the Aussie one goes fast, this may just be a limit set about by transport regulators here.
I wonder if 200kph could be achieved easily enough?

Brad

^^ Hello Brad,,

I simply answer you YES!!! A narrow gauge train can achieve 200kph provided that it has to have a dedicated line. There must be no level crossings or any crossings at all. Curvature must be wide enough. If possible, all of the infrastructure are elevated. Take for example the Tsukuba Express in Ibaraki, Japan. Tsukuba Express is a brand new elevated narrow gauge line from Ueno to Tsukuba Ibaraki. Main goal is to provide faster travel between 100km of distance to the Technology Center of Japan. Tsukuba Express normally travels at 130kph but during it's commissioning and testing, it has reached unprecedented amount of speed.

The only problem why most of the railroad engineers did not pay much attention about it is that they focussed too much on the standard gauge as most of the countries use it. Im not sure if Japan innovated the design speed for their narrow gauge tilt trains. In the case of JR, on order to maximize the narrow gauge existing lines railroad utilization, they invented tilting trains like Super Hitachi, Super Hakucho, Fresh Hitachi and other trains normally runs at 130kph to 160kph. Similarly Taiwan introduced also Chi Tsang and Super Taroko Tilting Trains to get much of their benifits from Narrow Gauge Railroad. Australia also introduced Tilting Trains for faster train ride.


Super Hitachi Tilting Train

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/405148502_c11cc2f18e.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/36/119692303_f2c040af06_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/127425417_eb76509926.jpg?v=0


I think the main purpose of this tilting trains is to increase train speed on the existing infrastructures of narrow gauge tracks. For example, in the Philippines, we do not have anymore reliable tracks to use so general rebuilt must put into consideration if we want to get much from new railway benifits so we could be assured that trains will be safe and fast.

In Japan, before they introduced thier tilting trains, normally line speed was limited only for some speed. Few modification on the tracks like improving curvature, alignment, banking angle, level crossing warnings and computerization of schedule made possible to improve the speed in a greater amount.

:lol: wla pa update .. slow tlaga e.. gustohin ko man, un at un din lng, wla na iba...

^^ :lol::lol::lol: Meron na siguro sa Buendia kahit konti. At least we will know how much tlage they will raise the platform. When I been there last 3 weeks, I noticed that the height they are following is too high, made me curious that the tracks would also be raised by that enourmous height of not less than 1 meter from current platform...

We'll ok lang if medyo slow, but progress can already be seen in a couple of moments to come... :banana:

^^ Thanks Sinjin for making our thread sticky.... That' means our thread is improving and appreciated and becoming more informative...... :banana::banana::banana:

:llama: = politicians...
we should group together na tlaga:grouphug:

^^ Your right Mr. Golden Boy of this thread. We'll hopefully baka next year, mag move na kami ng wife ko dyan sa Manila. Pwede na tayong mag set ng group. May bago me kasi contract dyan. It's all about in the field of Electrical Construction, maliit lang naman ito. If ever to realize, wala na tayo masyadong problem sa actual update, ako mismo lagi mag-upupdate..

We'll I also proposed to look a housing near the Linkage Railroad Tracks by at least 1-5 kilometers in distance.

I can't believe it. Php1B for 21 DMUs? It means that a train costs more or less Php76M or $1.5M. Isn't that too low?

^^ Ung iba sa taxes, hauling, contigency, spare parts, reassembly and etc....

^^ Guys, it's my priveledge that someone from you guys authored the Northrail Southrail Thread 5...:okay::okay::okay:

Thanks mate, I shall look back.

From memory a couple of stations has extra tracks that were now somewhat dismantaled or buried.
I think it was Pandacan that also had a third track there on the up (Manila bound) side.

Brad

^^ Yup, I've seen that also the third track in Pandacan.. We'll on my next visit, I'll show you the picture of where the Pasay Station 3rd and 4th tracks runs. It is really amazing that during that old times, PNR was so busy and many train passed by.

Enrile links Palace man, Northrail exec to scam
By Angie M. Rosales
Daily Tribune
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20071112hed5.html


Another controversial deal has found its way to the doorsteps of Malacañang after Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday said a Palace official was directly involved in clearing the overpriced North Luzon railways project.

Enrile also tagged an executive involved in the construction of the project as an accomplice of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. who he is accusing of gaining privately from the project.

Enrile said on radio the Speaker supposedly called up at least two persons, one in Malacañang and the other involved in the construction of the project — right in front of him and told them “the project is now okay.”

This took place while they were at a private meeting, an initiative of De Venecia, in Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City sometime in March 2005, according to Enrile.

Enrile, however, refused to identify the two persons involved, except that of the supposed Malacañang official being a lawyer.

“That is in my record (when he made those calls one after the other). I know their names and they were mentioned by him (De Venecia). I was there and I overheard his discussions on the phone. He was saying ‘okay na, pati sa Malakanyang, okay na’ (the deal is okay, even with Malacañang),” he said.

Enrile, based on his recollection, quoted De Venecia as supposedly telling the two officials at the other end of the line that he had supposedly managed to convince the senator.

“When I heard that, I did not say anything, I respected him as the Speaker. Afterward he came to me saying that we are asking another P10 billion credit line from China,” Enrile said.

I dare him to deny this. He even sent me a letter on it, Enrile said.

He (the Speaker) was the one who talked to me, I did not ask for an appointment with him. Why does he have to hold the meeting with me at a private room in the Hotel Intercon? Why not have the meeting at the coffee shop? I was hauled to a room at the 10th floor, that was on March 12. I made my privilege speech (about the anomalies on the project) Feb. 14.

“What I got from him was that he believed that letting go of the project would be a big loss for the country,” Enrile said.

For me, he had an unusual interest in the project because of the fact that he was the only government official who talked to me about the project. He was also always with William Go, who is promoting the project, Enrile went.

Enrile dared De Venecia to a one-on-one debate, saying that he cannot be accused by the Congress leader of being unfair and exaggerated.

“I am not exaggerating, that is fact,” Enrile added.

He should never accuse me of exposing the irregularities in the deal on the behest of Malacañang. I would not allow myself to be made into a tool by anybody, Enrile said.

The senator, in explaining the reason behind his belated revelation said he had been pointing out the alleged anomalies before the public but some unseen hands have been maneuvering the publication of Northrail-related stories.

I hate hypocrites, I have been in government for 40 years and this is the first Speaker I know who interceded for a government project, he said.

He added that former Senate presidents never engaged in such activity

Enrile issued a stern warning to De Venecia claiming that he knows a lot of information dating back 1995 that can be used against the House speaker.




____________________________________




Probe of speaker’s role in Northrail fiasco sought
By Cecilio T. Arillo
Manila Standard
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news2_nov12_2007


HOUSE Speaker Jose de Venecia has called for a “moral revolution” in support of his son’s supposed exposé on the $329-million broadband deal with China, which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has canceled.

But he might himself be investigated based on new information on the $503-million Northrail project that the Senate probed inconclusively in 2005—a project that he and other government officials pushed vigorously.

That project would revive the 32-kilometer railway from Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan, but it appears to be more egregious and overpriced than the broadband deal and the Amari land scam.

In fact, the cost of the Northrail has been increasing for lack of detailed engineering design and strategic direction, resulting in delays; and unknown to the public, the government will be paying $400,000 or P20.8 million in penalties and interest for every month of delay.

Moreover, exactly $125.75 million (P6.5 billion) has already been advanced out of the $503-million loan for the project, yet the project, scheduled to be completed next May, appears to be heading nowhere.

Experts from the University of the Philippines Law Center say the financial assessment of the National Economic and Development Authority when it approved the Northrail project was “surreal. and does not jibe with the evidence on railway projects in the Philippines and elsewhere.”

For example, “Neda set the internal rate of return at 15 percent, but was not sure if the economic viability was for the whole project or only for Phase 1, and it did not consider the fact that existing railways in the country are losing huge sums of money.”

The UP experts say Northrail would lose money in operating the commuter service between Caloocan and Malolos, the first stage of the railway system that eventually would extend up to Clark.

“The government will incur an additional foreign debt of $400 million for Phase 1, Section 1 [Caloocan-Malolos] of the Northrail project and another $500 million for Phase 1, Section 2 [Malolos-Clark], or the equivalent of almost $1 billion with the construction of the railways,” the experts said in their report.

“The added debt burden to the country may far outweigh the revenue and economic benefit expected to be generated from the project.”

The other points of their study on the subject:

• When compared to similar “tied loans” that the Philippines secured, the loan obtained from the China Eximbank to finance the project was very expensive

• The Philippines could have turned to Japan for financing

• The Department of Finance was asked to sign and guarantee the loan with Eximbank of China after the supply contract had already been signed by Northrail and its contractor

• The China loan was an unconditional obligation of the Philippine government

• There was no private sector participation, hence market risk rested alone on the Philippine government.

The UP Law Center says that in the absence of a detailed engineering design and a transparent competitive tender, the project cost of Northrail as contracted with the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. cannot be said to be the best the Philippines could have secured.

It says that under the contract, Northrail would make a 5-percent down payment of $21.052 million to its contractor 30 days upon the signing of the loan agreement.

Fifteen days after the contract became effective, the contractor would advance 25 percent of the contract price from the loan proceeds for the cost of preparation, mobilization and relocation.

The Philippine government must also pay the China Eximbank a management fee of $800,000 within 60 days from the signing of the loan agreement, and pay it a commitment fee of 0.2 percent a year on the daily unused portion of the loan.

“The proceeds of the loan should have been released and deposited to the account of the Republic of the Philippines. In this case, however, the money will remain with the Eximbank of China, which shall disburse the fund to pay the contractor of the project upon a certificate of completion to be issued by the North Luzon Railway Corp.,” the UP experts said.

They say the contractor’s Web site shows that it has no experience in railway construction and is a trading company “focusing on construction machinery, electricity pumps and vacuum equipment, [and] mining machinery.”

And the contract does not contain parameters on the rolling stock (rail cars) to be supplied by the contractor, no warranty that the equipment to be supplied would be brand new, and Chinese standards will be made to apply—completely ignoring standards acceptable to Philippine Infrastructure projects.

On March 17, 2006, the UP experts, this time led by lawyer Harry Roque Jr., asked a court to declare the Northrail contract void based on their legal arguments.

The court granted their motion.

In reaction, the defendants led by Northrail, its contractor and the Philippine government filed a counter motion asking Judge Cesar Santamaria of the Makati Regional Trial Court (Branch 145) to dismiss the experts’ case. They also filed a reconsideration asking the court to reverse its earlier order to hold summary hearings.

In their arguments, the defendants said that the experts had no legal capacity to sue; the court had no jurisdiction to hear the case; the experts had no cause of action; and the court had no jurisdiction over the contractor, which is an agent of China, a sovereign state.

In an Omnibus Order dated May 15, 2007, Judge Santamaria again upheld the arguments of the experts and denied the defendants’ counter motion and motion for reconsideration.

