Railroad Infrastructures and Transportation - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 6

wheel of steel

July 25th, 2007, 07:25 AM

^^ WOW!!! LABART Project :banana:

Gov’t plans $2.4B intermodal road

By IRMA ISIP

The government is proposing the construction of a $2.4 billion rail and highway system that will link Metro Manila to Southern Tagalog along the Laguna Lake shoreline.

Ofelia V. Bulaong, chair of the Panay Railways Corp. which is the technical coordinator of the project said the road system will be 280 kilometers and parts of the system will be auctioned off on a build-operate-transfer basis.

The intermodal-rail and highway combined- system is part of the LRT-1 extension along the coastal road to Cavite, the Philippine National Railway system at FTI, Taguig, Rizal where the proposed main central station would be built and the C-5 road extension.

Bulaong said the project, called Laguna-Rizal Ecological Transport System (LABART) would link Metro Manila to all towns and cities along the shoreline of Laguna de Bay road. The bay cuts across five provinces, 66 municipalities and nine cities including Metro Manila.

LABART is expected to directly benefit an estimated 8 million people living around the lake through faster movement of goods and people.

She said the most important feature of LABART is the direct links to C-5 road with the ongoing extension to Manila Coastal road and to Ortigas avenue that connects to Marcos highway and Aurora boulevard. All these link roads have access to Makati City within six kilometers distance with minimal traffic.

Bulaong said the first priority would be the implementation of the road FTI-C6 and Lower Bicutan-Calamba with linkage to the South Luzon expressway.

She said existing LRT and Metro Rail Transit would be interconnected to the main station in FTI, thus providing a seamless connection for commuters.

"The main objective of the proposed project is to provide adequate accessibility to the towns and cities surrounding Laguna de Bay to Metro Manila’s principal road arteries and railway systems to transform the remaining provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon and Aurora into a progressive industrial and economic powerhouse of the Philippines," Bulaong said.

Apart from easy access, LABART would also shorten travel time to Bicol and eastern Visayas provinces by at least an hour instead of the present road passing Lucena City.

Bulaong said proponents could have two options in completing the project, the first is a shoreline embankment and causeway road covering 150 kms of shoreline embankment road, 30 kms. of causeway structure and 25 kms of land-based on-grade road and railway.

Under this option, bridges and series of box culverts cross the route lines, accommodating water vessels passage.

Bulaong said the second option is an on-stilt carriageway for road and railway through the construction of structures above the lake’s waterline to minimize conflict with Laguna Lake Development Authority and its stakeholders concerning land reclamation and minimal problems on squatters and right-of-way.

Bulaong explained that the project could also have a port component, by establishing an alternate Rizal container port at the estuary of Pasig river and Laguna de Bay ferrying industrial goods from LABART to the port of Manila via Pasig River.

This would also minimize costs and traffic overload with container in Taguig City and Pasig River as water transport conveyance to ships docking in the port of Manila

She said that the project also has environmental component with the inclusion of shoreline protection works as part of the confining dike for the biological water treatment lagoons.

rickienoy

July 25th, 2007, 07:40 AM

just went through traffic hell near SM Sta ana. several road were closed undergoing re-pavement work.. had to cross the rail roads twice ( i got lost).

it seems that the government still has to do ALOT of relocating if they intend to use the existing rail land.

NOVO ECIJANO

July 25th, 2007, 08:33 AM

its too late they're already building it.....as you can see...the project is only for a year.....as long as it is modern looking, clean, with fence on both sides and iskwater free....that project is...successful...

i hope the same quality like the nlex tollgates or the recto-santolan mrt stations pwede na and well maintained.

bitoy

July 25th, 2007, 08:34 AM

Lucena PNR Station

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/sLUCENA15.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/sLUCENA20.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/sLUCENA23-2.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/sLUCENA9.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/2Sany0053.jpg

From: ルセナ駅
LUCENA
(http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/lucena)

wheel of steel

July 25th, 2007, 09:27 AM

Perhaps the stations will use tubular structures similar to the photos shown below..
Meter Gauge 50kg/m Railway (1000mm) from Rawang to Ipoh, Malaysia

http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/33/zbehrang.jpg

http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/67/100_3135i.jpg

http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/67/KTM3.JPG

http://www.ijm.com/images/current_major_rawang_2_l.jpg

http://www.ijm.com/images/current_major_rawang_1_l.jpg

http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/319/KTM1.JPG

http://img31.picoodle.com/img/img31/8/6/23/f_650m_112a940.jpg

http://img37.picoodle.com/img/img37/8/6/23/f_651m_f88b457.jpg

http://img35.picoodle.com/img/img35/8/6/23/f_652m_8710d39.jpg

http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/67/102_4130i.jpg

http://www.ktmb.com.my/images/default/articles/425/ACF2200.jpg

http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/439/CIMG2939.JPG

http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/439/CIMG2945.JPG

http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/439/CIMG3000.JPG

http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/439/CIMG3001.JPG

http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/439/CIMG2983.JPG

wheel of steel

July 26th, 2007, 02:58 AM

^^ Comparison between a Narrow Gauge or Cape Gauge (1067mm) and Standard Gauge (1435mm) railroad

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/CombinedTrack.jpg

The rail from the above figure use a 30kg/m rail...

hiiamdib

July 26th, 2007, 03:02 AM

wohoo excited na ako sa new PNR, post agad kayo photos please ng look ng station kung available na! sana kamukha ng mega tren stations o di kaya stations ng pasig river ferry service only bigger

wheel of steel

July 26th, 2007, 03:18 AM

wohoo excited na ako sa new PNR, post agad kayo photos please ng look ng station kung available na! sana kamukha ng mega tren stations o di kaya stations ng pasig river ferry service.

ha ha ha :lol: ....malakas ang kutob ko..hmmm magiging kamukha ng mega tren stations ang new PNR stations....:banana:

kalbongdad

July 26th, 2007, 03:35 AM

ha ha ha :lol: ....malakas ang kutob ko..hmmm magiging kamukha ng mega tren stations ang new PNR stations....:banana:

not bad kung ganon.....the pics are good btw...i don't think the stations will be that big...there is only a 30 meter...width i think for the line of the north-south connection project...

lochinvar

July 26th, 2007, 06:02 AM

I think that news about LABART is already a year old. It was already posted here.

wheel of steel

July 26th, 2007, 06:45 AM

I think that news about LABART is already a year old. It was already posted here.

Oh Yes!!! We know, I've posted it once again to provide quick reference since it involves south railway spur line..

NOVO ECIJANO

July 26th, 2007, 08:12 AM

Oh Yes!!! We know, I've posted it once again to provide quick reference since it involves south railway spur line..

wheel of steel ikaw ang bahala sa mga construction updates,para naman may laging pampagana.lol.....

kalbongdad

July 27th, 2007, 04:09 AM

kaya mo yon?

wheel of steel

July 27th, 2007, 05:40 AM

Type and size of rails expected to be use in Northrail and Southrail Projects.

50 kg/m..To be use in mainline routes. LRT1, LRT2 and MRT is also using this rail size. Can handle 20ton axle load. Railways in Japan, Korea and China are also using this size.

http://homepage1.nifty.com/arashi/namarail/joint50n.jpg

60kg/m..To be use mostly on PNR dedicated freight lines wherein the rails are subject to heavy loads. Can handle 20ton axle load or more..Amtrak sets their minimum to 60kg/m..

http://homepage1.nifty.com/arashi/namarail/joint60.jpg

30kg/m..Currently the size of rail thats being used by PNR from Manila to Legazpi. Unreliable to faster operation. Susceptible to derails. Needs to be replace.

http://homepage1.nifty.com/arashi/namarail/joint30.jpg

37kg/m..Used in some portions of the mainline and on some bridges..

http://homepage1.nifty.com/arashi/namarail/joint37.jpg

A 50kg/m rail is 160% bigger and heavier in shape and weight than a 30kg/m rail so don't be surprised that the rails will be larger than the current size. The Northrail and Southrail rails will be the same as that of the LRTs and MRT rail.

37kg/m rail coupled to 50kg/m rail. This picture clearly shows that the 50kg/m rail dominates the size.....

http://www.citycat.hdud.idv.tw/railfac/rail40.jpg

60kg/m rail versus 30kg/m rail cross section...

http://homepage1.nifty.com/arashi/fururail/jpg/60kgrail.png

NOTES:

PNR(On-Going) - Narrow Gauge (1067 mm) 50kg/m
Panay Railways (Proposed) - Standard Gauge
Cebu Railways (Proposed) - Standard Gauge
Mindanao Railways - Standard Gauge

LRT1, LRT2, MRT - Standard Gauge (1435 mm) 50kg/m

Japan Railways JR - Mostly Narrow Gauge (1067 mm) 50kg/m and 60kg/m
Japan Shinkansen - Standard Gauge 50kg/m and 60kg/m
Some Private Lines - 1300mm to Standard

China - Standard - Mostly 50kg/m
Korea - Standard - Mostly 50kg'm
Amtrak - Standard 60kg/m or more

wheel of steel

July 27th, 2007, 08:20 AM

^^Southrail scenario after 4 years of rehabilitation....possible 4 spur line completion

http://www.worldbank.org/transport/rail/sys_maps/rail40.gif

flymordecai

July 27th, 2007, 08:46 AM

Good work, wheel of steel. Very informative posts! Thanks for the South Rail map. Could you post a similar map for the North Rail?

Lucentino

July 27th, 2007, 09:41 AM

^^Southrail scenario after 4 years of rehabilitation....possible 4 spur line completion

http://www.worldbank.org/transport/rail/sys_maps/rail40.gif

Salamat sa impormasyon @wheel of steel... san mo po ba napagkukuha ang mga ito? Wala po kasi nyan sa PNR website...

Di ko lang alam ang time table sa bawat project phases na yan... Pero di po ba mas kapaki-pakinabang kung mauuna ang phase 4 kesa phase 3? Hindi po ako kontra sa proyekto na phase 3, ngunit para sakin mas malaking populasyon at mas maraming komersyo ang makikinabang sa re-hab/improvement ng Calamba-Lucena/Bicol line kumpara sa Calamba-Sta. Cruz Laguna Line, kaya opinyon ko lang na marapat na ito ang unahin ng gobyerno... :)

wheel of steel

July 27th, 2007, 09:43 AM

^^ NEWLY INDEPENDENT ESTATES!!!^^ :banana:
Enclosed by the red lines
From Magsaysay Ave to Sta. Mesa Station to Pasig River

IMG]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1350/912926773_193285fa04.jpg?v=0[/IMG]

From Pasig River to Pandacan Areas

IMG]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1242/912635179_e2ab515b9a.jpg?v=0[/IMG]

From Pandacan to Paco Station

IMG]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1020/912635451_04237649c7.jpg?v=0[/IMG]

From Paco Station To Vito Cruz to Buedia

IMG]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1041/912635489_46094326e1.jpg?v=0[/IMG]

From Buendia all the way to Magallanes

IMG]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1407/912635657_aa5fc17dbb.jpg?v=0[/IMG]

TOTAL: 9 Kilometers

wheel of steel

July 27th, 2007, 09:46 AM

Salamat sa impormasyon @wheel of steel... san mo po ba napagkukuha ang mga ito? Wala po kasi nyan sa PNR website...

Di ko lang alam ang time table sa bawat project phases na yan... Pero di po ba mas kapaki-pakinabang kung mauuna ang phase 4 kesa phase 3? Hindi po ako kontra sa proyekto na phase 3, ngunit para sakin mas malaking populasyon at mas maraming komersyo ang makikinabang sa re-hab/improvement ng Calamba-Lucena/Bicol line kumpara sa Calamba-Sta. Cruz Laguna Line, kaya opinyon ko lang na marapat na ito ang unahin ng gobyerno... :)

^^ Ayy!!! oo nga noh..parang mali ung priorities..Sori guys, nakuha ko lang kc ito sa google..Sori for not reviewing it dala na excitement ko..Anyway thanks for the correction.. More photos to come...promise!

alcogoodwin

July 27th, 2007, 09:48 AM

Paco station will just be repaired and will remain its exterior design..This is the only station in Manila to be preserved...although there will be some new alignment of railway tracks inside the station....

Does this mean they have scrapped the shopping centre idea or will it be incorporated into it still???

Brad

wheel of steel

July 27th, 2007, 09:55 AM

Does this mean they have scrapped the shopping centre idea or will it be incorporated into it still???

Brad

Hi Brad!!

The idea of having a shopping mall near the station is a big boost to their revenues. Maybe they are already planning that since the news came up when Northrail is giving a certain mall here to construct a station/mall in the Northrail..Good idea..Thanks!

Wheels...

el_dasik_oo1

July 27th, 2007, 11:24 AM

Yep dapat nga mas priority yung phase 4 kesa sa phase 3.. Well, anyway I'm a bit disappointed nung sa SONA.. Hindi ko lam kung hindi ko narinig or what. though I think I was able to hear the Panay Railway project pero parang no mention of other railway project most especially dun sa Mindanao.. hmmm...

wheel of steel

July 28th, 2007, 07:04 AM

TRACING BACK THE OLD LINES

Using google earth I quickly identified the lines. Its easy to find it since the ROW is a well-defined strip of approximately 30m in width and crowded with lots of small houses (squatters) and some big houses (factories and professional squatters). Well-defined curvatures of the line also helped me trace it.

LEGEND:
ORANGE Line: Current PNR Line
YELLOW Line: Sta. Mesa - Pasig - Taytay Spurline
GREEN Line: Pasig - Marikina - Montalban Branch Line
BLUE Line: Paco - Naic Line

1. Sta. Mesa - Pasig - Taytay Spurline

Let's start with Sta. Mesa Junction.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1040/924428170_2012f117ca.jpg?v=0

From Sta. Mesa junction to Mandaluyong.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/923053135_7c80886e1a.jpg?v=0

From Mandaluyong

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1336/923053163_5aa3395684.jpg?v=0

From Mandaluyong to Pasig City crossing Guadalupe Bridge

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1160/923053175_7ac126531f.jpg?v=0

Pasig City Vicinity crossing the C5 Expressway.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/923053271_8c738d86fd.jpg?v=0

Upon Reaching Pasig City, the railroad splits into two. The green line to Marikina and the yellow line continues to Taytay.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1044/923053277_a82780cdfb.jpg?v=0

Approaching Taytay. Actually this line is up to Antipolo but I really find it hard to trace the line from Taytay to Antipolo.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1202/923053319_7a5d405f95.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1391/923928868_839e4613f2.jpg?v=0

2. Pasig - Marikina - Montalban Branch Line

Stars from Pasig Junction with the green line.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1087/923928916_a213ffb03d.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1406/923928932_adfa8a2698.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1105/923928936_f78b02c3e9.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1348/923928946_8cfc758112.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1171/923928960_c2fb135036.jpg?v=0

San Mateo Area.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1417/923486143_4de37f104d.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1036/923486275_4aef91018a.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1002/923486285_006e777569.jpg?v=0

3. Paco - Naic (Manila-Naic) Branch Line

Starts in Paco Station

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1068/923486305_7017193bb3.jpg?v=0

Passing through the entire Tramo Street. The name itself reveals the Old Tram Cars passing through this line.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1100/923486309_5f448b3dc4.jpg?v=0

Crossing with Edsa in Pasay City and passing through Aurora Blvd. Ends in the Airport Road.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1189/923486315_5907d24c23.jpg?v=0

ROW was occupied by NAIA. Airport partially occupies the line.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1147/924428000_a6e8a681e7.jpg?v=0

Proceeding to Paranaque and Las Pinas area.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/924428040_31b194b889.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1286/924428056_203a526b4e.jpg?v=0

Note! This is only my self analysis. PLEASE! correct me if I am wrong. Any suggestion and correction will be highly appreciated...Thank You!!!

