Good news for people who live in the Bicol province – the Philippine National Railways (PNR) is planning to resume its Manila-Naga operations after a 4 year hiatus in a bid to help traffic de-congestion during the hectic holiday season.
The line is being targeted to start operations as early as December 15, pending a final inspection by transportation officials for safety and reliability.
The route was shuttered four years ago when one of its trains were derailed in the Quezon province due to the failing bridges damaged by recent typhoons. The PNR is still working on getting a log ban exemption from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to use yakal hardwood as rail ties for the Ragay and Del Gallego bridges.
Currently the PNR is targeting the use of two trains for the Bicol route, one 300 seat train and a 83-seat Kogane tourist train that is expected to charge Php 500 per passenger.