In denying the defendants, the court said that the experts and the people they represented had capacity to sue because they were taxpayers who may question a government action involving the expenditure of public funds; that government funds were involved in the Northrail contracts was obvious; and that taxpayers may sue if it was claimed that public funds had been illegally disbursed.

The court also ruled that it had jurisdiction over the case. It said the resolution of the motions and the holding of summary hearings would not prejudge the case, the reason being a summary hearing was only for the purpose of determining whether or not grounds existed for the court to act.

^^ Whooaaa!!! Just the facts man... just the facts!!!! :lol::lol::lol:

Mga Senador at Congressman, hmmm.... may mga engineers po tayo para magaral at magimplement ng isang project... Genius ba kayo para magcomment sa mga projects o talagang pasikat lang? he he he he

Unless you're an engineer or in railway industry position before assuming any government post... you can directly hit an anomaly..:bash::bash:

Tingnan ko lang if tlagang papareho ang $50M na Southrail Linkage Phase 1 sa $501M Northrail Phase 1...yun ang sabi ng isang nagmamagaling na Senador ????.... Overpriced daw kasi.... hmmm... tingnan natin ang kanyang tigas...

He he he.... Northrail Starts January 2008.... :okay:

^^ Kahit sabihin mang overpriced yan, eh kailang pa rin natin.. Wala tayong magagawa kundi kailangan natin ang Northrail... he he he.... :banana:

Attempting to stop it, hindi po malulugi si PGMA... kundi tayo, tayo mga nagcocommute most especially those passengers going north. Tol, tuloy ang inyong kalbaryo, naturingan pa namang may North Expressway, may trapik pa rin yan... he he he....:lol::lol::lol:

ano ba yan, may scam na naman?????

I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY!

As i said in another thread regarding this issue, the construction of this major infrastructure will bring more good to the country than the corruption it spurns!

There is corruption on almost every single great infrastructure development in the WORLD, the problem i think with the Philippines is its insistence on the IDEAL. This country can't afford to be ideal, because things are going so damn slow.

Right now those fucking senators don't give a shit about the positive changes these rail lines will create for millions of Filipinos, they just want to know the easiest way they can be re-elected. The senate is really becoming a nuisance. No time in history has it ever been more desirable to abolish the senate than now.

If the senate wants to crash this train, then GMA has to stand firm. We can't let these SONS OF BITCHES ruin this project

^^ Kahit sabihin mang overpriced yan, eh kailang pa rin natin.. Wala tayong magagawa kundi kailangan natin ang Northrail... he he he.... :banana:

Attempting to stop it, hindi po malulugi si PGMA... kundi tayo, tayo mga nagcocommute most especially those passengers going north. Tol, tuloy ang inyong kalbaryo, naturingan pa namang may North Expressway, may trapik pa rin yan... he he he....:lol::lol::lol:

^^ Whooaaa!!! Just the facts man... just the facts!!!! :lol::lol::lol:

Mga Senador at Congressman, hmmm.... may mga engineers po tayo para magaral at magimplement ng isang project... Genius ba kayo para magcomment sa mga projects o talagang pasikat lang? he he he he

Unless you're an engineer or in railway industry position before assuming any government post... you can directly hit an anomaly..:bash::bash:

Tingnan ko lang if tlagang papareho ang $50M na Southrail Linkage Phase 1 sa $501M Northrail Phase 1...yun ang sabi ng isang nagmamagaling na Senador ????.... Overpriced daw kasi.... hmmm... tingnan natin ang kanyang tigas...

He he he.... Northrail Starts January 2008.... :okay:

^^ Kahit sabihin mang overpriced yan, eh kailang pa rin natin.. Wala tayong magagawa kundi kailangan natin ang Northrail... he he he.... :banana:

Attempting to stop it, hindi po malulugi si PGMA... kundi tayo, tayo mga nagcocommute most especially those passengers going north. Tol, tuloy ang inyong kalbaryo, naturingan pa namang may North Expressway, may trapik pa rin yan... he he he....:lol::lol::lol:
hinahanap ko sa news article na ito kung paano naging overpriced yung project. Wala namang nakalagay. Basically, ang sinasabi nya lang eh disadvantageous sa Philippine government dahil: 1. Walang experience ang China, 2. unfavorable conditions sa loan, 3. expensive loan, 4. the project will lose money and 5. walang bidding . Wala ring nasasabi na may corruption.

I'm nervous kasi the court have upheld the arguments of the "experts." Pero ang alam ko matagal na ring dinismiss ng Supreme Court ito kasi mali yung company na nilagay ng mga "experts"

Enrile links Palace man, Northrail exec to scam
By Angie M. Rosales
Daily Tribune
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20071112hed5.html


Another controversial deal has found its way to the doorsteps of Malacañang after Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday said a Palace official was directly involved in clearing the overpriced North Luzon railways project.

Enrile also tagged an executive involved in the construction of the project as an accomplice of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. who he is accusing of gaining privately from the project.

Enrile said on radio the Speaker supposedly called up at least two persons, one in Malacañang and the other involved in the construction of the project — right in front of him and told them “the project is now okay.”

This took place while they were at a private meeting, an initiative of De Venecia, in Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City sometime in March 2005, according to Enrile.

Enrile, however, refused to identify the two persons involved, except that of the supposed Malacañang official being a lawyer.

“That is in my record (when he made those calls one after the other). I know their names and they were mentioned by him (De Venecia). I was there and I overheard his discussions on the phone. He was saying ‘okay na, pati sa Malakanyang, okay na’ (the deal is okay, even with Malacañang),” he said.

Enrile, based on his recollection, quoted De Venecia as supposedly telling the two officials at the other end of the line that he had supposedly managed to convince the senator.

“When I heard that, I did not say anything, I respected him as the Speaker. Afterward he came to me saying that we are asking another P10 billion credit line from China,” Enrile said.

I dare him to deny this. He even sent me a letter on it, Enrile said.

He (the Speaker) was the one who talked to me, I did not ask for an appointment with him. Why does he have to hold the meeting with me at a private room in the Hotel Intercon? Why not have the meeting at the coffee shop? I was hauled to a room at the 10th floor, that was on March 12. I made my privilege speech (about the anomalies on the project) Feb. 14.

“What I got from him was that he believed that letting go of the project would be a big loss for the country,” Enrile said.

For me, he had an unusual interest in the project because of the fact that he was the only government official who talked to me about the project. He was also always with William Go, who is promoting the project, Enrile went.

Enrile dared De Venecia to a one-on-one debate, saying that he cannot be accused by the Congress leader of being unfair and exaggerated.

“I am not exaggerating, that is fact,” Enrile added.

He should never accuse me of exposing the irregularities in the deal on the behest of Malacañang. I would not allow myself to be made into a tool by anybody, Enrile said.

The senator, in explaining the reason behind his belated revelation said he had been pointing out the alleged anomalies before the public but some unseen hands have been maneuvering the publication of Northrail-related stories.

I hate hypocrites, I have been in government for 40 years and this is the first Speaker I know who interceded for a government project, he said.

He added that former Senate presidents never engaged in such activity

Enrile issued a stern warning to De Venecia claiming that he knows a lot of information dating back 1995 that can be used against the House speaker.




____________________________________




Probe of speaker’s role in Northrail fiasco sought
By Cecilio T. Arillo
Manila Standard
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news2_nov12_2007


HOUSE Speaker Jose de Venecia has called for a “moral revolution” in support of his son’s supposed exposé on the $329-million broadband deal with China, which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has canceled.

But he might himself be investigated based on new information on the $503-million Northrail project that the Senate probed inconclusively in 2005—a project that he and other government officials pushed vigorously.

That project would revive the 32-kilometer railway from Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan, but it appears to be more egregious and overpriced than the broadband deal and the Amari land scam.

In fact, the cost of the Northrail has been increasing for lack of detailed engineering design and strategic direction, resulting in delays; and unknown to the public, the government will be paying $400,000 or P20.8 million in penalties and interest for every month of delay.

Moreover, exactly $125.75 million (P6.5 billion) has already been advanced out of the $503-million loan for the project, yet the project, scheduled to be completed next May, appears to be heading nowhere.

Experts from the University of the Philippines Law Center say the financial assessment of the National Economic and Development Authority when it approved the Northrail project was “surreal. and does not jibe with the evidence on railway projects in the Philippines and elsewhere.”

For example, “Neda set the internal rate of return at 15 percent, but was not sure if the economic viability was for the whole project or only for Phase 1, and it did not consider the fact that existing railways in the country are losing huge sums of money.”

The UP experts say Northrail would lose money in operating the commuter service between Caloocan and Malolos, the first stage of the railway system that eventually would extend up to Clark.

“The government will incur an additional foreign debt of $400 million for Phase 1, Section 1 [Caloocan-Malolos] of the Northrail project and another $500 million for Phase 1, Section 2 [Malolos-Clark], or the equivalent of almost $1 billion with the construction of the railways,” the experts said in their report.

“The added debt burden to the country may far outweigh the revenue and economic benefit expected to be generated from the project.”

The other points of their study on the subject:

• When compared to similar “tied loans” that the Philippines secured, the loan obtained from the China Eximbank to finance the project was very expensive

• The Philippines could have turned to Japan for financing

• The Department of Finance was asked to sign and guarantee the loan with Eximbank of China after the supply contract had already been signed by Northrail and its contractor

• The China loan was an unconditional obligation of the Philippine government

• There was no private sector participation, hence market risk rested alone on the Philippine government.

The UP Law Center says that in the absence of a detailed engineering design and a transparent competitive tender, the project cost of Northrail as contracted with the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. cannot be said to be the best the Philippines could have secured.

It says that under the contract, Northrail would make a 5-percent down payment of $21.052 million to its contractor 30 days upon the signing of the loan agreement.

Fifteen days after the contract became effective, the contractor would advance 25 percent of the contract price from the loan proceeds for the cost of preparation, mobilization and relocation.

The Philippine government must also pay the China Eximbank a management fee of $800,000 within 60 days from the signing of the loan agreement, and pay it a commitment fee of 0.2 percent a year on the daily unused portion of the loan.

“The proceeds of the loan should have been released and deposited to the account of the Republic of the Philippines. In this case, however, the money will remain with the Eximbank of China, which shall disburse the fund to pay the contractor of the project upon a certificate of completion to be issued by the North Luzon Railway Corp.,” the UP experts said.

They say the contractor’s Web site shows that it has no experience in railway construction and is a trading company “focusing on construction machinery, electricity pumps and vacuum equipment, [and] mining machinery.”

And the contract does not contain parameters on the rolling stock (rail cars) to be supplied by the contractor, no warranty that the equipment to be supplied would be brand new, and Chinese standards will be made to apply—completely ignoring standards acceptable to Philippine Infrastructure projects.

On March 17, 2006, the UP experts, this time led by lawyer Harry Roque Jr., asked a court to declare the Northrail contract void based on their legal arguments.

The court granted their motion.