Butanding

July 28th, 2007, 01:19 PM

Sana kamukha nang LRT2 Station :banana:

wheel of steel

July 28th, 2007, 01:51 PM

Sana kamukha nang LRT2 Station :banana:

^^ Sana nga po..Kc and LRT2 ay tunay na tren. Ang LRT1 at MRT3, trams lang. Small capacity lang compared sa Megatren. Ang LRT2 ay pwedeng 8 car formation depende sa haba ng station. Current station is only 100 meters long, good only for 4 car formation. Maybe they will extend it in the future. Sana..Sana..Sana!!!

NOVO ECIJANO

July 28th, 2007, 03:11 PM

Northrail to start full-blast construction in January '08

Claiming it has finally licked its problem with local residents, Northrail assured President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Saturday that it will go full blast in the construction of a railway between Manila and Bulacan in January next year.

A Malacañang statement noted that Northrail president Jose Cortes Jr said the 80.2-kilometer railway line will extend from the old Tutuban Philippine National Railways (PNR) station in Manila to Malolos in Bulacan.

Cortes said all the remaining squatters residing along the old train line to be revived shall be "taken out already by December," and that the budget for the project is now available.

Arroyo led government officials in conducting an inspection of the facility. She proceeded to Bulacan via chopper from the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Joining her in the inspection were Bulacan Governor Joselito Mendoza, Reps. Lorna Silverio, Marivic Alvarado, and Pedro Pancho, and Bulacan Vice Governor Willy Alvarado and Malolos Mayor Danilo Domingo.

House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., Sen. Richard Gordon and Trade secretary Peter Favila also attended the briefing ceremonies.

The $1,125.99-million Northrail project's first section spans Caloocan City, Valenzuela City and five towns of Bulacan, including Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos.

Cortes said the timetable is "still the same," involving construction from February 2007 to February 2010 for Section 1. Section 2 is scheduled for completion a year after.

Section 1 spans Caloocan, Valenzuela, Meycauyan, Marilao, Bocaue, the Guiguinto Multi-Modal Station up to Malolos. Section 2 starts from Malolos to Calumpit in Bulacan up to Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles and the Clark Multi-Modal Station, all in Pampanga.

Section 1 is "generally along the PNR ROW (right of way) at-grade (and) partly elevated," specifically along the 3.7-km. Valenzuela Viaduct, the longest viaduct along the Caloocan-Clark railway line.

On the other hand, Section 2 is also "generally along PNR ROW, at-grade, partly elevated, partly tunneled."

Cortes also said Northrail created a task force to "expedite acquisition… to be completed by 31 October 2007."

Section 1 started ground work in end-June with a four-month pre-construction stage; while the 28-month construction phase will start this month. The four-month testing and commissioning period ends in February 2010.

Also, construction drawings for 23 kilometers, including the 1.7-km. Malolos Viaduct Section, and the preliminary drawings for all the six train stations were already issued by the China National Machinery Equipment Corporation (CNMEG).

The total amount of the project is $1.126 billion. Section 1 costs $452.32 million, while Section II costs $673.67 million.

dancethingy

July 28th, 2007, 10:27 PM

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Please let nothing evil get in the way
Should we all make a novena specially for our rail projects

tigidig14

July 28th, 2007, 10:39 PM

hanga ako ang galing ng sketch
matanong ko lang magda-dug ba sila ng tunnel sa naia runway as what purported in that sketch

hiiamdib

July 28th, 2007, 10:45 PM

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Please let nothing evil get in the way
Should we all make a novena specially for our rail projects

hay sana para ma reach na ang Clark airport

wheel of steel

July 29th, 2007, 03:42 AM

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Please let nothing evil get in the way
Should we all make a novena specially for our rail projects

:lol: ha ha ha!!!...Santong Paspasan na eto... he he he!!!

wheel of steel

July 29th, 2007, 03:52 AM

[QUOTE=NOVO ECIJANO;14494350]Northrail to start full-blast construction in January '08

^^ Thank you so much for the info. At last now i know what are those drilling machines are all about. They are using it for the soil testing of several portions of the line subjected to heavy pounding of the rolling stocks. Eventually the results will be analyze to give proper approach in selecting the best type of soil, sand and gravel for construction. My latest info about DOTC said that they are already in 6.5% accomplishment since October, 2006 and that is the partial clearing and preparatory works for the foundations of viaducts and bridges including the soil testing as prerequisite.

wheel of steel

July 29th, 2007, 04:03 AM

hanga ako ang galing ng sketch
matanong ko lang magda-dug ba sila ng tunnel sa naia runway as what purported in that sketch

^^ Sorry Tigs. Old line po ito (Manila-Naic). Closed na e2 back in 1930's pa before the war. I just traced it para makita natin kung saan nga ba dumaan ung mga old lines natin. They will no longer revive it. In the map we can see it na dumaan sya sa Tramo. I based my analysis and plot on the informations I've got from other articles in the internet and old drawings of Manila Railway.

Maybe the PNR will revive the Sta. Mesa-Pasig Line. This is the easier way to connect Northrail and Southrail to Fort Boni Station on the North and a new line going to Grand Terminal at Bicutan passing the BCDA all the way to Calamba.

nayki

July 29th, 2007, 05:44 AM

Nice, demolition of houses of informal settlers and their relocation has now reach the Espana, Sampaloc area in Manila. I saw it yesterday while crossing the railway in Espana.

This will also lessen the crime incidence in our area in Sampaloc, base on police reports people involved in crimes in our area resides in the riles community.

wheel of steel

July 29th, 2007, 08:13 AM

PIA Press Release
2007/07/29

Full blast construction of 80.2-km Northrail project starts very soon

MALOLOS, BULACAN (29 July) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was assured by Northrail President Jose Cortes Jr. today that the full blast construction of the 80.2-kilometer railway line from old Tutuban Philippine National Railways (PNR) Station to Malolos will definitely start in January 2008.

The President was also assured by Cortes that all the remaining squatters residing along the old train line to be revived shall be "taken out already by December " and that the budget for the project is now available.

The President got these assurance from Cortes when she checked on the status of the $1,125.99-million Northrail Project whose first section spans Caloocan City, Valenzuela City and five towns of Bulacan, namely, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos.

Cortes told the President that "the timetable is still the same" – construction period from February 2007 to February 2010 for Section 1; while Section 2 will be completed a year after.

The project is divided into two sections: Section I spans Caloocan, Valenzuela, Meycauyan, Marilao, Bocaue, the Guiguinto Multi-Modal Station up to Malolos; while Section II starts from Malolos to Calumpit in Bulacan up to Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles and the Clark Multi-Modal Station, all in Pampanga.

Section I is "generally along the PNR ROW (right of way) at-grade (and) partly elevated," specifically along the 3.7-km. Valenzuela Viaduct, the longest viaduct along the Caloocan-Clark railway line.

Section II, on the other hand, is also "generally along PNR ROW, at-grade, partly elevated, partly tunneled."

The Northrail CEO also briefed the President on the architectural perspective of the stations in each of the six local governments covered by the railway line's first section, plus the status of the engineering and construction works and right-of-way acquisition for which Northrail created a task force to "expedite acquisition… to be completed by 31 October 2007."

In the heat of the noonday sun, the President – in a cool blue pantsuit and blue platform slippers – walked without any umbrella shade from the old brick Malolos railway station to the location of the test-file boring machine that will check on the soil's structure-carrying capacity in 28 days.

Section I started ground work in end-June with a four-month pre-construction stage; while the 28-month construction phase will start this month. The four-month testing and commissioning period ends in February 2010.

So far, already "completed" are the project alignment design survey, site investigation, and soil exploration.

Also, "construction drawings for 23 kilometers, including the 1.7-km. Malolos Viaduct Section, and the preliminary drawings for all the six train stations were already issued by the contractor" -- the China National Machinery Equipment Corporation (CNMEG).

Already approved, according to Northrail, is the alignment design for the 1.7-km Viaduct Section in Malolos, plus the methodology for the Bored Piling Works.

Geographic studies of the railway area shows that it is located on the "North Luzon Alluvial Plain with some undulation in topography. These are mainly artificial soil, miscellaneous soil, clay, silky clay, fine round gravel, tuff and tuff claystones," and that the "subgrade of Caloocan station needs to be replaced and miscellaneous soil to be improved."

The total amount of the project is US$1,125.99 million because Section I costs $452.32, while Section II costs 673.67 million.

The project consultants are with the French group, SYSTRA.

The President's chopper from the Subic Bay Freeport Zone landed at the Bulacan State University where she was met by Bulacan Governor Joselito Mendoza.

Also attending the ocular inspection were Bulacan Reps. Lorna Silverio, Marivic Alvarado, and Pedro Pancho – and Bulacan Vice Governor Willy Alvarado and Malolos Mayor Danilo Domingo.

Speaker Jose de Venecia, Senator Richard Gordon and Trade Secretary Peter Favila also attended the briefing ceremonies. (OPS)

alcogoodwin

July 29th, 2007, 12:15 PM

Ya gotta be quick, I just came here to put up the same Northrail news :-)

It is good news, lets just hope it actually happens.

Brad

tigidig14

July 30th, 2007, 02:31 AM

chito

July 30th, 2007, 02:51 AM

im wondering if they torn down presinto kuatro over there

Ehehehe, ang tagal ko nang hindi naka post ulet dito!

Anyway just came back from Batangas yesterday and I passed by SLEX and to my surprise I could see the rails in the Taguig to SLEX-C5 section of the lines. Houses are being demolished as our bus passes by. I estimate around 15-20% of the home-along-the-riles are gone!

Who said clearing those houses can't be done?

kalbongdad

July 30th, 2007, 03:39 AM

well and good.....it will improve the city overall...although i bleed for those...whose houses are being demolished i cannot help it... but commend...mmda and this present administration for its political will.....khit maging negative ang image ng president basta mapatupad lang ang dapat ipatupad na project....nde yung iba hinahayaan lang dahil don sila kumukuha ng boto...anyway...good for us all... in the long run...including those whose houses are being demolished.....

kalbongdad

July 30th, 2007, 03:45 AM

yehey....pinapa fast track ni pgma...ang northrail......i got the new from anc and ch 2......does anyone have pics...on the recent developments there....?

wheel of steel

July 30th, 2007, 04:28 AM

kalbongdad

July 30th, 2007, 04:38 AM

well hopefully it is so....it quiet...comprehensive...... news has it that pgma wants the northrail fast tracked....so that it will be finished before her term ends...that is one good news for us.....

wheel of steel

July 30th, 2007, 05:04 AM

flymordecai

July 30th, 2007, 05:39 AM

Souhtrail Phase 1-B and Phase 2 is single track only? Even though the costs are significantly cheaper, double track would be much better overall.

wheel of steel

July 30th, 2007, 06:00 AM

Souhtrail Phase 1-B and Phase 2 is single track only? Even though the costs are significantly cheaper, double track would be much better overall.

I think part of the Bicol portion of Southrail Phase 1B will be double track. Ive already heard that they will introduce the Bicol Mass Transit, the first mass transit outside Manila using the PNR to cater the totally inefficient bus service here between Naga and Legazpi, 100km of double track.

On the Northrail Phase 4 (Clark to San La Union), very obvious that it is a truly double track. Likewise the Northrail Phase 2 (Clark to Subic). It's also double track for Calamba-Batangas Line and Calamba-Sta.Cruz-Mauban Line.

kaelthas18

July 30th, 2007, 09:40 AM

http://file.uploadr.com/f94f-embed

contribution ko ...remember the old days...sana kung pwde lang i-turn back time ang glory days ng pnr... =(

Wish there could be more mass transit system sa Philippines kc if we only rely on cars,buses/jeeps ,etc... Pollution lng ang dulot, tpos sikip sikip ng mga kalsada ntin, dpat start na magregulate ang gov't ntin sa pag buy ng mga cars..konting ulan at baha lang stranded mga cars..Dpt ipattern ng Philippines ang Singapore, tlgang iddiscourage ka bumili ng car bcoz theres a lot of mass transit there tska pinagaaralan nla kung may pagpparkingan ka ng car mo b4 u can buy dat...here asa pa... tska sna para narin sa green campaign for our mother earth. stop global warming especially carbon pollutants..

NOVO ECIJANO

July 30th, 2007, 11:06 AM

the latest news said that there are already architectural renderings for the 6 stations and had been presented to gma.im excited to see those drawings and want to know who designed them.

el_dasik_oo1

July 30th, 2007, 11:51 AM

sana ayus yung taste ni PGMA pagdating sa mga ganyan hehe..

wheel of steel

July 30th, 2007, 12:01 PM

@ kaelthas18

^^ WOW!!! NICE!!! Saan u nakuha yan.... GALING... Thank you...Thank you...Thank you....:banana:

hiiamdib

July 30th, 2007, 07:01 PM

ui really !!!!!!!!!! post na po kyo ng renderings, em excited :banana: teka anung 6 stations yan?

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 12:14 AM

TRACING BACK THE OLD LINES

From Mandaluyong to Pasig City crossing Guadalupe Bridge

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1160/923053175_7ac126531f.jpg?v=0

There seems to be some variation between this one and one that appeared on the Philippine Railways Yahoogroup (see below) which was posted by a historian from down Laguna.
From what I understand all the maps, which a very similar to yours most of the time, were done on the ground with a GPS.
I'm eager to follow these lines on my next visit and would certainly like to know which one is actually correct.
It is worth noteing that where it turns north away from the Pasig River that I believe another line kept following the river a little down what is now MRR Road, along the north side of the factories in the below photo.
Achieving this would likely have been easier via the route maped below, but of course it wouldn't have been totally impossible to branch a track off your version somehow.
Any ideas?

http://bp3.blogger.com/_hac0Jx4d5lY/Rouhu-2fWZI/AAAAAAAAACk/7hkms9KVcF0/s1600-h/Antipolo+Extension+Marikina+River+Bridge.jpg

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 12:19 AM

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 01:18 AM

^^

Maybe the PNR will revive the Sta. Mesa-Pasig Line. This is the easier way to connect Northrail and Southrail to Fort Boni Station on the North and a new line going to Grand Terminal at Bicutan passing the BCDA all the way to Calamba.

This has been the subject of discussion between myself a a friend in recent times.
Does PNR still legally own the land on this long closed line or, unlike ones closed in more recent decades, has a government transfered it?
Would certainly be interesting to see the backlash from a return of this line. It would certainly be beneficial though.

Brad

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 01:28 AM

STATUS OF RAILWAY PROJECTS:

4. North-South Linkage Phase 2 (Alabang-Calamba)
Double track 28km narrow gauge railway. Relocation of squatters is in progress to be completed by December 2007. Right-of-way acquisition for depot is underway\.

