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The Philippine National Railways eyes integration of cargo trains into the North-South Commuter Railway
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PNR chairman Michael Ted Macapagal said the proposal has received positive feedback from the departments of Transportation, Agriculture, and Science and Technology
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Cargo trains can be integrated into the NSCR, which is projected to establish rail trips from Clark, Pampanga, passing through Metro Manila, then to Calamba, Laguna
The Philippine National Railways (PNR) eyes the integration of cargo trains into the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).
Cargo trains would help boost the economy, PNR chairman Michael Ted Macapagal said in a statement during the PNR’s 132nd anniversary celebration at the Tutuban executive office on November 22.
Macapagal said the proposal has received positive feedback from the departments of Transportation, Agriculture, and Science and Technology.
He said the integration of cargo trains into the NSCR “is a crucial step toward creating a comprehensive logistics network that will boost economic efficiency, improve the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk, and significantly lower food prices.”
The 147-kilometer NSCR Project will offer rail trips from Clark, Pampanga, passing through Metro Manila, then to Calamba, Laguna. It will open partially in the third quarter of 2026, while full operation will start in 2029, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista had said.
The integration of cargo rail services will streamline logistics operations, cut transportation costs, and provide a needed boost to the agricultural and industrial sectors, said Macapagal.
Farmers and fisherfolk will benefit the most from the plan, as it provides them direct access to urban markets, thereby allowing a potential 400% hike in income and slash product prices by as much as 40%.
Macapagal said the cargo train also assures “faster and more economical transport of goods, ensuring competitiveness in local and international markets.”
The PNR head said the integration of cargo operations into the NSCR “addresses a pressing global issue: the lack of efficient and economical mass transportation for both people and goods.”
By re-engineering and repurposing railway infrastructure, the Philippines “is taking a leadership role in logistics innovation,” he said.