In reaction, the defendants led by Northrail, its contractor and the Philippine government filed a counter motion asking Judge Cesar Santamaria of the Makati Regional Trial Court (Branch 145) to dismiss the experts’ case. They also filed a reconsideration asking the court to reverse its earlier order to hold summary hearings.

In their arguments, the defendants said that the experts had no legal capacity to sue; the court had no jurisdiction to hear the case; the experts had no cause of action; and the court had no jurisdiction over the contractor, which is an agent of China, a sovereign state.

In an Omnibus Order dated May 15, 2007, Judge Santamaria again upheld the arguments of the experts and denied the defendants’ counter motion and motion for reconsideration.

In denying the defendants, the court said that the experts and the people they represented had capacity to sue because they were taxpayers who may question a government action involving the expenditure of public funds; that government funds were involved in the Northrail contracts was obvious; and that taxpayers may sue if it was claimed that public funds had been illegally disbursed.

The court also ruled that it had jurisdiction over the case. It said the resolution of the motions and the holding of summary hearings would not prejudge the case, the reason being a summary hearing was only for the purpose of determining whether or not grounds existed for the court to act.

Now I get it. The Supreme Court dismissed that case and instead recommended the petitioners to file the case to a lower coourt. http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news05_jan19_2006

how the hell would foreigners want to invest in our country if every last deal is being torn down even after the signing during the implementation? this goes to show how bad the political situation is in our country.. a person would bring down something because of a slight and not thinking of the greater good.. of course the northrail would help alot of people.. enrile just doesnt realize this and would never realize this cause i dont think he would even dare ride the northrail when it is finished.. total and utter BS..

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/405148502_c11cc2f18e.jpg?v=0
.


Hi guys,
It has been a bad week. Anyone who is a member of the PhilippineRailways Yahoogroup would be painfully aware of the hatred and anger being expressed towards me and others there.
Has almost got me to a stage where I have lost all interest. I have even officially stepped down from the 'PRHS' board as the politics is getting in the way of building a sound basis.
Possibly one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, but one I made for my own health and for the family who I was fighting with due to the stress.
I hope they will continue on and become one of the worlds great museums, the Philippines deserves it.

Anyway on to more joyful topics.

That is that big illumuminated thing on the nose of this Japanese train for? Is it for advertising, or does it just display destinations?

Brad

^^ Yup, I've seen that also the third track in Pandacan.. We'll on my next visit, I'll show you the picture of where the Pasay Station 3rd and 4th tracks runs. It is really amazing that during that old times, PNR was so busy and many train passed by.

I suppose in earlier days lots of these lines were used for goods deliveries etc.
Not really viable over such short distances nowdays unless in rather huge amounts. Most of this local metro goods stuff has been dumped worldwide nowdays, SADLY!

Brad

I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY!

As i said in another thread regarding this issue, the construction of this major infrastructure will bring more good to the country than the corruption it spurns!

There is corruption on almost every single great infrastructure development in the WORLD, the problem i think with the Philippines is its insistence on the IDEAL. This country can't afford to be ideal, because things are going so damn slow.

Right now those fucking senators don't give a shit about the positive changes these rail lines will create for millions of Filipinos, they just want to know the easiest way they can be re-elected. The senate is really becoming a nuisance. No time in history has it ever been more desirable to abolish the senate than now.

If the senate wants to crash this train, then GMA has to stand firm. We can't let these SONS OF BITCHES ruin this project

ALRIGHT.
Three cheers for Dancythingy :banana:

Very well put. Time you ran for parliment kind sir.

Brad

how the hell would foreigners want to invest in our country if every last deal is being torn down even after the signing during the implementation?.

I am, but then the government has little interest in my smaller doings.
Now if I wanted to do something HUGE to help the Philippine community, well then it would be a problem, mostly with the next administration as it is easier for them to scrap it than try to outdo it with something even better.

Heres an interesting concept for the leaders there. Why not outdo the kindness and good work of the previous government, instead of putting it all in the to hard basket and making the people, who voted for you to represent them, suffer?
Who knows (insert next president) such an idea may just work :bash:

Brad

^^ :banana: Good Morning... Country Men and beloved Railroad Fans.....: banana:

^^ Braved move... Dancethingly... :applause::applause::applause:Thank you so much for the moral support you've given this thread..... I agree with you!!!! Dapat lang talaga for those Senators...

^^ :banana: Good Morning... Country Men and beloved Railroad Fans.....: banana:

^^ Braved move... Dancethingly... :applause::applause::applause:Thank you so much for the moral support you've given this thread..... I agree with you!!!! Dapat lang talaga for those Senators...


Gooooooooood morning back to you.

First time we have been on at the same time for a while :lol:

Brad

Gooooooooood morning back to you.

First time we have been on at the same time for a while :lol:

Brad

^^ Yup, uncle Brad... :lol: It's a very real time post... he he he.... Im happy today we have so many true symphathy coming from our people. I guess, Mr. Soliven was so right when he said start the project now and argue later because the people really need this....:okay:

So any more squatter clearance updates?
Much been happening south of Alabang?

Brad

^^ Yup, uncle Brad... :lol: It's a very real time post... he he he.... Im happy today we have so many true symphathy coming from our people. I guess, Mr. Soliven was so right when he said start the project now and argue later because the people really need this....:okay:


Bill is a very wise and good friend, he is certainly right.
He is over there in the Phils at the moment (lucky fella) but I look forward a lot to his return to discuss all thats been happening.
If anyone can bring a bright light to it, he certainly can.

Brad

enrile just doesnt realize this and would never realize this cause i dont think he would even dare ride the northrail when it is finished.. total and utter BS..

It wasn't his project, so no matter how obvious the good it does will be, he will still argue that its bad.

If President Gloria solved global warming tomorrow and then managed to create world peace the next day, they would still be screaming for her resignation.
I share your frustration, it pisses me off no end to and I live all the way down here.

Brad

^^ Yup, uncle Brad... :lol: :

:lol: Uncle Brad hehehehehehe

I tell my neices not to call me that, it makes me feel old! :lol:

So any more squatter clearance updates?
Much been happening south of Alabang?

Brad

^^ Ahhh... yes, with regards to the relocation. We'll month ago I think there was an agreement between MMDA and some Urban Dwellers Group with some Senators agreed for a 1 month moratorium.. For a period of 1 month, MMDA will not implement demolitions of illegal structures including railroad dwellers to give way for the policy of relocation and time for those to be demolished to prepare.. Well MMDA and railroad clearing will be boosted by this since there is no more reason for the shanties to remain in that area after 1 month moratorium and also the best reason and legal valid reason for the MMDA to do their part as agreed with Urban Groups and those Senators and that also a good reason to be called MMDA does care and concerned for the welfare of this people.

When I get there Brad, believed even if demolition was stopped for a while with this moratorium, some have already packed up with many more houses being self demolished especially between Sucat and Alabang. Im happy with those developments although some probably just waiting for the MMDA to come.... But all I can say is that in a coming days, we can already see the line from FTI to Alabang cleared...

Q: what is the status of the project?

^^

When I get there Brad, believed even if demolition was stopped for a while with this moratorium, some have already packed up with many more houses being self demolished especially between Sucat and Alabang. Im happy with those developments although some probably just waiting for the MMDA to come.... But all I can say is that in a coming days, we can already see the line from FTI to Alabang cleared...

Thanks for the great update mate.
I am hoping Bill has taken some photos as well. If he has I shall ask permission to place them on here for everyone.

Brad

Hello Thread V :banana:

NORTHRAIL - SOUTHRAIL V

http://www.geocities.com/mr_shawn_naylor/asian_rails/philippines/Philippines0101.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/2007_02_09_Lake_Paco_Brad_Peadon.jpg

Welcome to the fifth thread on one of the busiest sections in the Philippine sections of SSC!
Exciting times ahead for the railways of the Philippines! Join us chatting about them and make new friends with similar interests!

Enjoy!
Brad
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/b/bb/PNR_Logo.png

:llama: = politicians...
we should group together na tlaga:grouphug:

I agree, some sort of active pro-rail group is really needed, one that has open lines of communication with the government.

Brad

^^ A Big Round of Applause!!!! :applause::applause::applause: ^^

can we have recap of the project please and its current status?

can we have recap of the project please and its current status?

^^ Ok, Ill post it later....:)

Just a bit on a blog site.

http://planet.naga.gov.ph/2006/11/10/train-to-bicol/

^^ Wowie!! Talking about Bill, I've got so excited with his doings in Manila. Hope he could get the best photos of the latest updates especially the ongoing construction at Buendia and Pasay Stations. Me too im planning againg for the second time this end of November. But this time, I will add videos. I loved to cover the section between Vito Cruz and FTI.. It so cleaned now and trains move faster....

New thread! (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=546411) :colgate:



:lock:

^^ Wowie!! Talking about Bill, I've got so excited with his doings in Manila. Hope he could get the best photos of the latest updates especially the ongoing construction at Buendia and Pasay Stations. Me too im planning againg for the second time this end of November. But this time, I will add videos. I loved to cover the section between Vito Cruz and FTI.. It so cleaned now and trains move faster....

I do to. Not sure if he took a camera this time.
Haven't heard from him for a couple of days, not sure if he has returned from his short Thailand side trip.
Know that the trip is going to quick again and he is soon to return home.

Brad

^^ Ok this was the latest info although not confirmed yet but surely implemented...

Northrail Phase 1 Section 1 (Caloocan to Malolos Station) 32km- Problems regarding the narrow right-of-way have been resolved this October.
- Definitely to start by January 2008.
- Completion date on February 2010 was retained.

Northrail Phase 1 Section 2 (Malolos to Angeles to Clark Airport Line)- Remaining squatter to be removed by December.
- Definitely to start by January 2008.
- Completion date a year later after Section 1 completes.

Linkage Project Phase 1 (Caloocan to Alabang) 34km- On-going since October 2007.
- Remaining squatters to be demolished by November and December.
- Completion date was retained on June 2008.

Linkage Project Phase 2 (Alabang to Calamba) 27km
- Squatter relocation is on-going.
- Completion date will be on 2010.

Southrail Phase 1 Section A (Calamba to Lucena) 77km- Relocation and Consultation is on-going.
- Completion date will be on 2009 though the project is yet to start....

[QOUTE] Originally posted by Alcogoodwin...

That is that big illumuminated thing on the nose of this Japanese train for? Is it for advertising, or does it just display destinations?

Brad
__________________
Philippine Railways SIG Website! (Updated August- New Photos/Forums)
http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin...eRailways.html
Feel like having a chat and meeting new friends. Check out our forums.
FORUMS: Apparently changed without reason by moderators!

## Please note I can't speak Tagalog - actually I struggle enough with English :-) ## [QOUTE/]

^^ I ask my brother about it and he said the screen displays schedules, the no. of the train, announcements etc... he he he ....Nice moving information.... This train is really nice... When you're inside the station, you would not notice that this train is passing. It's very quiet and fast without not much vibration. I think if LRT1 is rated 10 in the platform vibration, I rate Super Hitachi as 2...