Howdee WoS,
By depot what exactly do you mean. Works depot, rollingstock/loco depot or the American term for station?
I would guess the first unless they are planning on another satalite depot in the section.

Thanks
Brad

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 01:32 AM

I think part of the Bicol portion of Southrail Phase 1B will be double track. Ive already heard that they will introduce the Bicol Mass Transit, the first mass transit outside Manila using the PNR to cater the totally inefficient bus service here between Naga and Legazpi, 100km of double track.

WoS,
This is indeed good news.
ISTR back during my 1999 visit that the overnight rollingstock was used for one day return shuttle to Naga and back. I used to think this would be a good run to do should I get to Legazpi.
Would anyone have a date for when this shuttle stopped. Was certainly between 1999 and 2004 when I next returned.

Brad

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 01:37 AM

On the Northrail Phase 4 (Clark to San La Union), very obvious that it is a truly double track. Likewise the Northrail Phase 2 (Clark to Subic). It's also double track for Calamba-Batangas Line and Calamba-Sta.Cruz-Mauban Line.

WoS,
Seems I have a lot of questions today.
Where is Mauban? Will this utilise the old formation to Pagsanjan or will it be a completely different route?
Heres the big question. Where exactly in Pagsanjan did the line terminate? Anyone know?
We followed the line from where the school crosses the ROW to the old river bridge but didnt have time to trace it from the other side. My mate thought he knew where the station was and it looked like it could have been, however locals said that this wasn't the case.
Any ideas? Make it easier for me next time :)

Brad

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 01:59 AM

Link dosen't seem to work. The other version can be found at

http://bp3.blogger.com/_hac0Jx4d5lY/Rouhu-2fWZI/AAAAAAAAACk/7hkms9KVcF0/s1600-h/Antipolo+Extension+Marikina+River+Bridge.jpg

http://bp3.blogger.com/_hac0Jx4d5lY/Rouhu-2fWZI/AAAAAAAAACk/7hkms9KVcF0/s1600-h/Antipolo+Extension+Marikina+River+Bridge.jpg

Hi! Brad.

Thank you for your sketch. I think your sketch is absolutely right since it has a very smooth curve. Actually Im kind of lost out to that portion when tracing it so on my drawing I simply connect it.

Thanks a lot!

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 03:15 AM

^^ PNR, then running on mud with thorned houses .... What can you say guys? The strongest machine to pass Paco... whipping off every structure it passes... he he he...:lol:

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/7moto_2226.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/7moto_2228.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/7moto_2229.jpg

Be patient guys.. It will only take 1 year to change our railway from worst to THE BEST!!!:banana: Oh YES!! I give you my word guys.... This picture will be part of "Those were the days!!! Maalaala mo kaya..."

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 03:20 AM

Hi! Brad.

Thank you for your sketch. I think your sketch is absolutely right since it has a very smooth curve. Actually Im kind of lost out to that portion when tracing it so on my drawing I simply connect it.

Thanks a lot!

Hi there,
Sadly I can't take the credit for the work :-(

The guy who did do it has been working on others for lines to Cavite, Sta Crz, Batangas and other lines. Mostly ones all south of Manila.

Not much left now sadly, a few bridge remains and obvious ROWs. I don't think there is any rail left in situ anywhere.
The section up to Antipolo is of great interest but seems to be proving hard to map out :( I really wish I had more time when over there to look into such things.

Brad

kalbongdad

July 31st, 2007, 03:20 AM

hope we get the rendering of the station.......i have not been to the north lately...it would sure be nice if someone from that area....will take pics of the northrail project.....

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 03:29 AM

^^

:lol: Ahhhhhhh yes, memories of 'Lake Paco' (not an official name, but one that has stuck within our group). I got shots of this from the loco and rear carriage of passing trains.
People here think it is a small canal until I show them the water wake seen from the rear carriage after we passed.

On a seperate note. We are launching a new 'FREE" Australasian railway e-zine tomorrow and are looking for photos showing the demolision of all the shanties.
Can anyone help? Being that I am Philippine railway biased I really want to include as much Phil content as possible in it.
Photos should be taken by yourself for copyrite reasons and you will be credited in the e-zine (unless you request otherwise) when they are used.

Cheers
Brad

Lucentino

July 31st, 2007, 06:37 AM

STATUS OF RAILWAY PROJECTS:

1. Northrail Phase 1 Section 1 (Caloocan-Malolos)
Double track 32km narrow gauge railway. On-going since October 2006 for preliminary works. Major construction will be on January 2008.

2. Northrail Phase 1 Section 2 (Malolos-Clark)
Double track 48km narrow gauge railway. All relocations to be completed by December 2007. Soil testing is on-going and designs are already finished.

3. North-South Linkage Phase 1 (Caloocan-Alabang)
Double track 34km narrow gauge railway. On-going since June 1, 2007. Major construction has started on areas already cleared.

4. North-South Linkage Phase 2 (Alabang-Calamba)
Double track 28km narrow gauge railway. Relocation of squatters is in progress to be completed by December 2007. Right-of-way acquisition for depot is underway.

5. Southrail Phase 1-A (Calamba-Lucena)
Double track 77km narrow gauge railway to increase MLS capacity to Bicol. Scheduled to start on September 2007 simultaneous with the construction of North-South Link Phase 2.

6. Southrail Phase 1-B (Lucena-Legazpi)
Single track 400km narrow gauge railway. On-going update for the feasibility study.

7. Southrail Phase 2 (Daraga-Matnog)
Single track 120km narrow gauge railway. On-going update for the feasibility study.

QUESTION:
What will they do with the railroad crossings along the Maharlika Hi-way from Calamba to Lucena? Currently, most of the crossings does not have any safety provisions... even some of the signs were dilapidated or stolen...
From what I know, there are atleast 6-7 railroad crossings in this segment of the south rail... and I wish they would build fly-overs on these crossings for the vehicles so as not to impede traffic flow...

Since the Calamba-Lucena section will be double track, I believe they will maximize the use of this railway section... perhaps a spur towards Dalahican port would be feasible to connect it to the RO-Ro port here...

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 07:03 AM

QUESTION:
What will they do with the railroad crossings along the Maharlika Hi-way from Calamba to Lucena? Currently, most of the crossings does not have any safety provisions... even some of the signs were dilapidated or stolen...
From what I know, there are atleast 6-7 railroad crossings in this segment of the south rail... and I wish they would build fly-overs on these crossings for the vehicles so as not to impede traffic flow...

Since the Calamba-Lucena section will be double track, I believe they will maximize the use of this railway section... perhaps a spur towards Dalahican port would be feasible to connect it to the RO-Ro port here...

EASY!!! They will put level crossings in these sections. It will be equipped with stop lights, ringing bells and flagstops just like the one being use in Japan (the same gauge with us). The intersection will be fool proof. Proper railway education to each and every one of us is a must. Base on the articles and facts, the maximum designed speed of the line was flag up to 160km/h. But the trains will cruise only at 80km/h to 130km/h for safety reason.

In the case of Northrail, they will have several viaducts to avoid level crossings in some of the major thoroughfare. The 3.7km Valenzuela Viaduct is the longest one and the 1.7km Malolos Viaduct.

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 07:07 AM

@ Lucentino

^^ Wow!!! Buti pa kayo, underway na yung Phase1A..Sa amin d2 sa Albay, nasa feasibility study pa.. Well anyway, kahit sa up to Naga lang muna, pwede na...:lol:

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 07:25 AM

QUESTION:

Since the Calamba-Lucena section will be double track, I believe they will maximize the use of this railway section... perhaps a spur towards Dalahican port would be feasible to connect it to the RO-Ro port here...

^^ Definitely they will expect the maximum usage of the line. Base on the informations, Metro Lucena City is the biggest city in Southern Luzon and Bicol and for every 0.5 min or 30 seconds, 1 bus from Manila (all southern bus combined) leaves for Lucena and vice-versa. This accounts for 6000 passengers for 1 hour @ 50 pax/bus. The PNR surely will take a share from this let say 50% @ 3000 pax/hour. At 500 passengers per commuter train (4 cars), there will be 6 trips per hour only. Maybe for the start, it will be a 30 min. interval for the Lucena-Manila Commuter Train plus the Bicol trains with 12 trips per day (6 trips per direction) and the Freight Trains, surely a double track...A single track railway cannot do this. Therefore the Manila-Calamba-Lucena is a true commuter line.

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 08:22 AM

EASY!!! They will put level crossings in these sections. It will be equipped with stop lights, ringing bells and flagstops just like the one being use in Japan (the same gauge with us). The intersection will be fool proof. Proper railway education to each and every one of us is a must. Base on the articles and facts, the maximum designed speed of the line was flag up to 160km/h. But the trains will cruise only at 80km/h to 130km/h for safety reason.

In the case of Northrail, they will have several viaducts to avoid level crossings in some of the major thoroughfare. The 3.7km Valenzuela Viaduct is the longest one and the 1.7km Malolos Viaduct.

Driver education. Hope it works better than down here. We have the big booms, the flashing lights, the approaching signs, marks on the roads, advertising on the television, posters along the railways lines and still major level crossing smashes occur every couple of weeks :ohno:
Only recently a truck went into the side of a passenger train on an open crosing with flashing lights. Killed a number of people.
Still it would be better than what they use now. Vehicles aren't afraid of the booms used in Manila, its time to get heavy steel ones that crush in the roof of cars.

Will these Northrail viaducts be directly above the former ROW or with they run a different path?

Thanks
Brad

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 08:32 AM

^^ Definitely they will expect the maximum usage of the line. Base on the informations, Metro Lucena City is the biggest city in Southern Luzon and Bicol and for every 0.5 seconds, 1 bus from Manila (all southern bus) leaves for Lucena and vice-versa. This accounts for 6000 passengers for 1 hour @ 50 pax/bus. .

One bus for every 0.5 seconds! Thats absolutely phenomenal. I knew there was lots but that is more than I would have ever thought.
Thats a ridiculous situation, no wonder it is so hard to get out of Manila.
Has the bus lobby fought against the railway rebuilding? It is obviously far from being in their best interests for this to happen.

Cheers
Brad
** BTW: WoS I have sent you an offlist message, just in case you check them as rarely as I do :)

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 08:37 AM

One bus for every 0.5 seconds! Thats absolutely phenomenal. I knew there was lots but that is more than I would have ever thought.
Thats a ridiculous situation, no wonder it is so hard to get out of Manila.
Has the bus lobby fought against the railway rebuilding? It is obviously far from being in their best interests for this to happen.

ha ha ha... Sori guys, I made a mistake, its a 0.5 min or 30sec. interval for all of the southern bound bus combined...ha ha ha..Yup, its really a phenomenal. :lol: Thanks for the correction.

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 08:57 AM

ha ha ha... Sori guys, I made a mistake, its a 0.5 min or 30sec. interval for all of the southern bound bus combined...ha ha ha..Yup, its really a phenomenal. :lol: Thanks for the correction.

WoS,
Honestly it wasn't a correction, I actually thought you were correct. I was just stunned.
Still, at every 30 seconds I am still somewhat stunned :)

Brad

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 09:05 AM

***** CARMONA- What a disgrace *****

With so little needed to get it going why has it got to this state of disrepair.

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/Philrail/7moto010.jpg

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 09:06 AM

^^ Hey guys...check this out!!! I think they have already started the Southrail Makati Section. It was already clean and they began filling this with soil. I've got this from Makati Thread. It was posted very recently..

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1064/959114765_c637369e3a.jpg?v=0

richard24

July 31st, 2007, 11:00 AM

^^ they've already started? gamit pa ng classmates ko ang PNR from alabang to sta mesa ah., i'll try to ask them if the trains have already stopped operations., :)

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 11:50 AM

^^ they've already started? gamit pa ng classmates ko ang PNR from alabang to sta mesa ah., i'll try to ask them if the trains have already stopped operations., :)

^^ Yes Richard, you please verify it your classmates if they had already started and what they see in those places. Please don't 4get it. That's important..Naks!!! ha ha ha.. Remember, any verification will be highly appreciated...:)

richard24

July 31st, 2007, 11:53 AM

^^ i asked some of the classmates last week., ang sabi lang nila sakin basta hanggang taguig na daw yung demolitions., madami na daw natanggal., i'll ask them again bukas if PNR already started fixing the tracks., tanong ko nalang din kung inannounce ba kung kelan stop ng operations., sabi kasi nila last time, wala naman daw sinasabi PNR kung kelan pa ang stop ng operations.,

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 12:15 PM

Lucentino

July 31st, 2007, 12:19 PM

^^ @richard24 Maybe you can ask them to take snap shots of the areas they pass by if possible... having pictures would be more exciting!

Driver education. Hope it works better than down here. We have the big booms, the flashing lights, the approaching signs, marks on the roads, advertising on the television, posters along the railways lines and still major level crossing smashes occur every couple of weeks :ohno:
Only recently a truck went into the side of a passenger train on an open crosing with flashing lights. Killed a number of people.
Still it would be better than what they use now. Vehicles aren't afraid of the booms used in Manila, its time to get heavy steel ones that crush in the roof of cars.

Thanks
Brad

I guess with the busy Maharlika Hi-way (Calamba-Lucena) and with the undisciplined drivers, a viaduct or fly-over of some sorts at most crossings would be the best safety device they could build...

ha ha ha... Sori guys, I made a mistake, its a 0.5 min or 30sec. interval for all of the southern bound bus combined...ha ha ha..Yup, its really a phenomenal. :lol: Thanks for the correction.

With what I saw the last time I passed by SLEX, the buses that ply Calabarzon really are quite a lot.
Having a reliable train that could take commuters and cargo to Lucena from Tutuban (about 140km distance) in about 2.5 hours would be a great alternative to buses (not even considering the fare)... Perhaps the necessity of extending SLEX to Lucena might not be feasible for the next 5-10 years...

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 12:31 PM

@ Richard

^^ Yup...When the Main Line South was rehabilitated back in 1996, actually there was no stoppage in the operation although all of the wooden ties were replaced by concrete ties. Maybe the same thing will happen there. Actually they can start already for the portions that trains cannot be affected. They're still considering the thousands of commuters that depends on PNR. I thinks so..

Richard, thank you very much.. You're the guy, our hope in that sta. mesa area..hope you can always provide us up to date. And2 pa kc me sa Bicol. Mga next week, ruta na me dyan. I will really took some pictures and the best way to get it is to ride on the train and take a picture...More power to you....:banana:

Guys,
For photographs of the squatter areas I throughly recommend a trip up in the locomotive (5000 class,cab leading). You can stand out on the footplate and lean over the railing for some of the most awesome shots you could imagine. A totally uninterrupted view.
Its very important that this is all photographed now for the future. So much important rail history has gone unrecorded/unphotographed in the past. This makes our desore for a Philippine Railway HIstorical Society all that much harder.
Thankfully for this important event we have much interest and the ability to cheaply record it photographically.

