Japan delivers 3rd trainset for PH’s NSCR

The North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project has reached another milestone with the delivery of its third eight-car trainset to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), as preparations accelerate toward the planned start of partial operations in December 2027.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said the third trainset was delivered at the Malanday Depot in Valenzuela City, while a fourth trainset has also arrived in the Philippines and is undergoing customs clearance and unloading.

By September 2027, seven trainsets are expected to be in the country to support testing, commissioning, and operational readiness activities ahead of the targeted partial operations.

A total of 13 eight-car trainsets are being manufactured and supplied by the Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-TREC)-Sumitomo joint venture.

Each trainset can accommodate up to 2,288 passengers, providing additional capacity for the country’s growing demand for efficient mass transportation.

The 147-kilometer electrified NSCR will connect Clark, Pampanga, Metro Manila, and Calamba, Laguna, forming a major component of Luzon’s integrated railway network.

JICA said the railway is expected to serve about 800,000 passengers daily once fully operational, currently targeted for 2033. Travel between Clark and Makati is projected to take less than one hour, providing an alternative to road-based transportation.

Beyond improving passenger mobility, the NSCR is expected to support economic activity along the Luzon Economic Corridor by improving access to jobs, education, healthcare, and other services while strengthening connectivity among major economic centers.

The project is also expected to help ease traffic congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support more sustainable urban development.

JICA said the NSCR’s continuing progress underscores the importance of Philippines-Japan cooperation, particularly as the two countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations this year.

The NSCR is among the country’s largest railway infrastructure projects and is expected to play a central role in expanding mass transportation capacity and improving connectivity across Luzon.