Can someone quickly summarize what is going on between Enrile and De Venecia regarding this project? Don't want to browse through the previous long thread but I am curious to see if the bickering between those two would do something to hinder this project...

^^ Enrile vs. JDV = B1 vs. B2 ^^

Away pambata lang to... Pasiklaban ba...

Wow Thread V, ang galing!!!

With regards to Enrile and JDV, wag na natin silang patulan, mahigpit ang kanilang "media needs" para sila mapansin for 2010!

Haayyy mga pinoy talaga, mahilig sa soap opera, kahit sa senado o sa kongreso me telenobela!

Wow Thread V, ang galing!!!

With regards to Enrile and JDV, wag na natin silang patulan, mahigpit ang kanilang "media needs" para sila mapansin for 2010!

Haayyy mga pinoy talaga, mahilig sa soap opera, kahit sa senado o sa kongreso me telenobela!

^^ Hello Chits!!! Nice to be back again... :banana:

Oo nga, matindi ang kanilang media players... tssskkkk.... tssskkkkk.....

Here in the Philippines, even if you are right and if you don't have money to pay for a media press release, you would normally be wrong as if you are sentenced to be wrong.... And you will pay media for press release just to do it right again... of course in the minds of innocent people... kuno.... kahit alam naman nila yung tama... tamang gawain para umasenso nang di umaasa sa iba lalo na sa gobyerno... tsssk...!!!!

[QUOTE]

^^ I ask my brother about it and he said the screen displays schedules, the no. of the train, announcements etc... he he he ....Nice moving information.... This train is really nice... When you're inside the station, you would not notice that this train is passing. It's very quiet and fast without not much vibration. I think if LRT1 is rated 10 in the platform vibration, I rate Super Hitachi as 2...

Certainly a great idea.
Its only in more recent times our trains have started carrying destinations.

Brad

Look at all that good squatter land in Lake Paco:D

Seriously though, the time for railways reappearing in Philippine society couldn't be any better, with oil prices rising (that's okay, we'll just use coal;) - though railway crossings in busy Manila streets still worry me. In Victoria, Australia, there were some accidents with cars and railways in crossings, and that was in the country. Right now trains rarely come so it's all good, but when they're up and running they will be more frequent - causing a potential traffic headache and that headache could turn to disaster if it's not looked at.

Look at all that good squatter land in Lake Paco:D

Seriously though, the time for railways reappearing in Philippine society couldn't be any better, with oil prices rising (that's okay, we'll just use coal;) - though railway crossings in busy Manila streets still worry me. In Victoria, Australia, there were some accidents with cars and railways in crossings, and that was in the country. Right now trains rarely come so it's all good, but when they're up and running they will be more frequent - causing a potential traffic headache and that headache could turn to disaster if it's not looked at.

^^ Being too negative is what brought you headache.:ohno: It seems that being negative is the moral booster of all problem when actually things supposedly do not have a problem..... :):):)

TO Mr Wheel of Steel, Brad, and others

I have to commend you guys for keeping northrail and southrail thread alive. The enthusiasm you show on this thread about these projects is the type of attitude we need nowadays to get things done.

These projects have always had my undying support as i believe rail transport is THE ANSWER to our country's transportation woes.

Northrail ‘mobilization’
ate up 23% of total loan (http://businessmirror.com.ph/11132007/headlines010.html)

By Butch Fernandez
Reporter

THE Senate economic affairs committee asked the Commission on Audit (COA) Monday to submit updated documents on the initial release of $113 million from the $500-million China loan intended to bankroll the NorthRail project, amid findings it exceeded the authorized amount.

At a public hearing into official development assistance (ODA-funded) projects Monday, Sen. Loren Legarda, committee chairman, acted on a motion by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile after Department of Finance officials confirmed the $113-million fund release purportedly “for mobilization” to get the Caloocan-Malolos phase of the railway project under way.

Enrile had aired misgivings that something was amiss because $113-million initial release (or 22.6 percent of the total package) was way above the standard amount. “By practice, mobilization fund releases should only amount to 15 percent of the total project cost. Why was this [deviation] allowed? We also want to know where the money was spent,” said Enrile. The senator earlier complained that Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. had shown “inordinate interest” in the Northrail project and even asked Enrile not to “rock the boat” during a private meeting at the Makati Hotel.

In ordering COA to submit an audit report on the Northrail fund releases, Legarda explained that the Senate simply wants to “see how efficiently the funds [for the Northrail project] were spent.”

It was claimed that the initial amount was released to the implementing government agency and the contractor, CNMEG Group, said to have been handpicked by the China Export-Import Bank, which agreed to bankroll the project through an ODA loan.

At the same hearing, Legarda also required the DOF to submit a separate list of all ODA-funded projects in the pipeline as the Senate begins crafting legislation to plug perceived loopholes in so-called tied loans for projects usually carried out without the required public bidding—in contrast to other locally funded projects that need to be bidded out first.

Enrile, however, voiced concern over a bill filed by Sen. Mar Roxas seeking to require prior congressional approval of foreign-funded projects that are exempted from public bidding.

“It is alright if we are saints, but we are not babes [in the woods] here; and we know this could be more costly,” he said, adding “we may be inviting a situation where such projects would be the subject of intense lobbies by interested parties…it means members of Congress will be approached.”

Enrile also predicted that if prior congressional concurrence is required as proposed in the bill, “the cost of tied loans will go up excessively. Of course, the lender of the loan would not care because as long as they get the contract.”

“It is a double-edged situation that could hurt our country more than solve its problems,” Enrile added.

Senate on course for Northrail probe
Daily Tribune
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20071113hed6.html

The possible revival of the probe into the controversies surrounding the North Luzon railways project in the Senate is likely to be unhampered as opposition and administration senators are amenable to the idea of reopening the inquiry that was not terminated by the chamber in the last Congress.

Although Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile who exposed the alleged anomalies in the $500-million Northrail project has not made any pronouncements that he will move for the revival of the stalled inquiry, his colleagues pose no objection if this will take place.

This, especially after the two committees – economic affairs and finance – headed by Sen. Loren Legarda and Enrile, respectively, learned that as much as $113 million has been disbursed to fund the project.

Enrile noted another possible “loophole” in the project considering that such amount that Finance officials dubbed as mobilization fund, should constitute only 15 percent of the entire project cost and this means that the released amount should only be $45 million.

“The normal practice is only 15 percent of the contract price is released,” he said during a hearing on overseas development assistance (ODA)-funded projects, before moving to have the Commission on Audit (CoA) to furnish them with documents related to the disbursement of the $113-million mobilization fund.

Legarda supported the move as this is a way of determining whether or not the money was misspent.

The fund was released to the implementing government agency and in turn to the winning contractor, CNMEG Group, which was chosen by the Chinese government’s Export-Import Bank, which is bankrolling the project through an official development assistance loan.

Senators Francis Escudero and Miriam Defensor-Santiago stood supportive of the reopening of the Northrail project probe as both noted that there is yet to be any closure on the issue.

“If indeed it was not terminated (in the last Congress), it’s only proper that this be pursued. I will not stand in the way of those who will move for the reopening of the probe,” Escudero said.

The senator said he had been told by Sen. Rodolfo Biazon who handled the inquiry during the 13th Congress that there are numerous parallelism of the said project with the ZTE-deal and the Cyber-Education project.

“If based on what they have known of this issue, they feel that they need to gather more information, I will not object to it, in order to have closure on the matter,” he said.

Santiago noted that the Senate probe on the railway project is not practically completed.

The NorthRail project will link Caloocan City to Malolos City in Bulacan and the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga provinces. It covers 80 kilometers of track.

On the ODA hearing, Enrile also shot down proposals by his colleagues to let Congress scrutinize ODA projects that did not undergo bidding.

“If Congress participates in approving ODA projects, it would be more costly,” he said.

Enrile said lobbyists for the ODA projects would surely approach the lawmakers to seek their support.

“It’s all right if we’re saints but we’re not babes (in the woods) here. We know that if we do that, it might be costly,” he stressed.

Despite the brewing word war between Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and Enrile over the controversial Northrail project, Malacañang, for its part, assured the Speaker he would retain the House leadership.

Chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol, during a phone interview, said President Arroyo has no intention of betraying the Speaker.

“The Palace will not backstab De Venecia. There’s no reason to do that. I doubt if it is correct, there’s no move to oust the Speaker as far as the President is concerned,” he said.

He also reiterated that Enrile is acting alone and is not being dictated by Malacañang.

“I think the President must and should not be dragged into this issue between Enrile and JdV... What would the Palace gain from it?” he said.

^^ To dancethingly... I really appreciate it so much... Thank You!!!:banana::banana::banana:

^^ Actually, we've lost so much money now than the alleged opricing... Imagine, without a good railway system, how much time and effort every passenger is loosing katiyatiyaga sa mga bus na sobrang mahal ang pasahe, medyo mabagal pa ang biyahe at minsan natratrapik pa... Compared to railway where trains cannot be delayed and has an affordable fare, and of course using brand new trains....:ohno::ohno::ohno:

^ Tama, ilalaban natin ito with prayers.... :okay:

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/3166/grpinfirenze6eo6.jpghttp://

There was an interesting suggestion by blogger Urbano delacruz,where he says filipino citizens concerned for a better transport system forming an official group to espouse a comprehensive transport system for the country.The group will also deseminate info to the public about how backward our transport system is,and how and why our govt. should prioritize transport projects designed for the masses,working class ,elderly and physically disabled.And not to Enrile,Cayetano et. al,who travel via their 4x4's with motorcycle/car bodyguards.

‘North rail project on'

Secretary Cerge Remonde of the Presidential Management Staff said he remains hopeful that politics will not derail the implementation of the 80.2-kilometer, $1.126-billion North Rail, a flagship project of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a Philippine Information Agency press release said.

"The North Rail is one of the most important projects of the government. We hope that this won't be delayed because of politics," Remonde said.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. have tangled over the project, designed to boost the development of the Urban Beltway Super Region.

Remonde said the North Rail will be one of the President's legacy projects to boost the country's competitiveness, as well as uplift the lives of the people, the press release said.

Enrile earlier said De Venecia had asked him to go easy on the Chinese contractors of the project. The Speaker admitted having discussed the issue with Enrile in 2005 but "only to ask him not to rock the boat because the Chinese government threatened to withdraw (from the project) after Enrile attacked it."

The Department of Transportation and Communications has assured the President that it would keep its construction timetable for the first phase of the project which is scheduled to be completed by February 2010, while the second phase is set to be finished in 2011, the press release said.

North Rail president Jose Cortes Jr. said the construction of the first section of the project will begin in January 2008, as the remaining squatters residing along the old train line to be revived would be relocated by December, the press release added.*

Aba.. New Thread ah. Anyway, here are some of my new railway photos..

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/9379/trainlp4.jpg
Taken from an old Philippine Brochure.. circa 1950s-1970s(?)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1909/train2ot9.jpg
San Pedro Ext. Rail Line

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9918/train3kg5.jpg
Magallanes.. hehehe

^^Aba.. New Thread ah. Anyway, here are some of my new railway photos..