I have a personal request myself. If anyone is around the railways, and can take notes of locomotive and passenger rollingstock numbers and the date seen, it would be appreciated (even if these are sent privately). I wish to keep a record of what is running around at the end of PNR Mk1 :)

Richard,
I think it was you I asked about the squatter demolition shots a number of pages back.
Was wondering if they were your and if I could use them in our new asian railways e-zine?
Its a bit late for the launching issue but if they are taken by you could I use them in a future issue?

Best wishes
Brad

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 12:35 PM

^^ @richard24 Maybe you can ask them to take snap shots of the areas they pass by if possible... having pictures would be more exciting!

I guess with the busy Maharlika Hi-way (Calamba-Lucena) and with the undisciplined drivers, a viaduct or fly-over of some sorts at most crossings would be the best safety device they could build...

With what I saw the last time I passed by SLEX, the buses that ply Calabarzon really are quite a lot.
Having a reliable train that could take commuters and cargo to Lucena from Tutuban (about 140km distance) in about 2.5 hours would be a great alternative to buses (not even considering the fare)... Perhaps the necessity of extending SLEX to Lucena might not be feasible for the next 5-10 years...

^^ YUP!!! 100% agree....Yes let's resort na lang to viaducts and believe me that it will so reliable than the buses. The perception of the people will be different now because of what they experience in LRT's and MRT's than before when PNR is so slow and trains are very old and LRT1 is not yet operational. They will surely patronize by the riding public lalo na wala nang mga squatter. This line will be the lifesaver of millions of passengers going to manila every year and will be a great substitute while the SLEX Extension to Lucena is constructed....:)

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 12:43 PM

^^

I guess with the busy Maharlika Hi-way (Calamba-Lucena) and with the undisciplined drivers, a viaduct or fly-over of some sorts at most crossings would be the best safety device they could build...

With what I saw the last time I passed by SLEX, the buses that ply Calabarzon really are quite a lot.
Having a reliable train that could take commuters and cargo to Lucena from Tutuban (about 140km distance) in about 2.5 hours would be a great alternative to buses (not even considering the fare)... Perhaps the necessity of extending SLEX to Lucena might not be feasible for the next 5-10 years...

Howdee,
In areas where space allows fly-overs would be good, especially on highway/fast track types of situations. In urban areas this may look quite unattractive, but then no more so than the LRT or MRT I suppose.
The downside would be the excessive extra cost this will add to the project and it would be a massive extra cost.
While lights/booms don't come cheap, they would be next to nothing in comparison to the sort of bridge required. I am unsure the investors wish to spend the extra Pesos required.
That being said it is something that should be looked at down the track (pardon the pun) as some money becomes available. Like everyone else here, I do worry about driver attitudes with trains there and this will certainly be amplified with higher speed operations like those proposed.

This may be a question now for Wheel On Steel.

Have we got any estimates of cargo traffic from Manila to Lucena, Naga and Legazpi? What would be the main cargos and is the bulk of this often containerized?
I should have paid more attention during by bus trip but I was to busy studying the railway line.

Cheers
Brad

le Reine

July 31st, 2007, 12:53 PM

Grabe, kakaiyak ang thread na ito. At last, nagsisimula na ang developments sa Northrail! And BTW, this thread runs really fast.

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 01:12 PM

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 01:19 PM

Northrail! And BTW, this thread runs really fast.

Hopefully like the trains :banana:

alcogoodwin

July 31st, 2007, 01:28 PM

Sure Cargoes.

1. Cement - Albay has one big cement factory that can supply the Calabarzon Area.

2. Oil - We have a big Oil Depot in Legazpi for Bicol Region, sure they will take advantage of the Southrail since they depend on barges.

3. Special sand, gravel and solid rocks from Mayon Volcano. Albay has lot's of it at the foot of Mayon Volcano. A large no. of construction companies based in Manila have already applied for a quarry permit to extract quarry products in big volumes.

Thanks mate.

What of bulk food products like fruit/vegetable/meat/milk in refrigerator type containers. Would most of the local shopping centres etc source all this locally?
Bulk Tanduay shipments. :cheers:
Hmmmm what about Jollibee getting a few refrigerated containers and painting them up in the company livery. :lol:

Is there any major shipping ports around Legazpi? Could there be any benefit from shipping to there and railing onwards around Luzon.

Suppose there could be many traffics as long as an operator is fierce in competing and willing to take freight other than in block loads.

Brad

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 01:38 PM

richard24

July 31st, 2007, 01:56 PM

Richard,
I think it was you I asked about the squatter demolition shots a number of pages back.
Was wondering if they were your and if I could use them in our new asian railways e-zine?
Its a bit late for the launching issue but if they are taken by you could I use them in a future issue?

Best wishes
Brad

i posted some., but i think other forumers uploaded more., :)

i'll try to take some pix if i have time., its tooooooooooooo hot in sta mesa, and its hard to stop and take pics., hehehe., :lol: :) but i'll try., :)

@ Richard

^^ Yup...When the Main Line South was rehabilitated back in 1996, actually there was no stoppage in the operation although all of the wooden ties were replaced by concrete ties. Maybe the same thing will happen there. Actually they can start already for the portions that trains cannot be affected. They're still considering the thousands of commuters that depends on PNR. I thinks so..

Richard, thank you very much.. You're the guy, our hope in that sta. mesa area..hope you can always provide us up to date. And2 pa kc me sa Bicol. Mga next week, ruta na me dyan. I will really took some pictures and the best way to get it is to ride on the train and take a picture...More power to you....:banana:

pag andito ka sa manila mag message ka dito., sakay tayo sa tren., gusto ko din ma experience., :) hehehe., :)

^^ @richard24 Maybe you can ask them to take snap shots of the areas they pass by if possible... having pictures would be more exciting!

well, sad to say, not everyone who studies at PUP has a camera., :( (i'm just lucky we're not poor(well, lalong hindi ako rich., :lol: . :)

wheel of steel

July 31st, 2007, 02:18 PM

NEW TAYUMAN PNR STATION at your service....

Main Building
http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/Philrail/7MAC_03405.jpg

Ticketing Office
http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/Philrail/7moimage006.jpg

New Platform
http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/Philrail/7MAC03407.jpg

richard24

July 31st, 2007, 02:36 PM

^^ i saw that one a while ago., that's the one behind tutuban right? wasnt able to take pics., it was sooooooooooo hot outside., :)

GelloX

July 31st, 2007, 03:08 PM

dancethingy

July 31st, 2007, 05:32 PM

^^^^Whoa Gellox! I know you are angry and its understandable why you would react that way. Progress though, is slow, and we as ordinary citizens can only do so much to change the present state of our country. When i visited the Philippines 2 years ago i felt the same way as you, i didn't know how to help really, but the more time i spent in the philippines the more i understood that just being a good citizen alone can do a whole lot of change. I also realized that RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE would be the best way to exact change. You should consider this Gellox, you should consider running for public office in the philippines one day. Don't join meaningless rallies and spurts of rebellion, because historically they have failed our country. Change from within is the much better path.

Regarding the rehabilitation of the rails, they really do need to be rehabilitated. You cannot maintain a broken system, you have to rehabilitate first and then maintain it. Its too bad they weren't maintained before. Maybe it will be different this time around. A lot of money needs to be shelled for all this rehab, but its money well spent. I can't wait to go back to manila next year and see the progress of northrail, southrail, and GOD WILLING; MRT7!

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 02:25 AM

Shame on the government who always think of huge profits than service to people!

Wow Gellox, a very VERY well put speach and so true.
The world is covered in railways that don't make a profit, passenger services especially are money losers. However governments usually understand this and subsidise passenger operations to ensure they keep going.
Manila roads are a tragic mess of traffic chaos. This hasn't just happened since Gloria came into power, it has been around through many administrations. Sadly all these administrations have just turned a blind eye, strangled funds and whinged that PNR was loosing money.
While I applaud President Gloria for what she is doing, she should never have had to do this. It should never have been allowed to get this far.
She is in a hurry to get these things done because she knows that a predesessor will likely dump it all because 'it wasn't their project'.
I mean how many good ideas have been dumped after a change in government? Their over inflated pompous egos are more important than the wonderful people they represent. The Filipinos suffer due to this sort of mentality in the government and it is an irritatingly continuous thing.
Unless a major start is made on the planned rebuilding of the Batangas and Sta Cruz lines I can see them getting dropped in the future.
While we are going through such a pro-rail phase it would also be great to see the railways reclaim the Cavite and Antipolo lines. Can you imagine the mammoth amount of traffic that could be displaced by an efficient rail service on those two lines? It would mean some tough decisions, decisions for the people not for the votes, but the benefits for Manila would be massive.

Dancythingy is correct in his bit about running for public office. Public office needs people like you who care about the Filipino and who know than governing is to serve the people, not just your wallet.

In regards to rail transport overseas we are not all without our faults. The various Australian governments have a long history of running railways down and then closing because they will cost to much to fix :cry:
The country only has a small bit of what we once did. Some lines were even profitable and closed.
Another stupid example is a closed branchline to Tumut in south western NSW. A paper factory opened there and wanted to run two trains out a day. They asked the government to go halves on the line rebuild and the government didn't want to sink in that much.
It all went onto local roads and now they are planning to do a massive expansion of the plant.
So sadly the Philippines is not alone.

Don't apologise for your speech. I know exactly how you feel. I am aborn and bred Aussie but the Philippines has become my second country. It infuriates me sometimes to see what goes on and I have many times made huge speaches about it.
People like you are needed to make the country what it should be.

You mention the costs of rebuilding vs maintaining. I can't really speak with any authority on this area. however even if costs were the same it would be far easier to keep up with maintaining than the occasion huge funds/work needed for the occasional rebuild.
Then again I stop to think of the earlier south line rebuild. There is a huge difference in rail quality where this begins but funnily enough ride quality is far worse on this new section that that through the squatter areas.
Now they have to rebuild it again, so soon after it was rebuilt. This was certainly a huge waste of money.
I just hope the new lines are maintained and we wont be back here again 20 years down the track.

Finally you mentioned historical.

I am severely worried for the future of original PNR/MRR railway stations on the north. Many are in a very advanced state of decay, with many (Moncada an example) being beyond being saved.
What is Northrail's plans for these? Will they suffer the same fate at Caloocan station?
Admitedly Caloocan wasn't what you would call to unique, but the north line does have some wonderful structures that need to be saved and hopefully incorporated into new stations. However I do worry that demolision and replacement with shoddy plastic type structures may be more the order of the day.

We are desperately trying to set up a Philippine Railway Historical Society to preserve some of this stuff but it isnt easy with many of our members out of the country and those living in the country having businesses to run.
Have also heard that one needs a huge bond to register a 'non-profit' organization there. Rather ironic, not sure where they feel a non-profit group is going to get this from.
Philippine railway history has not been handled well by the government and so many important things have been destroyed.
Did you know that:
1) The Marcos presidential car still exists, stripped out with no immediate future.
2) The last of a massive fleet of PNR buses still exists but had been gradually stripped and destroyed. This is an important link to railways past endeavours to be a major transport player (they even had ships).
3) Only two old 4 wheeled wagons are known still to exist and the railway rebuild will likely see them destroyed.
4) Only three small MRR steam locomotives still exist with all the large magnificent ones being scrapped. These were all on display until one was sent to Dagupan where the local government planned to restore and care for her. She is now just rotting away and the future could be considered very dull.
5) Only one Panay Railway (diesel) locomotive still exists and it is slowly decaying as well.

I could probably go on with a lot more examples of historical things needing saving. We are planning to follow a lot of long closed lines in the future to see if there is anything there that would be worthy of preserving.

Anyway I have perhaps gone on enough and your all probably needing a drink after all that :cheers:

Thank you GelloX for your kind words to me. I won't rest until my second country has the rail service (and museum) it deserves.

Best wishes
Brad

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 02:57 AM

Taking pictures in this way....damn!!!!..I'll be a hero! ha ha ha...:lol:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1440/961185841_eac01cf2cf.jpg?v=0.

Funny you should say this.

I was amazed by the reception we got from the squatter areas as we past through. Waving, jumping, yelling out and of course no spot in the Philippines would be quite right without all the 'Hello Joe' greetings :)
The train driver told me to try and run for government with popularity like that.
Its strange but I do have very mixed feelings about all the railway rebuild.
While I know they are illegally there and without this all happening there really isn't a future for the railways, there is a part of me that regrets that it is happening.
Having had some interaction with these people (even walked the tracks through Tondo in 1999) I begin to feel some sadness that they must go. Illegal squatters or not, most are good hard working and kind people, just like other Filipino.
I got photos of many of them during my cab ride and often wonder what will become of them.

Brad

Lucentino

August 1st, 2007, 02:59 AM

Howdee,
In areas where space allows fly-overs would be good, especially on highway/fast track types of situations. In urban areas this may look quite unattractive, but then no more so than the LRT or MRT I suppose.
The downside would be the excessive extra cost this will add to the project and it would be a massive extra cost.
While lights/booms don't come cheap, they would be next to nothing in comparison to the sort of bridge required. I am unsure the investors wish to spend the extra Pesos required.
That being said it is something that should be looked at down the track (pardon the pun) as some money becomes available. Like everyone else here, I do worry about driver attitudes with trains there and this will certainly be amplified with higher speed operations like those proposed.

Cheers
Brad

Well I think spending "some" amount of money for safety will be well worth the costs... But anyway, here in RP safety is just another word...

Since they will be "upgrading" the exisiting line (Calamba-Lucena-Bicol) why not include making rail crossing underpasses to the plan, where the trains will travel below the road. This will also be a pleasant sight compared to the vehicle viaducts...

This will solve the safety issues, and will not impede the flow of traffic.

Sure Cargoes.

1. Cement - Albay has one big cement factory that can supply the Calabarzon Area.

2. Oil - We have a big Oil Depot in Legazpi for Bicol Region, sure they will take advantage of the Southrail since they depend on barges.

3. Special sand, gravel and solid rocks from Mayon Volcano. Albay has lot's of it at the foot of Mayon Volcano. A large no. of construction companies based in Manila have already applied for a quarry permit to extract quarry products in big volumes.

I think Bicol also export some raw materials for meat, fish and fruit processing to NCR, Calabarzon and Region III... and ofcourse the famous Manila hemp (Abaca) and some timber for the paper mills I guess... and Bicol also supply the labor force to the factories and offices in those areas.
While Bicol imports a lot of things from Calabarzon and NCR... food, clothing, oofice equipment, machinery, etc...

Having a dependable rail infrastructure for Calabarzon and Bicol, the development could be endless... These areas would surely flourish despite the lack of roads...

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 03:07 AM

Extra Cargoes::banana:

Bicol will have I think more than 300 Fastfood Chain by 2010 from current 100 above. We don't have much veggies to sell but we do import veggies from Baguio City. Hopefully we can recover from wrath of Typhoon Reming so we could sell again Pineapple and Abacca and Extra Coconut Products.

Wow thats a 200% increase in a few years.
That sort of increase and the extra transport load would certainly make some rail haulage viable, especially come that great day when Northrail 'hopefully' returns all the way to San Fernando. Road shuttle from Baguio to San Fernando and then rail right through.

I often wonder what running agreements Northrail and PNR will have for through running on each others sections. Would entire Northrail trains be allowed through to Bicol, or will PNR provide hook and pull services for their stock.

