PNR to reopen San Pablo-Lucena route by May

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is eyeing to reopen its San Pablo, Laguna to Lucena, Quezon route by May, almost eight years after it ceased operations.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has conducted an inspection of the PNR San Pablo-Lucena route.

He said the reopening of the route will not only link the PNR to the Bicol network but will also “unlock economic potentials and enhance mobility in Southern Luzon.”

Aside from its use as a passenger commuter service, the PNR Lucena-San Pablo route can also be converted into a commercial or cargo freight service, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Tuesday quoting Tugade.

Asked when the route will be reopened, PNR assistant general manager and spokesperson Ces Lauta said, “Not later than May 2022.”

Non-operational for almost a decade, the PNR San Pablo-Lucena route is a 44-kilometer inter-provincial commuter railway which was part of the commuter train service to Bicol with stations and flag stops for daily commuters or short travels.

The said route ceased commuter operations in October 2013 after the collapse of an abutment.

Once operations resume, the commuter line will have two terminal stations and four flag stops in between, with travel time of one hour and 32 minutes from Lucena to San Pablo, according to the DOTr.—AOL, GMA News