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/9379/trainlp4.jpg
Taken from an old Philippine Brochure.. circa 1950s-1970s(?)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1909/train2ot9.jpg
San Pedro Ext. Rail Line

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9918/train3kg5.jpg
Magallanes.. hehehe


^^ :banana: :banana: :banana: ^^

[FONT="Trebuchet MS Aloha!!!! Whow!!!!... Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Ladies.... [/FONT]

^^ :banana: :banana: :banana: ^^

^^ Ang ganda ng tren noh... and that was a long time ago na.. Imagine we have already nice train by that time.... :cheers:

^^ Ok this was the latest info although not confirmed yet but surely implemented...

Northrail Phase 1 Section 1 (Caloocan to Malolos Station) 32km- Problems regarding the narrow right-of-way have been resolved this October.
- Definitely to start by January 2008.
- Completion date on February 2010 was retained.

Northrail Phase 1 Section 2 (Malolos to Angeles to Clark Airport Line)- Remaining squatter to be removed by December.
- Definitely to start by January 2008.
- Completion date a year later after Section 1 completes.

Linkage Project Phase 1 (Caloocan to Alabang) 34km- On-going since October 2007.
- Remaining squatters to be demolished by November and December.
- Completion date was retained on June 2008.

Linkage Project Phase 2 (Alabang to Calamba) 27km
- Squatter relocation is on-going.
- Completion date will be on 2010.

Southrail Phase 1 Section A (Calamba to Lucena) 77km- Relocation and Consultation is on-going.
- Completion date will be on 2009 though the project is yet to start....

Wheels re kal to alabang, when you say finish do you mean that we will have the new trains in by then:shocked:
napaka great news if indeed this is the case that the line capacity will be upgraded with the trains, plus I assume the tracks and the stations! How precise is your info !:cheers:

If this is the case we should have an idea of what type trains right it can only be korean right as they are funding this portion.

Wheels re kal to alabang, when you say finish do you mean that we will have the new trains in by then:shocked:
napaka great news if indeed this is the case that the line capacity will be upgraded with the trains, plus I assume the tracks and the stations! How precise is your info !:cheers:

If this is the case we should have an idea of what type trains right it can only be korean right as they are funding this portion.

^^ Yup, probably I hope thats the same timeframe they have given before.. We'll trains will be made by Rotem, but the design will be probably in the likelihood of the DMUs made for Thailand's SRT, slighly modern and hybrid...

^^ I think Likage Project is merely a rehabilitation plus replacement of worn out structures, more importantly the tracks. What can we expect more from a $50M dollar budget minus the $30M worth of brand new 21DMU trains... so $15 is really alloted to the infrastructure..

When I get there at the Buendia and Pasay Stations, I noticed that the workers there are just doing minor renovations plus the raising of the platform.

I agree that's why I thought it would be possible. If that's the case though the train set bid should be done very soon. The Platforms di naman ganoon ka laking trabaho. Although I don't know if they are converting them to controlled access na prepay so no payment on the train.

I agree that's why I thought it would be possible. If that's the case though the train set bid should be done very soon. The Platforms di naman ganoon ka laking trabaho. Although I don't know if they are converting them to controlled access na prepay so no payment on the train.

^^ Tama you sir, di naman tlaga ganun kahirap yung renovations and I think prefab na rin cguro pati bubong, ikakabit na lang sa site. And then sabi nila, yung bakod daw althoug concrete but prefab din.

And I also ask about the replacement of the railway tracks, they said that it will only take short months to finished from Caloocan to Alabang since they will use the automated track layering machine.

^^ Yung bakod, local company ba magpo-provide nun? The bakod of the North Luzon Expressway is also prefab, supplied by VazBuilt. It looks really nice.

^^ Yung bakod, local company ba magpo-provide nun? The bakod of the North Luzon Expressway is also prefab, supplied by VazBuilt. It looks really nice.

^^ Cuguro, parang ganun sa North Luzon Expressway... Prefab din kasi dati ang ginamit ng PNR kaso sinisira ng mga squatters... But this time this fences will be secured since the line will be free from squatters...

^^ I think Likage Project is merely a rehabilitation plus replacement of worn out structures, more importantly the tracks. What can we expect more from a $50M dollar budget minus the $30M worth of brand new 21DMU trains... so $15 is really alloted to the infrastructure..

When I get there at the Buendia and Pasay Stations, I noticed that the workers there are just doing minor renovations plus the raising of the platform.

syang nmn, if we only have money sana totally renew na ,except for the Paco station:rock:

^^ Cuguro, parang ganun sa North Luzon Expressway... Prefab din kasi dati ang ginamit ng PNR kaso sinisira ng mga squatters... But this time this fences will be secured since the line will be free from squatters...

The arroyo government should be serious in the issue of our booming population, e ang nkakainis kay GMA e , di un ung priority, dumadami tuloy ang urban poor sa Metro Manila... malakas nga economy mo, if ang 50% ng population mo ay mahirap at nagugutom, bale wala din un...

Look at all that good squatter land in Lake Paco:D

Seriously though, the time for railways reappearing in Philippine society couldn't be any better, with oil prices rising (that's okay, we'll just use coal;) - though railway crossings in busy Manila streets still worry me. In Victoria, Australia, there were some accidents with cars and railways in crossings, and that was in the country. Right now trains rarely come so it's all good, but when they're up and running they will be more frequent - causing a potential traffic headache and that headache could turn to disaster if it's not looked at.

Renell,
The land also has a regular supply of water :-)
Besides coal :lol: there are other fuel type options for locomotives and railcars.
Was another lever crosing in the last couple of days, either in Victoria or South Australia. We seem to be blessed with one every couple of weeks at the moment. :(

Brad

TO Mr Wheel of Steel, Brad, and others

I have to commend you guys for keeping northrail and southrail thread alive. The enthusiasm you show on this thread about these projects is the type of attitude we need nowadays to get things done.

These projects have always had my undying support as i believe rail transport is THE ANSWER to our country's transportation woes.

Its a pleasure mate.
More than just a hobby, its a passion!
Brad

Aba.. New Thread ah. Anyway, here are some of my new railway photos..

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/9379/trainlp4.jpg
Taken from an old Philippine Brochure.. circa 1950s-1970s(?)

Awesome old photo el. One I haven't seen before.
Photos of these locomotives are indeed rare with the bulk of Philippine railway interest seeming to appear in the last decade or so.

Thanks for sharing.
Brad

Wow, has the railway thread ran out of steam?
Or should that be diesel?????????? :nuts:
Popped across for a look to try to counter the depressing 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' crumbling.
Where be everyone?

Brad

^^ Maybe on thanksgiving/advanced christmas break?

Get Palace execs to explain Northrail project – JdV
Daily Tribune
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20071120hed4.html

Speaker Jose de Venecia yesterday said Malacañang officials should explain before the Senate hearing on the $420-million Northrail project, the terms of the concessional loan from China because it was Palace officials who had negotiated the loan and decided on the project even as he pledged “full cooperation” with the Senate on its inquiry.

De Venecia said he cannot explain the “financial negotiations” involving the 20-year concessional loan from China as the information being sought from him can be provided by the Arroyo administration’s negotiators and those who made the decisions on the loan.

De Venecia reiterated he has no interest whatsoever in the rail project, stressing that he had no direct hand in the negotiations.

The Speaker stated that it was he and President Arroyo who had convinced the Chinese authorities to invest in the project. He said his only participation was to “convince two Chinese Presidents, two Chinese prime ministers, two Speakers of Parliament, and three Chinese ambassadors to the Philippines for China to undertake the project.”

He also said the railroad going north to Central Luzon and Northern Luzon had been “abandoned” for more than 30 years.

De Venecia proposed that the Senate invite the following incumbent and former executive officials to “explain the financial negotiations” involving the 20-year concessional loan from China.

Former Secretary General Romulo Neri of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda); three former Finance secretaries—Isidro Camacho, Juanita Amatong and Cesar Purisima; former Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin; former Foreign Secretary Delia Albert, former Executive Secretary and now Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo; Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita; Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez; former Government Corporate Counsel, now Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera; Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila; officials of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA); the Philippine National Railways president Joey Sarasola, and the chairman and president of NorthRail were those named by the Speaker.

De Venecia said NorthRail is financed by the Chinese government and is being constructed by a subsidiary of the Chinese government.

Earlier, Sen. Juan Ponce-Enrile charged that the Speaker had been directly involved in the NorthRail project, disclosing that when he bared the NorthRail project scam in a privilege speech some years back, the Speaker had asked to meet with him, at the Dusit Hotel in Makati, where he asked Ponce-Enrile not to rock the boat.

De Venecia, reacting to the disclosure of Enrile, admitted that he did have a meeting with the senator in the said hotel, but denied the other charges of the senator.

The Senate has decided to reopen the probe on the NorthRail project and De Venecia has said he would cooperate with the Senate on the probe.

It was not made clear, however, if he would present himself as a resource person in the Senate hearings.

But he apparently has given the Senate leads on whom to tap for the probe.



__________________________________________



JDV gives Senate 13 names who can shed light on North Rail
By Delon Porcalla
PhilStar
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20071119198

Washing his hands of the $420-million NorthRail project, House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. reiterated yesterday his “aboveboard” participation in the Chinese-financed contract, but gave the Senate the names of 13 local officials who could shed light on the deal.

“Our (De Venecia and President Arroyo) role was to convince China to build the railroad that has been abandoned for 35 years,” he insisted, even if Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile revealed earlier that he requested him “not to rock the boat” when the senator delivered a speech in 2005.

The Speaker nevertheless gave the Senate a list of the incumbent and former executive officials who could very well “explain the financial negotiations” involving the 20-year concessional loan from China.

Among those who could be invited are former National Economic and Development Authority secretary-general Romulo Neri, former Finance secretaries Isidro Camacho, Juanita Amatong and Cesar Purisima.

Former Budget secretary Emilia Boncodin, former Foreign secretary Delia Albert, former executive secretary and now Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

Former Government Corporate Counsel and now Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, Philippine National Railways president Joey Sarasola, the chairman and president of NorthRail and Bases Conversion and Development Authority officials.

De Venecia pledged his full cooperation with the Senate on its inquiry into the project.

He clarified though that the terms of the concessional loan from China can be provided by those officials who negotiated the loan and made the decisions.

In a statement, the Speaker reiterated that he has “no interest whatsoever in the rail project, he has no direct hand in the negotiations, and his participation has been aboveboard.”

De Venecia said that all he did with President Arroyo “was to convince two Chinese presidents, two Chinese prime ministers, two Speakers of Parliament, and three Chinese ambassadors to the Philippines, for China to undertake the project.”

De Venecia advised Enrile and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who exposed his alleged interest in the NorthRail project, to bring their complaints to the Chinese government “because this is a Chinese government project.”

“It is a Chinese government long-term financing, and the one that is constructing is the Chinese government, their construction subsidiary,” he said, acknowledging that the Philippine government will indeed pay interest once the project is finished.