In regards to your drawings of people on the front of locos, there was actually three of us out on the footplate.
Insurance? Nah, there wasn't any time on the whole trip that I elt nervous or uncomfortable, well except at Paco when the collapsed embankment threatened to tip the train :lol:
One day I dream of cab riding all the way to Legazpi.

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 03:16 AM

i posted some., but i think other forumers uploaded more., :)

i'll try to take some pix if i have time., its tooooooooooooo hot in sta mesa, and its hard to stop and take pics., hehehe., :lol: :) but i'll try., :)

:)

Thanks mate, if you are able to it would be great, but its fine if you can't.

Certainly am glad I got there just before this all happened but wouldn't mind being there now for some historical shots.

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 03:44 AM

^^ i saw that one a while ago., that's the one behind tutuban right? wasnt able to take pics., it was sooooooooooo hot outside., :)

I have actually emailed Masahiro (the photographer) about this.
We have always been led to believe that this was actually the new Tutuban station as opposed to Tayuman which still trades (well in did in March, but there is already great changes) down on the street of the same name.
These photos were taken this month and I already note one major change in that they are using the ticket office inside the building. While we were there the poor ticket seller had a small desk and seat outside at the end of the actual platforms.
While the building was in the final stages of being built back in 1999, PNR had never moved in, reportedly due to payment problems.
Perhaps this has been sorted out now. I wonder if all the people from the HQ opposite the Caloocan station site will now move in here.

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 03:53 AM

Well I think spending "some" amount of money for safety will be well worth the costs... But anyway, here in RP safety is just another word...
Since they will be "upgrading" the exisiting line (Calamba-Lucena-Bicol) why not include making rail crossing underpasses to the plan, where the trains will travel below the road. This will also be a pleasant sight compared to the vehicle viaducts...
This will solve the safety issues, and will not impede the flow of traffic.
...

Lucentino,
I fully agree with you, going under roads would certainly be more pleasing to the eye.
With funding already allocated for Northrail and the linkage project they would be working to be within that allocated budget.
From what I understand, correct if I am wrong, I think the rest of the Southrail project is still in the discussion stage with overseas investors and now is the time such things should be brought up.

But who do you talk to? The government never seems to want to answer my rail related enquiries (nor those related to the very sad state affairs of the postal service) and never seems ready to discuss any ideas I put forward.
So where would we best start with such ideas?
The other problem is that the idea would need huge community backing to push the government to seek extra funding for the work involved. A rail action type group promoting it to the people.

Is there any transport activist groups in the Philippines?

Regards
Brad

kalbongdad

August 1st, 2007, 05:35 AM

Taking pictures in this way....damn!!!!..I'll be a hero! ha ha ha...:lol:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1440/961185841_eac01cf2cf.jpg?v=0

I must be insured....he he he!!! Myself along Paco Lake, este Paco...:lol:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1110/961479235_b47816bd3a.jpg?v=0

Extra Cargoes::banana:

Bicol will have I think more than 300 Fastfood Chain by 2010 from current 100 above. We don't have much veggies to sell but we do import veggies from Baguio City. Hopefully we can recover from wrath of Typhoon Reming so we could sell again Pineapple and Abacca and Extra Coconut Products.

i posted some., but i think other forumers uploaded more., :)

i'll try to take some pix if i have time., its tooooooooooooo hot in sta mesa, and its hard to stop and take pics., hehehe., :lol: :) but i'll try., :)

pag andito ka sa manila mag message ka dito., sakay tayo sa tren., gusto ko din ma experience., :) hehehe., :)

well, sad to say, not everyone who studies at PUP has a camera., :( (i'm just lucky we're not poor(well, lalong hindi ako rich., :lol: . :)

talaga palang wala na mga iskwaters dyan.....nice....

kalbongdad

August 1st, 2007, 05:41 AM

Shame on the government who always think of huge profits than service to people!

Having been to the US, Western Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy and Netherlands), Thailand, Hong Kong, most especially Japan wherein I definitely saw and realized how the railway system works so efficiently, redefining a life of convenience and speed; makes me so furious and miserable about the current situation of the Philippine Railway System.

Considering the fact that it actually existed, I feel so disgusted that we Filipinos, let this happen! Haven't the past generations of leaders and citizens realized how convenient and helpful would it be for the economy per se if these lines are continuously existing?!

I may be an 18 year old teenager who didn't have the chance to live in the past, correct the mistakes of those aged nitwits and much more, witness the grandeur and prestige of my country back then; however, I certainly do know that what this nation needs is a reform per se.

A reform t'wards appreciation and patriotism to our nation's history and identity shall be the key.

It is sickening to know that foreigners; foreigners themselves like alcogoodwin, has the verve to discover, fight for and appreciate our culture, our railways and etc. rather than Filipinos who live and continue expropriating this country of great wealth. I thank you for that alcogoodwin.

Being a son of an OFW and having spent my High School Years in Saudi Arabia brought me up to this realization that if given a chance, I would rather send every single Filipinos abroad for them to see and realize how our country differs; that of all the 13 nations I've been at, the Philippines is a unique one whose all the things she needed to survive and to thrive is within reach. The only thing she lacks is the support from her children, starting from its leaders and most likely, the citizens themselves. Misinformation may be the reason why we Filipinos act as fools; alienated with our own motherland, much worse than refugees themselves.

I apologize for giving this one hell of speech. I just feel so desperate and angry that this is happenin. That on my own, I can do nothing to influence our nation's people and our leaders as well...

Now the government endeavors to rehabilitate the lines but the million dollar question is, wouldn't it be much cheaper to maintain the system rather than rehabilitating it starting from scratch o'er and over again? Aside from the big bucks that we have lost from this, we also failed to save one thing that is irreplaceable and cannot be compensated by any form of fortune.

I'm talkin about the historical value of everything we destroyed - that I am.

Our country possesses the greatest thinkers and planners that this world ever had, the only problem is... what she has are only thinkers, not movers and implementers...

^^^^Whoa Gellox! I know you are angry and its understandable why you would react that way. Progress though, is slow, and we as ordinary citizens can only do so much to change the present state of our country. When i visited the Philippines 2 years ago i felt the same way as you, i didn't know how to help really, but the more time i spent in the philippines the more i understood that just being a good citizen alone can do a whole lot of change. I also realized that RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE would be the best way to exact change. You should consider this Gellox, you should consider running for public office in the philippines one day. Don't join meaningless rallies and spurts of rebellion, because historically they have failed our country. Change from within is the much better path.

Regarding the rehabilitation of the rails, they really do need to be rehabilitated. You cannot maintain a broken system, you have to rehabilitate first and then maintain it. Its too bad they weren't maintained before. Maybe it will be different this time around. A lot of money needs to be shelled for all this rehab, but its money well spent. I can't wait to go back to manila next year and see the progress of northrail, southrail, and GOD WILLING; MRT7!

Wow Gellox, a very VERY well put speach and so true.
The world is covered in railways that don't make a profit, passenger services especially are money losers. However governments usually understand this and subsidise passenger operations to ensure they keep going.
Manila roads are a tragic mess of traffic chaos. This hasn't just happened since Gloria came into power, it has been around through many administrations. Sadly all these administrations have just turned a blind eye, strangled funds and whinged that PNR was loosing money.
While I applaud President Gloria for what she is doing, she should never have had to do this. It should never have been allowed to get this far.
She is in a hurry to get these things done because she knows that a predesessor will likely dump it all because 'it wasn't their project'.
I mean how many good ideas have been dumped after a change in government? Their over inflated pompous egos are more important than the wonderful people they represent. The Filipinos suffer due to this sort of mentality in the government and it is an irritatingly continuous thing.
Unless a major start is made on the planned rebuilding of the Batangas and Sta Cruz lines I can see them getting dropped in the future.
While we are going through such a pro-rail phase it would also be great to see the railways reclaim the Cavite and Antipolo lines. Can you imagine the mammoth amount of traffic that could be displaced by an efficient rail service on those two lines? It would mean some tough decisions, decisions for the people not for the votes, but the benefits for Manila would be massive.

Dancythingy is correct in his bit about running for public office. Public office needs people like you who care about the Filipino and who know than governing is to serve the people, not just your wallet.

In regards to rail transport overseas we are not all without our faults. The various Australian governments have a long history of running railways down and then closing because they will cost to much to fix :cry:
The country only has a small bit of what we once did. Some lines were even profitable and closed.
Another stupid example is a closed branchline to Tumut in south western NSW. A paper factory opened there and wanted to run two trains out a day. They asked the government to go halves on the line rebuild and the government didn't want to sink in that much.
It all went onto local roads and now they are planning to do a massive expansion of the plant.
So sadly the Philippines is not alone.

Don't apologise for your speech. I know exactly how you feel. I am aborn and bred Aussie but the Philippines has become my second country. It infuriates me sometimes to see what goes on and I have many times made huge speaches about it.
People like you are needed to make the country what it should be.

You mention the costs of rebuilding vs maintaining. I can't really speak with any authority on this area. however even if costs were the same it would be far easier to keep up with maintaining than the occasion huge funds/work needed for the occasional rebuild.
Then again I stop to think of the earlier south line rebuild. There is a huge difference in rail quality where this begins but funnily enough ride quality is far worse on this new section that that through the squatter areas.
Now they have to rebuild it again, so soon after it was rebuilt. This was certainly a huge waste of money.
I just hope the new lines are maintained and we wont be back here again 20 years down the track.

Finally you mentioned historical.

I am severely worried for the future of original PNR/MRR railway stations on the north. Many are in a very advanced state of decay, with many (Moncada an example) being beyond being saved.
What is Northrail's plans for these? Will they suffer the same fate at Caloocan station?
Admitedly Caloocan wasn't what you would call to unique, but the north line does have some wonderful structures that need to be saved and hopefully incorporated into new stations. However I do worry that demolision and replacement with shoddy plastic type structures may be more the order of the day.

We are desperately trying to set up a Philippine Railway Historical Society to preserve some of this stuff but it isnt easy with many of our members out of the country and those living in the country having businesses to run.
Have also heard that one needs a huge bond to register a 'non-profit' organization there. Rather ironic, not sure where they feel a non-profit group is going to get this from.
Philippine railway history has not been handled well by the government and so many important things have been destroyed.
Did you know that:
1) The Marcos presidential car still exists, stripped out with no immediate future.
2) The last of a massive fleet of PNR buses still exists but had been gradually stripped and destroyed. This is an important link to railways past endeavours to be a major transport player (they even had ships).
3) Only two old 4 wheeled wagons are known still to exist and the railway rebuild will likely see them destroyed.
4) Only three small MRR steam locomotives still exist with all the large magnificent ones being scrapped. These were all on display until one was sent to Dagupan where the local government planned to restore and care for her. She is now just rotting away and the future could be considered very dull.
5) Only one Panay Railway (diesel) locomotive still exists and it is slowly decaying as well.

I could probably go on with a lot more examples of historical things needing saving. We are planning to follow a lot of long closed lines in the future to see if there is anything there that would be worthy of preserving.

Anyway I have perhaps gone on enough and your all probably needing a drink after all that :cheers:

Thank you GelloX for your kind words to me. I won't rest until my second country has the rail service (and museum) it deserves.

Best wishes
Brad

wwwooooo man..... that is because philippines is a third world country...you're comparing apples and oranges.... no dinero yet for all that first world stuff...

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 06:02 AM

wwwooooo man..... that is because philippines is a third world country...you're comparing apples and oranges.... no dinero yet for all that first world stuff...

In that case, how do you explain Indonesia (just one of a number of third world examples) and what has been achieved there?
If we were to take the 'third world' defeatist attitude then we will certainly not get the Philippines anywhere.

Brad

wheel of steel

August 1st, 2007, 08:17 AM

talaga palang wala na mga iskwaters dyan.....nice....

^^ Paano puno ng putik and riles...at tubig. Worst tlaga!!! ha ha ha..:lol:

Lucentino

August 1st, 2007, 09:13 AM

Lucentino,
I fully agree with you, going under roads would certainly be more pleasing to the eye.
With funding already allocated for Northrail and the linkage project they would be working to be within that allocated budget.
From what I understand, correct if I am wrong, I think the rest of the Southrail project is still in the discussion stage with overseas investors and now is the time such things should be brought up.

But who do you talk to? The government never seems to want to answer my rail related enquiries (nor those related to the very sad state affairs of the postal service) and never seems ready to discuss any ideas I put forward.
So where would we best start with such ideas?
The other problem is that the idea would need huge community backing to push the government to seek extra funding for the work involved. A rail action type group promoting it to the people.

Is there any transport activist groups in the Philippines?

Regards
Brad

Have you tried contacting the Department of Transportation & Communications (DOTC)? I think it would be better if you go to their office personally since their website is down (and perhaps their e-mails dont work as well :ohno:)... And dont forget to bring lots of patience whenever you transact with a Phil. government office...

Transport activist groups you say? Please... don't waste your time contacting them since most activists are percieved as leftists and most of their grievances fall on deaf ears... you might not want to be part of them do you?

Lucentino

August 1st, 2007, 09:18 AM

Don't know if this has been posted before, but Koreans won the bid for the N-S Rail link:

$50-M deal signed with Koreans on north-south rail link

By Riza T. Olchondra
Inquirer
Last updated 03:00am (Mla time) 06/09/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- The government-owned Philippine National Railways (PNR) has signed a contract for a $50-million contract to link the Northrail and Southrail projects in Luzon, which has gone through several failed bids, a transport official said.

The linkage project, to be financed by a tied loan package from the Korean Export Import Bank, is a major component of the government’s program to fast-track the restoration, rehabilitation and modernization of the old railway lines between Metro Manila and the Southern Luzon region.

“PNR finally signed a formal agreement last Friday [June 1],” said Guiling Mamondiong, undersecretary for railways at the Department of Transportation and Communications.

A South Korean consortium comprising the engineering and construction giants Daewoo Corp. and Hanjin Engineering and Construction Co. Inc. and train maker Rotem Corp. will do the project, Mamondiong told the Inquirer.

The first public auction for the contract was held in January but only one offer came, from a Chinese-Filipino bidder. As state auctions require at least two bidders, it was declared a failure.

A new bidding three weeks later saw the consortium of Daewoo, Hanjin and Rotem as the sole bidder. It was also declared a failure.

The Department of Transportation and Communications later said PNR was negotiating for official development assistance (ODA) from South Korea that would cover rehabilitation of all train tracks and stations from Caloocan City to suburban Alabang town and deployment of 21 brand-new, air-conditioned coaches, called “diesel multiple units.”

Early last month, the PNR board and the Korean Export Import Bank gave the go-ahead to finalize the contract.

The PNR has long said that it wants to start rehabilitating 1,060 kilometers of tracks in Luzon this year.

For starters, it wants to repair the railway line from Calamba City in Laguna province, south of Manila, to Lucena City in the eastern province of Quezon, called Phase 1a, and its track from Alabang to Calamba, called Phase 2.