The Speaker evaded the challenge hurled by Enrile last week for them to engage in a public debate on his renewed calls for his much-criticized moral revolution, which has been met by skepticism by many.

De Venecia also lamented that “some people,” without any direct reference to the perceived author of martial law during Marcos’ 20-year reign, “play politics in a certain way,” implying the senator could have been under Palace’s instructions.

“Senator Enrile’s accusations are unfair. He should be a statesman. I’m dismayed by the accusations. Imagine, that was still in 2005, now it’s almost 2008. But I suppose, some people play politics in a certain way,” he said.

The Speaker issued the statement without responding to the debate challenge of Enrile, who expressed willingness to engage him in a debate over national television or even at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila.

“I am ready to face him anywhere, you want to debate me, you cannot fool me like what you have been doing to others,” he said. “Don’t tell me I am unfair. I am ready to face him if he wants. Let us debate (over issues) whether on national television or at Plaza Miranda.”

De Venecia affirmed last week the disclosure of Enrile that he did not want any controversy on the multibillion-peso NorthRail project, but only because he does not want to scare away the Chinese investors. He said he really uttered the words “don’t rock the boat.”

The Pangasinan congressman reiterated that Enrile was “barking up the wrong tree” when he insinuated his (De Venecia’s) personal interest in the $420-million NorthRail project, just like his involvement in the rescinded $329-million national broadband network deal that went awry.

“Let him address his complaint to the Philippine and Chinese governments. My only role is to beg the Chinese government to do it. It is a genuine government-to-government project. Prime Minister, Speaker and President of China were involved,” De Venecia stressed.

De Venecia reaffirmed that his participation in the NorthRail project “has been aboveboard.”

He said the economic benefits of the undertaking would translate into new jobs and higher incomes for millions of families in Luzon.



__________________________





Senators warn of looming loan crisis
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Inquirer
Last updated 04:20am (Mla time) 11/21/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- A credit crisis is looming as a result of the deferment of a World Bank loan for road projects, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. warned Tuesday.

Pimentel said the deferment of the $232-million loan could crimp the Philippines’ ability to access more foreign loans.

“If they cannot trust [President] Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with a huge amount, why should they trust her with small amounts? [A loan crisis] is inevitable under the circumstances. We have suffered from a loan crisis before, but it was more because of over-borrowing, not corruption,” Pimentel said.

Sen. Manuel Roxas II described the loan deferment as “a huge national embarrassment.”

Roxas said he would support the World Bank’s recommendation for the establishment of a civil society-led “Road Watch” group to promote transparency and integrity in the bidding for road projects.

In a phone interview, former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. said road projects were indeed laced with corruption, but blamed foreign contractors for the deferment of the World Bank loan.

Pichay’s former turf covers the Marihatag-Barobo, Tagbina-Hinatuan section in Surigao del Sur province, one of three projects in the National Road Improvement and Management Program where there had been a failure of bidding.

According to Pichay, Chinese and other foreign bidders were to blame for the “collusion” cited by the World Bank.

He said the road projects were “relatives of NorthRail,” referring to the allegedly overpriced rail project obtained through a concessional loan from China and awarded to a Chinese government subsidiary.

The $503-million NorthRail project, which spans about 80 kilometers, is considered a flagship project of the Arroyo administration. It is intended to boost economic growth in Central Luzon.

Narrowing options

Pimentel said that after years of failing to act on worsening corruption, Ms Arroyo now had “narrowing” options.

“She must address the corruption issue that has been universally condemned by financial institutions on whom we rely for all kinds of support in time of need. The message is for her to shape up or ship out,” said Pimentel, one of the signatories to a manifesto calling for the resignation of both Ms Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro and the holding of “snap” elections.

Sen. Loren Legarda said her committee on economic affairs would likely look into the real causes of the deferment of the World Bank loan along with its ongoing inquiry into the utilization of official development assistance (ODA) funds.

“We need to look into this so we can pass remedial legislation providing safeguards in the use of so-called soft and tied loans. Safeguards in the disbursement of loans are needed to prevent corruption and ensure accountability,” she said.

Legarda had called for the inquiry into ODA funds in the wake of such controversies as the National Broadband Network project. The contract for the NBN project was awarded to China’s ZTE Corp., but it has since been cancelled by Ms Arroyo because of bribery allegations.

No choice

Senate President Manuel Villar said the chamber was under obligation to look into the deferred loan because the charges of corruption were very specific.

“We have no choice but to look into this anomaly,” Villar said.

Sen. Benigno Aquino III described the World Bank’s action as an “eye opener” that should finally push the government to concrete action after supposedly ignoring the numerous corrupt deals under the Arroyo administration.

Aquino said that with the deferred loan, the government was shown to have done very little in addressing the corruption problem.

He said this problem was the main reason economic gains had not trickled down to the masses.

Roxas called for decisive action from Malacañang.

“The executive branch must not be seen as condoning the rigging of projects funded by multilateral organizations such as the World Bank through loans that eventually will be shouldered by the Filipino people,” he said.

Roxas also called on Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane to make public the findings of an investigation he had reportedly carried out after three failed bidding processes for three road projects.

No surprise

Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), said the deferment of the World Bank loan was not surprising.

“The move of the World Bank merely affirms what we already know -- that many public works projects in the Philippines are tainted with corruption,” Reyes said in a statement.

“If a foreign multilateral lending agency like the World Bank can take notice of these shady deals, the Arroyo administration must really be pushing the threshold of corrupt practices,” he said.

Reyes pointed out that this was not the first time a road project in the Philippines was revealed to be overpriced.

“We remember the infamous P1.1-billion Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, which was considered the most expensive stretch of road on earth ... The case is still pending with the Sandiganbayan,” he said.

Reyes called on donor countries to “rethink their aid” to the Arroyo administration, saying “the perception that aid goes to the pockets of some unscrupulous officials” was a “cause for alarm.”

Meddling

Pichay, however, chided World Bank officials for supposedly meddling in the Philippines’ internal affairs.

“The practice of the World Bank allowing foreign contractors to participate in bidding processes is actually a violation of the Constitution, so we’ve been doing this illegal practice for a long time,” he said, adding:

“It’s as if the World Bank is dictating on us. The money is not a grant, but a loan that will be paid by every Filipino taxpayer. That’s why we should maintain our sovereignty over these [bidding] activities.”

Pichay also said he would prefer “a bidding run like hell by Filipinos rather than a bidding run like heaven by foreign contractors.” With reports from Michael Lim Ubac and Jerome Aning



Copyright 2007 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Brad: Thanks! That's the only old Railway/Train photo I got.. Hopefully I could get more. :D

Just asking.. Where can I know the train schedule(Alabang to Manila and vice versa). I plan to take the train this coming friday after office hours. Just to stay away from the expected traffic at South Super Highway. :)

Just asking.. Where can I know the train schedule(Alabang to Manila and vice versa). I plan to take the train this coming friday after office hours. Just to stay away from the expected traffic at South Super Highway. :)


El,
My website has the timetable on it. Go via the link in my signature.

Cheers
Brad

Hi guys,
As always I am watching all the Phil news from down here in Australia.
My best wishes to all my friends here during the upcoming typhoon. Hopefully everyone gets through it OK.
I believe Bicol is expecting a pounding on top of heavy rains already going on. I think our mate 'Wheels' comes from down that way and this would explain why he is so quiet.

Hope he is OK.

Take care all.

Brad

I hope all this renewed vigor in chasing "corruption" does not derail north and south rail!

^^ I certainly hope not. Im just praying that our senators stay away from such an important piece of infrastructure, may they have enough sense to know that whatever anomalies associated with this piece of infrastructure will eventually be overshadowed by the success of its completion and operation.

Let the project be completed and then create a commission to probe on whatever wrong was done.

God. Talagang walang panatindi ang mga taong iyan.

I really hope this project survives.

Maybe these senators just don't want to have a repetition of the imbroglio we are having with electricity. Our electricity rate is just a tad behind that of Japan yet our standard of living is not that nearly comparable. Maybe it's better to investigate and make the necessary corrections without impairing the prospect of better transportation.

The railways in Philippine history

By Augusto V. de Viana, Ph.D
National Historical Institute
The Manila Times; November 23, 2007 (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/nov/23/yehey/opinion/20071123opi7.html)

Most countries—rich and poor—take pride in their railways system. The train provides a fast, inexpensive and comfortable system of transportation. It helps reduce road traffic and contributes to cleaner air. Developed and developing nations have also found the railways to be a great national unifying force and a solvent for class divisions.

The Philippines is one of the rare countries that has not built a strong, reliable and modern railways system. Blame it on poor government planning, skewed priorities and the automotive-bus lobby. The service has deteriorated through the years, beginning in the sixties and seventies. Yet the first Philippine train service started in the Spanish colonial era, about 115 years ago, when Filipinos could travel from Manila to La Union, and back. Today, one is lucky to reach Malolos, Bulacan, by train.

We asked Dr. Augusto de Viana of the National Historical Institute to write this paean—and lament—to the national railways service to commemorate the launching of the first Luzon railways service on November 24, 1892.

ONE of Spain’s tangible legacies to the Philippines was the introduction of the railroad. Compared to the churches in the country, the first railroads in the Philippines were not initiated by the religious orders or the Spanish government but were funded by private capital.

Manila-Malabon line

The first railway was a short one, the Manila-Malabon railway. It was owned and operated by the Compaña de Tranvias under Jacobo Zobel Zangroniz. Consisting of four German-made locomotives and eight nine-passenger coaches, it was formally inaugurated on October 20, 1888.

The rail line served Malabon, which was already prosperous because of its cigar-making factories, bangus culture and a large sugar mill owned and managed by British businessmen. The end of the line was Tondo, then the country’s commercial capital. Its terminal was a simple two-story wooden structure with the first floor serving as waiting area. The Malabon end was located at the roadside under an acacia tree where the conductor sold tickets. The trains had three classes: first class, for 20 centavos; second class, 10 centavos, and third class, 5 centavos.

The colonial government decided to hop on the railway bandwagon as early as 1875 when Madrid sanctioned a project for the Philippines. A committee headed by Eduardo Lopez Navarro called for the building of three railway lines. The first was the Manila-Dagupan line which crossed the fertile central plain of Luzon through the Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Pangasinan. This could be extended far north to Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

Manila-Bicol line

The second was the Bicol line which was to pass through the southeastern coast of Laguna de Bay to the abaca and coconut-growing regions of Tayabas (Quezon province), the two Camarines provinces and Albay. The third line was the Manila-Batangas route which ended in the town of Taal. The three lines totaling 1,730 kilometers of track could be built by the Spanish government or by a Spanish-owned private company. Foreign companies could also participate in the projects.

Manila-Dagupan line

Of the three lines, the Manila-Dagupan route received the greatest attention. Invitations for tenders were drawn and advertised and the Spanish government offered a subsidy of $7,650. In 1885 a British consortium headed by George Noble Taylor successfully bid in Madrid. Called the Manila Railway Company, the British capitalists demanded a very high guaranteed interest clause considering the risks. They also demanded fiscal control in the management of the concession.