Lucentino

August 1st, 2007, 09:22 AM

wheel of steel

August 1st, 2007, 09:30 AM

@ Lucentino

^^ WOW!!! Ang Galing...ROTEM DMU, wow pag rotem may chance tayo na baka ganyan rin ang gamitin sa Manila Bicol Train..Ok ok ok....San u nakuha yan? Nice!!!!:banana:

bustero

August 1st, 2007, 09:40 AM

Ah I think the rotem cars coming here may look like that but they won't be high speed!

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 10:59 AM

Have you tried contacting the Department of Transportation & Communications (DOTC)? I think it would be better if you go to their office personally since their website is down (and perhaps their e-mails dont work as well :ohno:)... And dont forget to bring lots of patience whenever you transact with a Phil. government office...

Transport activist groups you say? Please... don't waste your time contacting them since most activists are percieved as leftists and most of their grievances fall on deaf ears... you might not want to be part of them do you?

Hi Lucentino,
Yeah I have tried to contact the DOTC via email and mail.
Sadly getting to their office isn't to easy from where I am located, although it may be an option for the next trip.

I didn't want to contact any of these groups, I was more suggesting a locally based 'rail focused' group to push for improvements and bring about public interest in the idea of rail developments. To get any of your suggestions going it will take more than a couple of voices on this forum.
Starting a recognised railway promoting group would be a very proactive way to promote that which you are hoping for.

Cheers
Brad

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 11:07 AM

Lucentino

August 1st, 2007, 11:35 AM

San u nakuha yan? Nice!!!!:banana:

That's from the Rotem website... I assumed, since they are part of consortium doing the re-hab of N-S Rail Link, they might be the one to supply the brand new DMU's mentioned in the article...

Hi Lucentino,
Yeah I have tried to contact the DOTC via email and mail.
Sadly getting to their office isn't to easy from where I am located, although it may be an option for the next trip.

I didn't want to contact any of these groups, I was more suggesting a locally based 'rail focused' group to push for improvements and bring about public interest in the idea of rail developments. To get any of your suggestions going it will take more than a couple of voices on this forum.
Starting a recognised railway promoting group would be a very proactive way to promote that which you are hoping for.

Cheers
Brad

Noted :) ... I guess you need to personally visit DOTC one of these days... I feel that no local resident would want to transact with them... especially if the issue to be raised is about safety, which unfortunately is always the least of the goverment's priorities...

GelloX

August 1st, 2007, 11:36 AM

You know what?!
I feel so outraged when one looks down and consider the Philippines a third world country.

A derogatory term as it may seem, I deem that one must first know what really lies behind that word before using and associating it to an entity like the Philippines. Do you understand kalbongdad?

In case you don't know, "third world" shouldn't be used anymore at the first place since cold war is no longer existing and is now over. Kindly do some research for you to know what I mean sir... Thank you

Instead of using that pejorative remark, why not utilize the terms Developing country or Newly Industrialized Country, where the Philippines is among the 9 countries being recognized as one of it. Indeed, it's more pleasing and rather positive.

And also kalbongdad, I forgot to mention that I've also been to Thailand and Vietnam. Honestly, these two which belong in your so-called "Third World Countries" have an efficient working railway system that tourists and citizens alike are benefiting with and using in their day to day living.
Please don't forget 'bout India, Pakistan, China, Russia and Indonesia; countries which do have an existing system and belong to the list of your 3rd worlds.

It is not rightful or even a rational reason to say that because our country belongs in the Third World list, we can let ourselves, our countrymen suffer and fail to feel the benefits and conveniences of having an existing railway system. It's as if we are saying that since we are impoverished, we deserve not to fill our stomachs in, as well as sayin that we do not have the single right to progress and to change our will.

For one to act and believe that third world ideology is comparable to those traditional politicians who always hunger for revenues and whose interests are not laid on the welfare of their constituents; as if always being in transaction with their demon counterparts...

Sorry for being harsh kalbongdad...

Anyways, I believe that it will be wiser and more helpful if the government let the private sector manage and handle these infrastructure related to public transportation and usage. Just like what happen in the North Luzon Expressway, the highway per se became a world-class facility when the government partly leased a Built-Operate-Transfer Agreement to the Lopez' owned First Philippine Infrastructure Development Corporation (FPIDC) and to other shareholders with the state-owned Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) as franchise operator.

Same testimonies can be seen in Japan, where private sector in particular to the Japan Railways, a group of eight-for profit companies, took over and manage most of Japan's elevated and at level intercity and intracity train services.

These may not be feasible for the country at first since majority of the population still rely on public utility vehicles, not to mention the presence of unions and groups who most likely will oppose any fare increase even if the reason was for better and more enhanced services.

Perhaps an ammend to Article XII Section 12 of 1987 Constitution which prescribes that only 40% are allowed to be owned by foreigners in terms of assets and businesses may be the key for a more sustainable and favorable economic environment which may booster some investments on least profitable railway system.

Privatization can be a key for development and enhanced services but it can also be the worst catastrophe that the state may face once it is managed by corrupt and megalomaniac government officials. The world will never forget the case of our ever anticipated Manila International Airport, Ninoy Aquino Terminal 3.

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 12:09 PM

You know what?!
I feel so outraged when one looks down and consider the Philippines a third world country.

A derogatory term as it may seem, I deem that one must first know what really lies behind that word before using and associating it to an entity like the Philippines. Do you understand kalbongdad?

In case you don't know, "third world" shouldn't be used anymore at the first place since cold war is no longer existing and is now over. Kindly do some research for you to know what I mean sir... Thank you

Instead of using that pejorative remark, why not utilize the terms Developing country or Newly Industrialized Country, where the Philippines is among the 9 countries being recognized as one of it. Indeed, it's more pleasing and rather positive.

And also kalbongdad, I forgot to mention that I've also been to Thailand and Vietnam. Honestly, these two which belong in your so-called "Third World Countries" have an efficient working railway system that tourists and citizens alike are benefiting with and using in their day to day living.
Please don't forget 'bout India, Pakistan, China, Russia and Indonesia; countries which do have an existing system and belong to the list of your 3rd worlds.

It is not rightful or even a rational reason to say that because our country belongs in the Third World list, we can let ourselves, our countrymen suffer and fail to feel the benefits and conveniences of having an existing railway system. It's as if we are saying that since we are impoverished, we deserve not to fill our stomachs in, as well as sayin that we do not have the single right to progress and to change our will.

For one to act and believe that third world ideology is comparable to those traditional politicians who always hunger for revenues and whose interests are not laid on the welfare of their constituents; as if always being in transaction with their demon counterparts...

Sorry for being harsh kalbongdad....

Hear Hear!

That earlier post really came across to me with a 'things can't ever be better' type attitude.
Things can be better and all Filipinos deserves this.
It's disgusting enough to hear someone from another country put down the Philippines without having to hear it from a local.
Of course the Philippines needs a lot done to fix her woes, I'm sure anybody will admit that, but these things should be pushed ahead with and not just given up on.

Most 'developing countries' have a decent rail transport service, so why not the Philippines? Every single resident of your great country deserves at least good services from the government and I think we know, in reality, that the Philippine government can do a lot better for its people than it has over the years.

I for one look forward to the day the Philippines breaks through and becomes something even negative posters on this group can be proud of. I am already very proud of my second country and wont tolerate detractors.

I'm sorry if I to sound harsh, I speak what I feel.

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 12:16 PM

That's from the Rotem website... I assumed, since they are part of consortium doing the re-hab of N-S Rail Link, they might be the one to supply the brand new DMU's mentioned in the article...

Noted :) ... I guess you need to personally visit DOTC one of these days... I feel that no local resident would want to transact with them... especially if the issue to be raised is about safety, which unfortunately is always the least of the goverment's priorities...

Hi Lucentino,
I am sure I have read that they are the suppliers of the DMUs so I suspect your assumption is correct.

As for safety not being a government priority. So sad and probably so true, when was the last time you saw a major person in government travelling on one :(

Best wishes
Brad

NOVO ECIJANO

August 1st, 2007, 12:56 PM

if any of you go to dotc ask also for the renderings,or images for the trains to be used.

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 01:05 PM

if any of you go to dotc ask also for the renderings,or images for the trains to be used.

And stations, don't forget to ask for the stations.

And pleeeeeeeeease ask about the Carmona line to ;-)

Brad

NOVO ECIJANO

August 1st, 2007, 01:29 PM

DOTC holds consultations
on railway projects nationwide

SECRETARY Leandro R. Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and Communications is pursuing the establishment of a National Railway System and has instructed the Railway Cluster in the department, chaired by Undersecretary for Railways Guiling A. Mamondiong, to conduct consultation meetings with the private sectors and the local government units (LGUs) on the public-private partnership in the development and implementation of railway projects and in the operation of railway systems.

The consultation meetings opened on Tuesday in Cebu; Iloilo on August 2; Cagayan de Oro on August 7; Davao on August 9; San Fernando, Pampanga, on August 16; Dagupan on August 17; San Fernando, La Union, on August 21; Cabanatuan City on August 28; Batangas City on September 6; Naga City and Legazpi City on September 18; and Metro Manila on September 25.

In these consultation meetings, the DOTC looks forward to the private sector and the LGUs starting to consider building, as well as own and operate, railway system with appropriate incentives that the government could ably provide.

They can also buy and or operate the government’s existing railway systems under such terms and conditions mutually acceptable to them and the national government.

Another attractive option is for the private sector and the LGUs providing for the rolling stocks for new railway projects in the metropolitan areas, while the government could take care of the civil works, also under such terms and conditions mutually beneficial to all the parties, Mamondiong said.

Expected to attend these meetings are local officials, business leaders and the members of the Regional Development Councils.

North Luzon Railways Corp. (Northrail) president Jose Cortes Jr. on Tuesday assured the public that the construction of the North line is right on schedule and will be completed in February 2010.

Cortes issued the statement even as he assured President Arroyo about the project’s completion during a visit at the construction site of the Northrail at the old PNR station in Malolos, Bulacan, recently.

According to Cortes, although there have been some minor problems such as the need to make some modification in the original design to widen the double-track 32-kilometer railways from Caloocan City to Malolos for a section of the Northrail project.

The construction from Caloocan to Malolos, which started last February 2007 will be completed in three years.

Cortes said the four-month pre-construction stage was completed last June and the 28-month construction phase started immediately the following month.

He also said that a four-month testing and commissioning phase will be conducted to make sure that the railway will be completed before President Arroyo’s term ends in 2010.

Cortes showed the president during her visit the foundation for the elevated viaduct at the Malolos crossing.

The project alignment design survey, site investigation and soil exploration, including the preliminary design of the entire project alignment and design of the six modern train stations being prepared by the China National Machinery and Equipment Group (CNMEG), the contractor of the $452.32-million Northrail project’s Section 1, are also completed, Cortes said.

The Section 2 of the project, which costs $673.67 million and which was made possible by a loan agreement between the Philippine government and the China Export Import Bank (Eximbank) will be completed by 2011.

TempleDoorkeeper

August 1st, 2007, 03:55 PM

Hey guys! I am glad I found this thread. I also have some interest in railways, and history. Yes, I agree that we should have a museum dedicated to our transport history.

richard24

August 1st, 2007, 04:35 PM

i already asked some of my classmates who use the PNR(southrail) everyday to go to school., (sta mesa-alabang)., they said that the whole system would be turned off while on rehab. the staff of PNR were already warning them even last year., The PNR staff also said that as soon as the demolitions along the entire line is done, the system would be shut down, to pave way for the rehab.

the staff also told them that the new train stations would look modern (daw) as in parang yung sa LRT daw., ang sabi rin sakanila nung kunduktor, bullet train daw ilalagay na bagong trains (although, i wouldnt expect that they would know how to classify a bullet train) well, i'm no train expert myself., :lol: but that's how the staff there described the future trains., bullet train (daw)..., :) hehehe., i'm not sure kung posible ba maglagay ng bullet train diyan., :lol: siguro kaya sabi nilang bullet kasi mas mabilis kaysa sa present na takbo ng trains (considering how slow trains now run., :lol: )

TempleDoorkeeper

August 1st, 2007, 04:53 PM

Ok, here's a thought. Since the railway system will earn in Peso, but borrowed at Dollar rates, what would be the breakeven rate that the North and South Rail will charge per kilometer of travel?

I am asking this with the idea of the Skyway along SLEX. We borrowed in $$$ for that one, and when the 1997 Asian Currency Crisis hit, we found ourselves with double figures on our debt meters. (Maybe it is indeed better now that the Peso is 45 to a $.)

TempleDoorkeeper

August 1st, 2007, 05:17 PM

Note! This is only my self analysis. PLEASE! correct me if I am wrong. Any suggestion and correction will be highly appreciated...Thank You!!!

Hey WOS, do you have the .kml file for these in Google Earth? Thanks!

RonnieR

August 1st, 2007, 05:34 PM

I was driving this afternoon along the south super highway and noticed that the squatters are gone!!!! I live in Ortigas area so I don't pass this place. This government must be commended...they have the political will to finish this project...at first I was a bit pessimistic but it has changed....

bitoy

August 1st, 2007, 10:16 PM

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 10:33 PM

i already asked some of my classmates who use the PNR(southrail) everyday to go to school., (sta mesa-alabang)., they said that the whole system would be turned off while on rehab. the staff of PNR were already warning them even last year., The PNR staff also said that as soon as the demolitions along the entire line is done, the system would be shut down, to pave way for the rehab.

the staff also told them that the new train stations would look modern (daw) as in parang yung sa LRT daw., ang sabi rin sakanila nung kunduktor, bullet train daw ilalagay na bagong trains (although, i wouldnt expect that they would know how to classify a bullet train) well, i'm no train expert myself., : )

Hi Richard/all,
I suspected they may close it down. While it would be possible to do one side at a time it would be far quicker to close it all, rip it up and just start again.
Perhaps they could just rebuild the original Philippine bullet train. :)
I am told that inspection car IC-888 was originally this bullet train but the cab was rebuilt due to safety concerns. Shame.

http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/Peafrancia_Calamba.jpg

Cheers
Brad

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 10:47 PM

Hey WOS, do you have the .kml file for these in Google Earth? Thanks!

You may wanna check out this blog site.
I believe these are the file types he was planning to include at some time. Not sure if he did or not.
Either way there are a lot of good maps and photos, most recently of the Los Banos-Pagsanjan Branch.

http://lagunarailways.blogspot.com

Cheers
Brad

alcogoodwin

August 1st, 2007, 10:56 PM

Ok, here's a thought. Since the railway system will earn in Peso, but borrowed at Dollar rates, what would be the breakeven rate that the North and South Rail will charge per kilometer of travel?

Sadly not my field, I suspect Wheel On Steel may be able to answer this one with his inside knowledge. He may even be involved in the rail industry there.

Breakeven rate for any heavy railway system is high and normally is dependant on freight more so than passengers to achieve it.

As for figures, I have no idea sadly.

Best wishes
Brad

bitoy

August 1st, 2007, 10:58 PM

Joy ride (in a dilapidated train) by: landscapist (http://www.flickr.com/photos/landscapist/sets/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/418575472_d4525f6757_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/landscapist/sets/72157594583317935/)

Click on the photo to see the rest of his photoblog.

harley

August 2nd, 2007, 03:31 AM

kalbongdad

August 2nd, 2007, 03:47 AM

yup i agree...this gov't has got...balls....imagine to be able to demolish all those squatters that have been living there for years....anyway....definitely it will not be bullet trains...that will be placed there....it will be faster though than hopefully than the present ones....bullet trains are expensive and that's why only first world countries usually can afford them....sana magkaron din tau non..... levity aside i happen to ride one...the shinkansen...from tokyo to osaka...it was a breeze...it's fast but you don't feel the noise or any inconvenience due to locomotion...hopefully...when the country has lots of funds....we can have one... it will be maglev by then....