The Spanish government granted these demands. Under the agreement, the British company was to operate the line for 99 years beginning January 21, 1887. All the risks were to be borne by the Spanish government which would be certainly be passed on to the consumers. If the project turned out to be unprofitable, the British could back out.

Construction of the rail line began in December 1887. Building was done by Filipino laborers. The locomotives, coaches, freight cars and rails were manufactured in England. By March 24, 1891, the first length of track covering 43.8 kilometers was completed followed by the completion of an additional 40 kilometers. On February 19, 1892, a section of track from Bagbag, Bulacan, to Mabalacat, Pam*panga, totaling 186.7 kilome*ters was finished. By June 1892 the tracks reached Tarlac.

Problems dogged the project. There were changes to be made in the structural designs and frequent floods washed away embankments. Numerous compensation claims from the landowners had to be settled. A particularly difficult section was the construction of the Calumpit Bridge. This delayed the project for about 18 months. The turbulent river during the rainy season made crossing almost impossible. According to popular lore, the English engineers had to defer to their Filipino laborers who wanted to perform rites to appease the local spirits and to hasten construction. The bridge with its piers remain standing today.

Corruption in 1892

The worst delays however were caused by the colonial officials who had to be paid off with bribes. Some officials, even those in Madrid, had to be greased with shares in the company. Gov. Eulogio Despujol went to Tarlac and scolded his officials for their dilatory tactics. With the officials whipped into line, the last section of the railway from Tarlac to Dagupan finally opened. The line became operational in November 1892.

The Manila-Dagupan line cost P7,899,000. This was more than double the original estimate of P3 million. It was also the largest single infrastructure project in the country during the Spanish period. It had 29 stations and 16 bridges. A short spur line was built to connect the Tutuban terminal to the quay at Binondo along the Pasig River. This line was used to export goods overseas or to bring in foreign products for the Filipinos.

The rail line reduced travel time from Manila to Central Luzon. Though it took eight hours to travel from Manila to Dagupan, travel to Pangasinan took longer as the province had to reached by boat via the Lingayen Gulf or through the camino real through the Central Plains. Among the early beneficiaries of the Manila-Dagupan railway was Jose Rizal who took the train to see Leonor Rivera in Tarlac.

More goods could be ferried from the provinces to Manila or vice versa. The railway opened new areas for development. Isolated areas in the interiors of Pangasinan and Tarlac were developed. The railway also hired hundreds of laborers, blacksmiths, conductors and engineers. A more far-reaching effect was the increased migration of rural folk to Manila. It broke down regional barriers caused by cultural isolation and natural obstacles.

As a business enterprise, the Manila-Dagupan railway was not very profitable. Inflation during the last decades of Spanish rule and rigidity of tariff regulations stifled its growth. This was also the reason why the other rail projects were not pursued. During the second phase of the Philippine Revolution, regular commercial operations of the trains were threatened. Parts of the railroad were destroyed during the Filipino-American War. The state of the Manila Railroad Company however started to improve with the coming of the Americans.

The American period

In 1917 the American colonial administration took ownership of the railroad from its British owners by nationalizing the entire network. Additional lines were added, including the Manila-Legazpi line. New lines started serving Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Rizal and Batangas. The original Manila-Dagupan line was extended up to San Fernando, La Union, where Baguio-bound passengers could take the bus to the summer capital. Later, this line was extended up to Bacnotan, La Union. There were plans during the American period to build a railway line up to Baguio itself and the terminal would be where the old Benguet Auto Line used to be. Rail lines were also built in Cebu and Panay.

Period of deterioration

Now government-owned, the Manila Railroad Company was renamed the Philippine National Railways in 1964. Though it enjoyed a measure of popularity, from the time of President Ramon Magsaysay to the government of Ferdinand Mar*cos, ridership started to decline. The causes were competition from bus lines, the auto lobby and inefficiency of the company itself. Squatters started building shanties along the railroad tracks. This led to accidents, unsafe train travel and pollution on the rails.

La Union line abandoned

By the mid-1980s the Manila-La Union Line was abandoned. What are left today are the abandoned tracks, bridges and stations which were taken over by the squatters. Access and the right-of-way were taken over by interlopers. Organized professional squatters grabbed large tracts of land. The politicians encouraged squatting for votes. Service to Legazpi was interrupted by the eruption of Mayon Volcano. The rail service has not been restored.

Today the country’s railway service is a sorry shadow of its old self. The railways of Cebu and Panay are long gone. The challenge to the government or the private sector is how to restore the railway service which has always been the workhorse of all modern and developing countries all over the world.

^^uuuy, history repeats itself. :)

El,
My website has the timetable on it. Go via the link in my signature.

Cheers
Brad

Thanks Brad.. :)

Service to Legazpi was interrupted by the eruption of Mayon Volcano. The rail service has not been restored.

.

While a good article, the author is actually incorrect here.
An eruption of the Mayon saw the line closed for a couple of years while a deviation was built.
The rail service was restored and ran until late last year when suspended due to heavy damage sustained during a typhoon.
I've emailed the paper about it, but not surprisingly havent recieved any response.

Brad

What be left of the people involved in this group have finally been authorised the a different name.
Philippine Rail and Industrial Heritage Society.
Or something similar to that.
Not sure what the 'industrial' piece of it means. Perhaps they are extending to research the history of major industries there.
Anyway thats the latest from them.

Brad

theres a full page ad in the inquirer today, posted by concerned citizens who are disputing the claim of enrile that the northrail deal was anomalous.. they are saying the the northrail deal is aboveboard and is very essential to a lot of citizens.. i guess the PR war has begun..

Seems this one was formed in March last year by some locals. It is sadly unmoderated and already looks to be abandoned and slowly to be taken over by spammers.

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

theres a full page ad in the inquirer today, posted by concerned citizens who are disputing the claim of enrile that the northrail deal was anomalous.. they are saying the the northrail deal is aboveboard and is very essential to a lot of citizens.. i guess the PR war has begun..

Very interesting.
Any chance of us being able to see a scan of the advertisment?

Brad

That's #@7^ing AWESOME! How do we support this group of concerned citizens?????

Its time to take the senate down baby! Someone needs to blow up that piece of shit chamber.


theres a full page ad in the inquirer today, posted by concerned citizens who are disputing the claim of enrile that the northrail deal was anomalous.. they are saying the the northrail deal is aboveboard and is very essential to a lot of citizens.. i guess the PR war has begun..

hahaha.. the chamber of endless inquiries.. hahaha..

^^^ actually it's our country's "MEDC" (Most Expensive Debate Club) which spends more time in investigating rather than creating laws.

BTW, i've been away for a while and got a glimpse of the N-S link (Taguig-FTI Section) on the way back from the South (sorry guys no pictures, I was on the other side of the bus on the way home), I noticed a slower pace in the removal of the houses in the PNR ROW. These people are taking their time! I was hoping that they've be finished by end of this month but to my estimates, they need 2-4 weeks more.

Also, do we have an update on the construction of the Northrail? I hope the Senate won't derail (pardon the pun) this very important "Hero" (I suggest we call all the countries major infrastructure projects as Hero Projects then have a Philippine Icon endorse the said project) project.

That's #@7^ing AWESOME! How do we support this group of concerned citizens?????
.

Probably be starting a citizens rail transport action group and ensure that rail projects are followed through and that further developments are forever encouraged.

Brad

BTW, i've been away for a while and got a glimpse of the N-S link (Taguig-FTI Section) on the way back from the South (sorry guys no pictures, I was on the other side of the bus on the way home), I noticed a slower pace in the removal of the houses in the PNR ROW. These people are taking their time! I was hoping that they've be finished by end of this month but to my estimates, they need 2-4 weeks more.

.

Hi,
Yeah the pace of this has been feeling like it is falling off.
I wasn't sure if it was because this thread has been a little quiet, or if it was happening in reality.
Have had a few reports from Manila emailed and none seemed to give much more information than what we already knew here.

Has anyone been past the old Tayuman station lately? Wondering if they have done anything on the site where it stood, or if its still ust an empty lot?

Brad

this must push through.. a very important infrastructure indeed.. i never knew the spaniards ushered the pnr project. quite a cool article.. it fires up my interest on this..

i think we need to bombard enrile and jdv's office with facsimiles containing our signatures, or make a website as that of the "Paypal in the Philippies" campaign.. it may bring in some media attention.. and hopefully public awareness.. because bet if people knew of the history of pnr and its importance, they'll be clamoring to sign our petition page...

like this: http://www.paypalnow.com.ph/ ....what do you think? btw, this campaign succeeded!

@alcogoodwin, are u filipino po? curious..

^^he's born australian but filipino by heart :)

oic.. thats so great.. love rails.. i was addicted to this railroad tycoon game so much.. hope i can ride this train to batangas or bataan at least before i'm 30..

Wait so can anyone update me on what sort of controversy happened recently concerning Northrail and the government?

While a good article, the author is actually incorrect here.
An eruption of the Mayon saw the line closed for a couple of years while a deviation was built.
The rail service was restored and ran until late last year when suspended due to heavy damage sustained during a typhoon.
I've emailed the paper about it, but not surprisingly havent recieved any response.

Brad

yeah brad, ur ryt, but if only our gov't prioritize the funds , it should be quickly restored, but wat happened??.. Ate Glo is more prioritizing on the ZTE..

i think they are prioritizing this project. however, pgma alone does not decide on this... the slowness of bureaucracy...

wow.. this thread is old.. good news for mindanao.. electric rail maybe costly to operate though than its carbon-emitting counterparts... can we afford mag-lev trains.. i think it would be better.. it may not be able to carry freight though... pang-light rail lang pala yun...

mas maganda kung hinde light railway kase mas importante ang logistics ng mga agri products.

GMA visit starts; Spain eyes railway, energy projects
Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/dec03/news6.htm

THE Spanish government has expressed intention to finance projects for the improvement of the railway system and for wind and solar power systems in the country, Ambassador Joseph D. Bernardo said yesterday.

President Arroyo was set to arrive at the Barajas International Airport in Madrid around 4 p.m. (11 p.m. in Manila) from Lourdes in France where she visited the Chapele de la Reconciliation and heard mass at the grotto of the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine with First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and daughter Evangelina Lourdes.

Arroyo, upon arrival in Spain, was scheduled to visit Filipinos and employees of the Philippine Embassy before proceeding to the Colegio de Maravillas for an interaction with the Filipinos in Madrid.

On Monday, Arroyo will visit the Spanish Senate and offer a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before attending a private lunch with King Carlos I and Queen Sofia at the Palacio de la Zarzuela. This will be followed by a visit to the Madrid City Hall in the afternoon and a dinner.

The President is also expected to receive calls from officials of Mahou Brewery, Greenfuel and Grupo Ferrovial, which are interested in alternative fuels.