Lucentino

August 2nd, 2007, 07:46 AM

There has been much talk about the DMUs to be used on the linkage project.
Has any mention been made of the ones on Northrail or the locomotives to be used in freight service? One could reasonably assume the locomotives will be standard Chinese type designs, but someone may have heard otherwise.
Talk in March (subject to change) was that a few were to be imported for the building of Northrail after PNR turned them down when asked about hiring.

I wonder if DMUs are also the plan for Legazpi runs when this is all restored?

Brad

In my opinion DMUs should only be used on the linkage project (since this segment will mostly cater to commuters). But for the long haul trips (of passengers and cargo) such as Tutuban-Lucena or Tutuban-Clark, locomotives and rail cars are much more feasible (and economical) to use...

Also, since Clark airport is now an international airport, I hope it is planned in the future (after the North rail, N-S Link, and South rail are fully operational), a person leaving from Legaspi, Albay for Singapore could travel directly to Clark without changing trains... :)

alcogoodwin

August 2nd, 2007, 08:45 AM

1)In my opinion DMUs should only be used on the linkage project (since this segment will mostly cater to commuters). But for the long haul trips (of passengers and cargo) such as Tutuban-Lucena or Tutuban-Clark, locomotives and rail cars are much more feasible (and economical) to use...

2) Also, since Clark airport is now an international airport, I hope it is planned in the future (after the North rail, N-S Link, and South rail are fully operational), a person leaving from Legaspi, Albay for Singapore could travel directly to Clark without changing trains... :)

1) Absolutely. To appeal to the tourism market long distance trains, especially to Legazpi and San Fernando would be best served by A/C loco hauled trains with dining car and perhaps new sleeping cars.
Perhaps with a little imagination a motorrail service between San Fernando-Manila-Naga-Legazpi for those who wish to take their car but don't wanna face the road to do it.

2) Through running between Southrail and Northrail would obviously be ideal, even if just a few runs a day.
Hopefully some sort of negotiations can be opened between the two operators to make this work.This would best work with some sort of joint stock with the relevant operator providing the hook and pull duties over their trackage.

I suppose we can hope.

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 2nd, 2007, 08:50 AM

@alcogoodwin
maybe instead of contacting DOTC, you may opt to contact the media.
you know how media is very influential here in the Philippines.

I suggest you contact Sir Howie Severino of GMA7.
This is his blog http://gmapinoytv.igma.tv/sidetrip/blog/
Maybe he can just feature in his documentaries all about the Philippine Railway System. that would be fun right? :)

Thanks for the suggestion mate I shall contact him. May be a good opportunity to mention the museum project as well.
I would ask all members to start approaching the media outlets as well. We can only be successful in being heard if there is enough of us to make a loud noise.

Brad

ryanr

August 2nd, 2007, 09:04 AM

Rotem (Korea) Trains:
As mentioned in the article, they will use brand new Diesel Multiple Unit:

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8426/zrotem1ub2.jpg

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6686/zrotem2ue5.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5468/zrotem3gu6.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8380/zrotem4ma6.jpg

sweet!:) But i thought Northrail will be getting Chinese (second hand?) DMUs? But anyways, brand new ROTEM units are better.:okay: Can they be upgraded to EMUs in the future?

Lucentino

August 2nd, 2007, 09:49 AM

sweet!:) But i thought Northrail will be getting Chinese (second hand?) DMUs? But anyways, brand new ROTEM units are better.:okay: Can they be upgraded to EMUs in the future?

For Northrail they might use those hand-me-downs from China...

Those brand new Rotem DMU's might be used for the North-South linkage section (means mostly Metro Manila segment), since Rotem is part of the consortium rehabilitating this portion. This is based on the report I posted earlier (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=14560530&postcount=779).

I just dont know if the ones in the pictures will be the exact trains in case Rotem supplies them --- and I dont know if they can be converted to become EMU's... DEMU's perhaps?

--- I suppose we can hope.

Brad

...Keeping my fingers crossed... :yes:

alcogoodwin

August 2nd, 2007, 10:02 AM

sweet!:) But i thought Northrail will be getting Chinese (second hand?) DMUs? But anyways, brand new ROTEM units are better.:okay: Can they be upgraded to EMUs in the future?

We were proposing the conversion of electric locos to diesel down here at one stage.
Was deemed not financially viable and I suspect it would be the same the other way around.

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 2nd, 2007, 01:06 PM

Hey guys! I am glad I found this thread. I also have some interest in railways, and history. Yes, I agree that we should have a museum dedicated to our transport history.

This coming a week a friend from Australia (currently lucky enogh to be in the Philippines) will be investigating the setting up of such an organisation.
Hopefully this will the first step on the way to preserving whats left of Philippine railway heritage. Hopefully I shall have more updates on how this goes shortly.

Brad

harley

August 3rd, 2007, 03:41 AM

Lucentino

August 3rd, 2007, 08:32 AM

Central Azucarera De La Carlota SteamLocomotive No.106

http://homepage2.nifty.com./honsyuutetudou/mPb032846.jpg

Lucentino

August 3rd, 2007, 08:34 AM

PNR Locomotives:

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/sPa160054.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/sPc270100.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/sPa160063.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/sPa160067.jpg

ICTSI Loco:

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/sPa160071.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/sP3280050.jpg

kaelthas18

August 4th, 2007, 03:26 PM

WONDERFUL!!!!

kaelthas18

August 4th, 2007, 03:27 PM

WHAT COLOR DO U WANT TO HAVE IN PNR LOCOMOTIVES?

TempleDoorkeeper

August 4th, 2007, 04:07 PM

You may wanna check out this blog site.
I believe these are the file types he was planning to include at some time. Not sure if he did or not.
Either way there are a lot of good maps and photos, most recently of the Los Banos-Pagsanjan Branch.

http://lagunarailways.blogspot.com

Cheers
Brad

Hey Brad,

I tried taking a look at it, but it seems the .kml file source is corrupted. Hassle!

Anyway, I am doing my own routing right now.

Cheers!

dancethingy

August 4th, 2007, 04:44 PM

I think that once northrail and southrail are up and running there will be immense relief in traffic throughout manila. Rail lines are the anwer to our country's traffic no matter what anybody says.

dancethingy

August 4th, 2007, 04:46 PM

^^^^ NAVY BLUE!!!

le Reine

August 4th, 2007, 05:06 PM

le Reine

August 4th, 2007, 05:07 PM

^^same here!

j.r.

August 4th, 2007, 05:08 PM

hmmm yeah blue or red...

hiiamdib

August 4th, 2007, 08:03 PM

pink para matuwa si Bayani Fernando :nuts: jowkies

alcogoodwin

August 5th, 2007, 05:00 AM

hmmm yeah blue or red...

The red with yellow lining was certainly more bright and attractive than the current blue with red lining. However the current blue hides the dirt better I suppose.

Some of the earlier diesel paint schemes weren't too bad either, though I think a new PNR should have a whole new design instead of the same whiskers design used from the start.
A modern livery based on the colours of the Philippine flag (incorporating the sun) would give some great possibilities.
This is what I would love to see. Promote some pride.

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 5th, 2007, 05:04 AM

PNR Locomotives:

ICTSI Loco:

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/sP3280050.jpg

Nowdays its the 'Coote Industrial' locomotive since her migration. :)

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 5th, 2007, 05:08 AM

Other liveries of the Philippines.Quite like the orange livery at the bottom, but there is to much white to be viable.

http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/2000_2.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/Panay_114_Brad_Peadon.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/PNRRC.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/CMC-201.jpg

alcogoodwin

August 5th, 2007, 05:14 AM

^^true. I think Congress also needs to review the BOT law ASAP so that the national government doesn't need to shell out all it's resources everytime that there's a need for infrastructure projects. The MRT 3 and NAIA T3 is really a sham. And is it just me, both projects have the number in its name. 3 is a jinx. Wahahha...

If common sense prevails and they rebuild the Cavite and Antipolo lines I hope they done refer to either of them as PNR3 then :lol:

While Northrail and Southrail will certainly do their bit, imagine the traffic improvements if these lines were rebuilt through these heavily trafficed areas.

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 5th, 2007, 05:20 AM

hey brad that's really good to know.

im just a bit disappointed and sad for us Pinoys because instead of we doing that kind of stuff, it is you, foreigners, pioneering on this.

thanks a bunch! im optimistic that this project will be a success! you have my support.

Harley,
You will be happy to know we already have a couple of Pinoys involved in our wanting to get this going and hope to get more in the future.
We are wanting to do it for the Philippines and are trying to avoid the idea that 'it was all done by foreigners'.
Anyway my wife often tells me I am more Filipino than her nowdays :)

Brad

flymordecai

August 5th, 2007, 06:42 AM

I like the one with White, Blue, and Red.

le Reine

August 5th, 2007, 07:08 AM

richard24

August 5th, 2007, 02:02 PM

baka orange? since sa color coding ng rail line sa metro., orange ang code ng PNR. (if i'm not mistaken., :) )

dancethingy

August 5th, 2007, 11:40 PM

orange is the worst color. I mean its a good color but not as good as the other colors. It's only good for halloween and it hardly rhymes with anything.

alcogoodwin

August 6th, 2007, 12:00 AM

orange is the worst color. I mean its good a good color but not as good as the other colors. It's only good for halloween and it hardly rhymes with anything.

:lol: :lol:

There may be an opportunity for any designers over there to approach the PNR with a new red/blue/white livery based on the Philippine flag. There would be some stunning possibilties, I can already think of some.
Who knows, the govenrment may even throw you some money for the idea.

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 6th, 2007, 12:11 AM

^^that was funny... ahahaha... :lol: PNR3! Let's wait and see.

Yeah, Northrail and Southrail would really bring a lot of improvements to those communities it would serve. And I'm glad that everything is back on track. I can't wait to ride those trains. I'm so excited!

Just reading (Legazpi City thread) about a proposal by the local government in Legazpi to replace the railway line into the city with a, GASP, road.
They wish to ease traffic congestion elsewhere by transfering it somewhere else and destroying plans to introduce a commuter service between Legazpi City station and Naga. :ohno:
In this day and age, with road vehicle costs expected to grow very fast over the next few years, it is horrifying to think how damaging this idea will turn out to be on the region in the future.
One hopes the Arroyo government will stop this.

Brad

kaelthas18

August 6th, 2007, 06:29 AM

http://file.uploadr.com/fa91-embed

alcogoodwin

August 6th, 2007, 07:53 AM

http://file.uploadr.com/fa91-embed

That was a great looking inspection train, its a shame they had to rebuild the cab
:(
Where did the photo come from?

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 6th, 2007, 09:36 AM

GMA News via Philippine Railways Yahoogroup forum.

------------------------------------------------------

Transportation and Communication Undersecretary Jose Cortes Jr, who heads the Northrail Corp., succumbed to a heart attack over the weekend.

Mayor Jerry Pelayo of Candaba town in Pampanga, said Cortes had a heart attack over the weekend following a stomach operation. Pelayo is a close ally of cabalen (provincemate from Pampanga) President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

"He got sick last year. He had a stomach operation. Doctors tried to revive his heart seven times," Pelayo, who paid his respects to Cortes in Makati City Sunday night, said in Filipino during an interview on dzBB radio Monday.

He said Cortes' remains now lie in state at Forbes Park in Makati City. He said Cortes will be cremated on Friday.

Only last month, Cortes briefed President Arroyo on plans to resume full-blast construction of an 80.2-kilometer railway between Manila and Bulacan in January 2008.

Cortes said the 80.2-kilometer railway line will extend from the old Tutuban Philippine National Railways (PNR) station in Manila to Malolos in Bulacan.

He said all the remaining squatters residing along the old train line to be revived shall be "taken out already by December," and that the budget for the project is now available.

The $1.126 billion Northrail project's first section spans Caloocan City, Valenzuela City and five towns of Bulacan, including Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos.

Cortes said the timetable is "still the same," involving construction from February 2007 to February 2010 for Section 1. Section 2 is scheduled for completion a year after.

Cortes also said Northrail created a task force to "expedite acquisition ... to be completed by 31 October 2007."

ryanr

August 6th, 2007, 05:00 PM

For Northrail they might use those hand-me-downs from China...

Those brand new Rotem DMU's might be used for the North-South linkage section (means mostly Metro Manila segment), since Rotem is part of the consortium rehabilitating this portion. This is based on the report I posted earlier (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=14560530&postcount=779).

I just dont know if the ones in the pictures will be the exact trains in case Rotem supplies them --- and I dont know if they can be converted to become EMU's... DEMU's perhaps?

...Keeping my fingers crossed... :yes:

Thanks for answering my questions. Yeah i hope they still have plans to convert the DMUs into electric in the future. For foresight's sake.

Great photos. thanks for posting them. are the ICTSI trains still operational? rail cargo is a great alternative to trucks consuming space on our roads.

alcogoodwin

August 7th, 2007, 03:49 AM

Thanks for answering my questions. Yeah i hope they still have plans to convert the DMUs into electric in the future. For foresight's sake.

Great photos. thanks for posting them. are the ICTSI trains still operational? rail cargo is a great alternative to trucks consuming space on our roads.

Both these things were answered in my posts above.
However as a summary.

1) I would suggest it unlikely they will rebuild them to electrics unless for some reason it is done very early in their lives and the money is there to waste.
I'm not sure why the desire for electric trains, given electricity production itself it environmentally unfriendly then looking at more eco-friendly options may be the way to go. Been some great developments in this regard around the world.

2) The ICTSI trains have not operated since around 2000 and have just been stored at Laguna. As per my posting, a couple above, it has now migrated.
The locomotive and it's flats are all now to be found in Western Australia and are owned by Coote Industrial.

Cheers
Brad

kalbongdad

August 7th, 2007, 03:59 AM

whatever train units...they will use as long as its better than the old ones....

alcogoodwin

August 7th, 2007, 04:25 AM

whatever train units...they will use as long as its better than the old ones....

I suppose it all depends on how they are treated and maintained.
There is still a untouched ex-Japanese carriage in storage around Manila and this was inspected in March. It is still in quite good condition and it shows how much the other carriages have been allowed to deteriorate.

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 7th, 2007, 05:19 AM

3cr

August 7th, 2007, 07:55 AM

Relocation of ‘home along the riles’ to start this month
By Jonathan M. Hicap Reporter
Manila Times
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/aug/07/yehey/metro/20070807met2.html

President Arroyo announced on Monday that the government would start relocating families living on railroad tracks in Muntinlupa this month as part of the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project.

The President and Vice-President Noli de Castro, the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, visited Muntinlupa on Monday.

Mayor Aldrin San Pedro quoted the President as saying the families will be transferred to the 55-hectare low-cost housing project inside the New Bilibid Prisons.