On December 4, Arroyo will address the Confederation Espanola de Organizaciones Empresariales (CEOE), before which she is expected to unveil the three-year Plan España that will identify projects and activities that will improve the bilateral trade relations.

Bernardo said the President’s address aims to reinforce Philippine efforts to entice Spanish companies and investors to do business in the Philippines and sustain the interests of those that are already investing in the country.

"It is in this context that the President will announce the so-called Plan España, a comprehensive work plan that will cover the period 2008 to 2010 that will clearly spell our the projects and activities that will be beneficial to both the Philippines and Spain. Since the main thrust of the Philippines is the promotion of bilateral trade and to attract more Spanish investment, it is crucial to identify those projects in the key sectors mentioned above where Spanish companies could participate," he said.

Bernardo said the Spanish government is already providing financial assistance in the form of soft loans for projects related to the shipping and power industries.

He said this include a €30 million (Euros) package for the construction of 96 steel bridges, €150 million for construction of 70 modular roll on-roll off ports throughout the country, € 26 million for the improvement of solar energy production in Visayas in Mindanao, and €22 million loan facility to the Aboitiz Group and the Spanish company Socoin for a power project in Davao.

Bernardo said Spain is looking at Eastern European countries as possible investment sites, which is why the Philippines must be "pro-active in luring Spanish companies and investors to put up businesses in the Philippines as a base for the Asia-Pacific market."

oh.. that's a nice!

There's a bit slowdown in our updates huh? Sorry for not giving updates (photo) lately. I've been busy in my work. :D

Where's WoS???

like this: http://www.paypalnow.com.ph/ ....what do you think? btw, this campaign succeeded!

@alcogoodwin, are u filipino po? curious..

Hi leechtat,
A very good idea. Its time everyone in the Philippines stood up for what they deserve and demand they have a transport system as good as anywhere else in the world, if not better..

No mate, I am an Aussie. Just have an incredible love for your country.
My wife is a Filipina from Masbate. I met here hear in Australia and had never been to the Philippines until a year after we were married.

Regards
Brad

^^he's born australian but filipino by heart :)

And by stomach.

Masarap adobo!!!!

Brad

yeah brad, ur ryt, but if only our gov't prioritize the funds , it should be quickly restored, but wat happened??.. Ate Glo is more prioritizing on the ZTE..

Must be more kickbacks in ZTE :nuts: :)

Nathan, have you been back through Tayuman/Tutuban recently? Have they done anything else in this yard since demolishing Tayuman station?

Brad

oh.. that's a nice!

There's a bit slowdown in our updates huh? Sorry for not giving updates (photo) lately. I've been busy in my work. :D

Where's WoS???

Howdee,
It certainly has been quiet compared to more recent months.
I have just got back from a few days working down in Canberra so have had to try to survive without net access. Not easy for me :)
No idea what has happened to WoS. Hope he is OK. Unusual he disapeared so quick. erhaps his computers all have problems.

Brad

saan naba si WHEEL OF STEEL:) mas o.k sya sa mga update:cheers:balik kana wheel of steel:cheers:

Grabe, napadaan ako sa may East Service Road from c-5, natanggal na pala mga squatters dun. Ang saya, mukha na siyang maluwang.

"I hate my dad so much I wish him to die."

Interesting!
You must have had a father like mine!

Hi all,
Ha anyone been lineside to get a view of where the clearing is up to?
Going by the rate of travel in October you would imagine they would have now passed Blumentritt and we well on their way to the main Tayuman/Tutuban yard by now. Or has it come to a standstill again?

Brad

Grabe, napadaan ako sa may East Service Road from c-5, natanggal na pala mga squatters dun. Ang saya, mukha na siyang maluwang.
oops, I forgot to translate. I'm sorry.

I said: I passed through East Service Road from c-5 and I noticed that the squatters along that road were already gone. I'm very glad because it looks wide now

Interesting!
You must have had a father like mine!
:lol:

If we start a signature campaign,it might sort of shut the mouth of politicians trying to stop the Northrail project.Count me in!!!:banana:

This train is the Electrostar Class 357,with 4 carriages.http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/1594/c2cto8.jpghttp://







Hi leechtat,
A very good idea. Its time everyone in the Philippines stood up for what they deserve and demand they have a transport system as good as anywhere else in the world, if not better..

No mate, I am an Aussie. Just have an incredible love for your country.
My wife is a Filipina from Masbate. I met here hear in Australia and had never been to the Philippines until a year after we were married.

Regards
Brad

ok guys.. so how do we start it...

who will be the webmaster? volounteers? yung madadalian lang gumawa ng site.. we can then contribute to the 4k domain registration... what you think?

then for the traffic, we ask all filipino bloggers to blog and link to the campaign page... i can do some articles for the website... but we need almost all ssc phil members to sign up asap to get the buzz going.. and let the bloggers do the work..

where is this?

ok guys.. so how do we start it...

who will be the webmaster? volounteers? yung madadalian lang gumawa ng site.. we can then contribute to the 4k domain registration... what you think?

then for the traffic, we ask all filipino bloggers to blog and link to the campaign page... i can do some articles for the website... but we need almost all ssc phil members to sign up asap to get the buzz going.. and let the bloggers do the work..

Happy to link it to all my blogs.
http://philippinerailwayhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/
http://alcogoodwin.blogspot.com/

and the Philippine Railway SIG.

Will also mention to a number of people I know who are knowledgeable in these things and should be able to get it mentioned in an overseas magazine or two.

Brad

ok guys.. so how do we start it...

who will be the webmaster? volounteers? yung madadalian lang gumawa ng site.. we can then contribute to the 4k domain registration... what you think?.


I'm only any good at setting up free Geocities and blog sites which really aren't professional enough for what you are trying to achieve. Tried to set up one for an e-zine and gave up in disgust, not even the Tanduay helped :cheers:

Anyone here good with webpage building?

Brad

things seem to be in a stand still... what's happening?

Napanood nyo ba Imbestigador kagabi? Anniversary show feature nila ang title "transPOORtation". 2 weeks feature nila iyon nag end kagabi. Sabi ni Mike Enriquez "Sa ibang bansa ang mga tren may magagandang CR, sa pinas tren pa lang CR na, oh ano laban ka?" :lol:

That line truly nailed the sad situation of our railway infrastructure. :ohno:

i thought the north-southrail link line was supposed to be finished by next year., it looks like there's no activity yet.

and it looks like southrail trains are still operating, so i assume, they havent started yet...,

Some of pictures from my collection. I think we need to build one grand central station like the one in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Only then we can claim we're on the same par like them. Another news is government of Malaysia is in the midst of approving a HSR connecting KL -Singapore to be called "Asean Star" It will be build by the same company that build and operates Express rail between KL Sentral and KLIA.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/ssangyongs/PICT0109.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/ssangyongs/PICT0108.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/ssangyongs/PICT0107.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/ssangyongs/PICT0096.jpg

That line truly nailed the sad situation of our railway infrastructure. :ohno:


Why, what did it say?

[QUOTE=ssangyongs;16995724]Some of pictures from my collection. I think we need to build one grand central station like the one in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. [QUOTE]

You had one, one of the most beautiful around, but then someone had a bright idea to turn it into a shopping mall.
Perhaps someone else can have a brighter idea to convert it back :lol:

Brad

i thought the north-southrail link line was supposed to be finished by next year., it looks like there's no activity yet.

and it looks like southrail trains are still operating, so i assume, they havent started yet...,

They actually started soon after I returned in March and were ripping into the clearing of the squatters until at least October, or early November.
Last report on the SIG regarding clearing was in November, last real update on here was Nathan's mention of Tayuman station being demolished.

Wasn't sure if it had come to a grinding halt, or it just seems that way since WoS disappeared and Nathan has only occasionally been here.
Hope WoS is OK and wasn't affected by the typhoon.

Brad

@alcogoodwin, ok.. i will ask my friend from oracle to design a site similar to the paypalphil site... will update soon!

also, yah we had a grand central station like that... its now tutuban mall...

Why, what did it say?

It said that while Singapore and Malaysia's trains have CRs on board, ours here already resembles one.

Some of pictures from my collection. I think we need to build one grand central station like the one in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Only then we can claim we're on the same par like them. Another news is government of Malaysia is in the midst of approving a HSR connecting KL -Singapore to be called "Asean Star" It will be build by the same company that build and operates Express rail between KL Sentral and KLIA.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/ssangyongs/PICT0109.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/ssangyongs/PICT0108.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/ssangyongs/PICT0107.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/ssangyongs/PICT0096.jpg
Here we go again. Although there is nothing wrong with dreaming big but I guess having a grand central station like that is not feasible at the moment. And I also want to point out that it is more important to think about how our trains could bring development faster into the rural areas than to think about "national pride" by building ostentatious infrastructures such as that one. I don't think it's healthy to ask for something big and expensive just because Malaysia or Singapore have those. Hello, we can't even have a decent railway and here we are talking about a GRAND central station larger than NAIA T3. And even if we would build such station, I hope we won't build something as generic and "mall-ish" as that.

Some of pictures from my collection. I think we need to build one grand central station like the one in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.

You had one, one of the most beautiful around, but then someone had a bright idea to turn it into a shopping mall.
Perhaps someone else can have a brighter idea to convert it back :lol:

Brad
YEah, that one in Tutuban is a very beautiful and unique building.

Saw this in another thread, in case it hasn't been posted here: http://homepage2.nifty.com./honsyuutetudou/index.htm

perhaps when the project completed we can joint the nortrail and souhrail connection under one tutuban like station? this thread is really fast i cant find mostly about stations that gonna be build for both project.

perhaps when the project completed we can joint the nortrail and souhrail connection under one tutuban like station? this thread is really fast i cant find mostly about stations that gonna be build for both project.

There was some stuff about Malolos station a while back, guess it must have been in the last thread.
Info on the linkage project has thus far not been forthcoming.

Brad

Whats become of our once powerhouse 'Northrail-Southrail' thread?
Things have gone so quiet here without Wheels and Nathan.
Hope they are both OK.
Until things resume you are wlecome to come talk on the PhilippineRailways SIG. There was a record month last month.
To Wheels and Nathan, where are you guys? We miss you.

Brad

hi brad, thanks for your info about the U8b's. I was able to email Darren from Australia and ask about the details. By the way is it U8b, I thought PNR only have u10b's and u6bs?

hi brad, thanks for your info about the U8b's. I was able to email Darren from Australia and ask about the details. By the way is it U8b, I thought PNR only have u10b's and u6bs?

Hi mate,
Yes the PNR used the U6B and U10B locomotives.

http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/PNRdiesel.html

The model sold is the U8B so it requires a different fornt on the cab. These are available over in New Zealand.
I purchased 6 of these cab fronts but think they could easily be fabricated in styrene using them as a measurement.
Indeed they may be better n styrene as the thickness is a bit to much and makes the gap between front and side windows a little excessive.

Regards
Brad

Hi Brad,

Finally found you.

Jaime

http://www.rihspi.org

http://blog.rihspi.org