While the transfer is a national government project, San Pedro assured the families that he will provide trucks to help them transfer their belongings to their new home.

De Castro earlier urged contractors to speed up the building of the NBP housing project after noting the slow pace of work.

The contractors hired for the housing project are HG3 Construction, R2 Builders, Lenvoisa Construction and Linear Construction Inc.

Rep. Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa City earlier said that the families should not be transferred unless the relocation site is 100-percent ready.

The linkage project, an activity of the Philippines and South Korea, aims to modernize the railway system from Caloocan City to Calamba, Laguna.

Phase 1 of the project involves the 32-km stretch from Caloocan to Alabang, Muntinlupa.

The project will upgrade the PNR facilities, including railroad tracks, stations and flag stops, and repair of bridges in Pandacan and Alabang. The cost of Phase 1 is pegged at $50.42 million.

Phase 2, from the stretch from Alabang to Calamba, Laguna, will double railroad tracks. Existing stations will be rehabilitated and new stations constructed.

portludlow

August 7th, 2007, 08:11 AM

Patalastas muna.....share ko lang mga pics sa mga mahilig sa mga riles.

London
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o30/chelseanayan/DSC_0021.jpg

Basel, Switzerland
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o30/chelseanayan/DSC_0009.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o30/chelseanayan/DSC_0044.jpg

Seattle....parang kamukha ng mga tren natin.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o30/chelseanayan/DSC_0056.jpg

ryanr

August 7th, 2007, 09:02 AM

Both these things were answered in my posts above.
However as a summary.

1) I would suggest it unlikely they will rebuild them to electrics unless for some reason it is done very early in their lives and the money is there to waste.
I'm not sure why the desire for electric trains, given electricity production itself it environmentally unfriendly then looking at more eco-friendly options may be the way to go. Been some great developments in this regard around the world.

2) The ICTSI trains have not operated since around 2000 and have just been stored at Laguna. As per my posting, a couple above, it has now migrated.
The locomotive and it's flats are all now to be found in Western Australia and are owned by Coote Industrial.

Cheers
Brad

well i dont know much about trains but i always got the impression that electric powered ones are better. Most of the high tech ones all over the world are electric - Shinkansen, TGV, Hong Kong's Airport Express, etc...

alcogoodwin

August 7th, 2007, 09:14 AM

well i dont know much about trains but i always got the impression that electric powered ones are better. ...

In which way?
Electric power does seem to be superior in fast acceleration and perhaps ultra high speeds.
Still it is not what is trying to be achieved in the Philippines as such.
This is not to say that the Philippines should not have electirc operations. As the cost of fuel skyrockets, obviously electricity becomes far more of an option.
Yet pollution is regularly a prime concern of people in the Philippines (just go back to the upset expressed when I suggested our planned museum there may operate a steam locomotive) and as electricity production is supposed to be one of the worst pollutants around, then one would asume a eco-fuel powered train may be more the way to go.
Of course the conversion of normal diesel trains to this sort of technology appears already to be happening, we are trying eco-diesel fuels here in locos.

In Europe somewhere they are powering trains from cattle poop. They farm it and make a fuel out of it. Amazing stuff.

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 7th, 2007, 09:18 AM

Seattle....parang kamukha ng mga tren natin.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o30/chelseanayan/DSC_0056.jpg

Imagine these beasties in PNR colours hauling a freighter out of Manila :-)

Hope they strengthen the Pandacan bridge first :)

Great stuff.

bustero

August 7th, 2007, 10:00 AM

Nice pix

OMG Cortes has died , an ally of the rail industry has passed too bad

hehe for some reason people think that All electric trains are superior to diesel powered trains, the evaluation for use is actually a bit more sophisticated

anyway I'm curious how the chinese DMU's will actually use, I remember posting some candidates once about a few years back but don't really know where they are anymore, in anycase be interesting to see what these things actually look like,

I hope the southrail rotem ones look like the ones above!

thomasian

August 7th, 2007, 01:13 PM

Wow, naririnig ko yung horn ng tren ngayon even if were already quite far from
the tracks, which reminded me to post these pictures...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/thomasian/100_7619x.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/thomasian/100_7620x.jpg

Even the "Stop, Look, and Listen" sign got so commercialized with ads...

Ginutom ako bigla, nakita ko sa reflection yung Colette's Buko Pie. :D
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/thomasian/100_7621x.jpg

richard24

August 7th, 2007, 01:47 PM

kaelthas18

August 7th, 2007, 03:35 PM

That was a great looking inspection train, its a shame they had to rebuild the cab
:(
Where did the photo come from?

Brad

---- from the book PNR the first 100 years...

kaelthas18

August 7th, 2007, 03:35 PM

hindi naman yung mga taga riles ang mga nagpoprotesta eh., :lol: i can see bayan muna., hahahahaha..,. hahahaha...,

nice pics aaron., :)

hindi pa nagstart demolitions diyan., parang mas mahirap mag demolish diyan eh.,

i agree... mga militante nnman, wla ng ginawa kung hindi mgprotesta, dpt itapon cla sa Spratlys eh.... o kaya isabak sa Basilan, tutal ayaw nila ng peace and order, then dlhin sila sa Patikol o sa Tipo tipo, at mkipaglaban sila,.... reklamo ng reklamo, pero un mga rebelde hindi nla rinereklamo, kunchaba pa ampota..hay...http://file.uploadr.com/fae8-embed

chito

August 8th, 2007, 04:28 AM

Sampaloc rail dwellers eye EO to stop demolition

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Some 1,000 families whose houses along Antipolo street in Sampaloc, Manila are set to be demolished to give way to the government’s railway project are pinning their hopes on Executive Order 48 to stop the demolition.

EO 48, signed by President Arroyo on Oct. 26, 2000 declares non-core properties of the Philippine National Railways as socialized housing sites and provides for their disposition to bonafide residents. It also sets a three-and-a-half-meter clearance for all structures on both sides of the outer rail tracks.

The families said their semi-concrete houses are built at least five meters away from the outer rail tracks. Their houses are set to be demolished to give way to the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project (NSLP).

In a recent meeting with rail dwellers, Vice President Noli de Castro said Korea Eximbank, which funds the project, wants all structures within 15 meters from either side of the rail tracks to be demolished. He earlier promised to implement EO 48.

Jessie Engson, who leads the rail dwellers, said they are questioning De Castro’s change of heart due to unconfirmed reports that Korean business establishments would occupy the cleared areas on both sides of the railway tracks. – Nestor Etolle

just a couple of questions, why do the noth and south linkage project need the 15 meter clearance on either side of the rails? Is for the perimeter fence or for further business structures?

dancethingy

August 8th, 2007, 06:10 AM

^^^^ I think 15 is a standard and for safety reasons as well.

kalbongdad

August 8th, 2007, 06:50 AM

its for safety...they will be putting up perimeter fences....at long last...makikita mo ang tren na dumadaan...at walang nagtatapon ng kung ano-ano....

dancethingy

August 8th, 2007, 07:51 AM

Grrrrrr, Its amazing how a group of people can put on hold an entire nation's progress

chito

August 8th, 2007, 08:56 AM

its for safety...they will be putting up perimeter fences....at long last...makikita mo ang tren na dumadaan...at walang nagtatapon ng kung ano-ano....

and do you know why people throw things at the trains?....

.
.
.

they say that the sound of the passing trains are too loud! Talk about people building shanties near the tracks (where they do not belong) and actually complaining why the hell tracks are there?

el_dasik_oo1

August 8th, 2007, 09:50 AM

Jeez.. What the hell is the problem of Bayan Muna?! Masyadong pakialamero.

:dj:

Bosnyboy

August 8th, 2007, 02:52 PM

Its their job i think. All leftist groups must reject progress, make the govt and the economy unstable. This is one way of getting funds from their foreign supporters. Trabaho nila yan. May mga tao ang trabaho ay ang regular na trabaho para kumita ng pera ang sa kanila namay manggulo para kumita din ng pera.
Havent you noticed they never protest if any soldiers gets maimed or killed by the NPA's. They dont protest about other issues like air pollution, crimes and other socially relevant issues. I dont hear them raised a howl when our marines got decapitated in basilan and yet theyre raising hell when jonas burgos dissappeared and claiming human rights abuse. The marines also has human rights diba? Dapat palitan na lang name nila into makasarili muna instead of bayan muna.

adman

August 8th, 2007, 06:19 PM

Taken last week in Malolos. Not much happening at the moment, apart from erecting fences. What's happening to the Club Royale Resort in Malolos? It's quite near to where the railway will be situated and could possibly be cut off from the highway.

mKf1HHQRxhs

tisoycuba

August 9th, 2007, 12:37 AM

dapat sa mga bayan na muna sila,ay eh kulang sa camp x-ray.yan ang mga tunay na terrorist..kawawa tayung mga pinoy sa mga yan ....

kaelthas18

August 9th, 2007, 02:43 AM

ganyan tlga mga bayan muna, mhilig cla sa gnyan , i wonder if there's any bill in the lower house that they passed already, san npupunta pork barrel nla??... hmmmm .. maybe sa pagrerecruit ng mga tambay na masa.. hay, it so sad. sana i=abolish na ang Party list... wla nmn ako nkita nagawa nla e, ung pera na sana mapunta sa knila ibigay nlng sa mga poor in the province..=s

kaelthas18

August 9th, 2007, 02:46 AM

kalbongdad

August 9th, 2007, 06:41 AM

TAGAAAAAAALLLLLL......

anonymous_filipino

August 9th, 2007, 08:44 AM

any renders of the stations?

alcogoodwin

August 9th, 2007, 10:36 AM

---- from the book PNR the first 100 years...

Thanks mate.
This is a publication I still have to try an obtain.
Am currently reading the 'Iron Horse' book about Philippine Railways. Very much recommended.

Brad

alcogoodwin

August 9th, 2007, 10:45 AM

^^^^ I think 15 is a standard and for safety reasons as well.

Safety.
You will see trains moving at speeds far in excess of what is normal so you don't want people walking around tracks like in the past.
The PhilippineRailways forum has stated that fences on Northrail will be 10 metres high to stop people throwing things. Can anyone confirm?

Now what bothers me is what the fence will be made of?
Cyclone fencing, while not attractive to the passenger will at least allow some of the view to be seen. Cyclone fencing however will not likely last long and will be an ongoing cost.

Alternatives (sheet steel, concrete) would be hidious looking but could not be destroyed to easily. Won't do much to bring in the tourist Peso.

Anyone heard talk surrounding what fencing is to be used?

Thanks
Brad

wheel of steel

August 9th, 2007, 12:34 PM

^^ NICE VIDEO!!!!.... Thanks a lot...:banana:

allan_dude

August 9th, 2007, 09:19 PM

Requiem for the grand Damortis station (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=81204)
By Yolanda Sotelo-Fuertes
Inquirer

ROSARIO, La Union – This used to be full of people, 24 hours a day,” Baltazar Valdez, 72, recalls as he looks around the ruins of the Philippine National Railways station in Barangay Damortis in Rosario, La Union.

In his mind, Valdez tries to reconstruct the “grand station” of his childhood.

“This used to be the freight room, next was the office and [there] was the waiting room for first class passengers. That area was for other passengers while this area was for buses and car service,” he says.

“There used to be four railroad tracks. Trains came and went, and there was not a single hour that the station was empty of people arriving or leaving.”

As one walks around the ruins that offer a view of the Lingayen Gulf, with Valdez describing the old railway station in all its grandeur, the grand Damortis station of old returns to life.

The building stands proud with its tall roof and glass windows fortressed by thick steel bars. Trains chug along the tracks and the familiar whistle pierces the air as coaches arrive or depart. Passengers lug their suitcases or bayong (native bags) while vendors offer water, boiled bananas, corn and rice cakes to weary travelers.

“It was a playground for me,” Valdez says. “But it was also a place of work for me and plenty of residents.”

The Damortis railroad station, established in 1935, could be wider than the PNR’s Tutuban station, Valdez says.
His parents told him that in 1940, when he was 5 years old, the Manila Railways Co. (MRC) bought about 10 hectares of land around the station, “including my parents’ land.”

Additional land was needed as the Manila-Dagupan Railway, which started servicing passengers in 1892, was extended to cover San Fernando.

When the station expanded, the Valdez family moved to another property in the village, but returned in 1966 as they reclaimed ownership of the land through a court ruling.

It turned out that the PNR (the MRC was renamed PNR in 1964) merely paid his father the expenses to transfer the house to another property, but not the cost of the 3,000-square meter lot itself, Valdez says.

War memories

World War II evokes more memories for Valdez about the station.

The Japanese Imperial Army turned the station into its headquarters and used the trains to transport its war materiel, belongings and food.

“We would sneak inside the station, snatching some rice and other food stuff. did not hurt us,” Valdez says.

In August 1945, Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed at the Lingayen Gulf with his warships to liberate Northern Luzon from the Japanese.

“From the towering trees in the station, we watched the massive dog fight between war planes of the Americans and the Japanese … the Japanese planes fell one [after the other] into the gulf,” Valdez says.

“The Damortis station was a casualty of war. The tracks and the structures were damaged when the Americans bombed the area, but it was still usable,” Valdez says.

After the Japanese left for the mountains of Benguet, it was the Americans’ turn to take control of the station, using the building as their headquarters and the fields near it as an airstrip.
[B]
Rebuilding PNR

When the war ended, the PNR rebuilt the tracks and the railroad system resumed business.

Valdez and his friends sold bocayo (coconut candy), balut (boiled duck eggs) and newspapers at the station.

“I was also a shoeshine boy, servicing passengers waiting for their train. We also worked as ‘baggage boys’ and carried bags for a fee … we earned much more than the minimum wage earners at that time,” he says.

As porters, the youngsters would board the trains to Dagupan City in Pangasinan or to San Fernando in La Union. They would usually service the “first class passengers” in the air-conditioned coaches.

American tourists would alight at Damortis and be ferried to Baguio City by chauffeur-driven cars waiting for them at the station.

“In those times, most highways were unpaved and dusty. The trains were the most convenient and fastest mode of transportation,” he says.

He says the Damortis station had the first air-conditioned waiting area, long before buildings were installed with such convenience.

Heyday

Valdez left his hometown in 1958 to work in Manila. He returned in 1963 when the railroad system was at its heyday but with buses slowly taking passengers away from the trains.

Valdez’s niece-in-law, Emilia, 53, arrived in this town in 1978 from Bicol. In the late 1980s, the railroad operations grounded to a halt, she says.

Then silence fell over the once busy station.

Settlers started arriving, filling up the empty areas around the station. Some of them got permission from PNR officials to stay there, says Valdez, a former village chief of Damortis.

But things fell apart in the early 2000 when the PNR decided to sell whatever can be removed from the station’s structures—roof, steel bars, wood.

Even the tracks and wooden sleepers (where tracks lay) were not spared.

“All for a measly P45,000,” Valdez says.

He offered P500,000 to the PNR but this was rejected. “Something was amiss,” he says.

Demolition

Rosario Mayor Bellarmin Flores led officials and residents in filing a petition in court to stop the sale and demolition of the structures.

“We considered it a historical landmark in the province. But we were told that it was not listed as such by the [country’s] historical commission,” Flores says.