Philippine National Railways new train
I have been fascinated with our Philippine National Railway (PNR) but never really got the chance to jump in on the train and ride it. I got a thing for trains and I was able to ride a few trains on other countries. There’s just this different joy when riding a train for travel. I was really hoping that the PNR would be revived and alas it has recently been re-opened with brand new trains. So one weekend morning we decided to just ride the new PNR and see what has changed.
Waiting for the Train at Buendia Station
We learned that the PNR only operates early morning and late afternoon. That’s 6:45am til 9:15am and 4:10pm to 5:15pm coming from Bicutan to Tutuban. Trains from Tutuban to Bicutan however leave earlier from 6:00am to 8:30am then 3:30pm and 4:45pm. I guess this schedule is catered more to students and workers commuting.
The trains are new and in good conditions. It is very similar (or is it the same) trains to the LRT2. It’s clean and the air conditioning works well. There are however no ticket stations like the MRT and LRT. An in-train conductor would approach you for your tickets much like how buses do it. Fare is really cheap from 10 Pesos to 15 Pesos on the whole stretch. The manpower for operating the train comes from a third party agency which gives people livelihood.
PNR Train Passengers
Travel time from Buendia to Tutuban only took 20-25minutes which is definitely faster than taking a bus and jeep. So this is very convenient. Aside from that you get to see the life of some People living along the rails. Some sights can be depressing but some are interesting. Windows are grilled since before, trains are being thrown rocks. Hopefully when they rehabilitate the runway, they could address these residences along the trackes. The Tutuban station as well is worth a look. There’s a gallery there of the PNR history as well as original train cart displays.
Passengers coming in the train
There’s a lot of plans for the PNR and I’m really hoping it extends its reach. I’m just a little disappointed I wasn’t able to try the old trains which I think has characteristically aged in time. We were still able to check out the old train carts though. And these old trains are still being used for routes going to Binan, Laguna.
Passngers alighting at Tutuban Station
Before, the PNR reaches up to far Legaspi Bicol. But the state of the rails has depreciated and some metals are being stolen by locals. Hoefully they fix this problem as for sure, I’ll be one of the first to jump-in when the Bicol route opens.
Old PNR Train
The old trains is really far from being just patched up. Some of the seats already have holes, ripped and torn out covers. Arm rest missing, even the flooring have already thinned out from rust. A few cables dangling from the ceiling. It’s really in a sorry state so I guess it’s about time to replace them.
Old Train Seats
So if you have a spare afternoon or a looking for an alternative quick way to Tutuban or Bicutan during the peak hours, look no further than the Philippine National Railway.
PNR: Exit Doors
Route Info: From Tutuban to Bicutan, the PNR Train passing through Blumentritt, Laong Laan in Sampaloc, Espana, Sta. Mesa, Pandacan, Paco, Vito Cruz, Buendia, Pasay Road, Edsa Magallanes, and FTI tenement. soon, the northbound line will extend to solis, 5th avenue, assistio avenue and caloocan.
hindi lang papuntang bicol and pnr. taga la union ako at sana mag open din ulit ang train service up to san fernando la union.
Ask ko lang po kung saan pwdeng mag send ng mail para makapags-suggest or mag-ask ng question sa PNR…
Tignan nyo bagong sched ng PNR…http://www.pnr.gov.ph/ (click on services)
Nakakaabot na daw up sila up to Alabang and Legaspi…eto na ba ung latest? Or eto lang yung aim nila? Kaso may sched na talaga nakalagay eh.
Waaah! Kelangan ko na talaga ng cheaper way to go back and forth to Laguna.
@aby: yes.. update lang, umaabot na sa Alabang ang bagong PNR trains. PNR also plans to open the Lucena City – Legaspi City route on June 25. This month, o next month na bubuksan ang lahat ng stations from Alabang to Calamba using the new PNR trains. you may watch this clip: http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest/61733/arroyo-blows-top-during-inspection-of-government-projects
Medyo galit ako sa mga corruption scandals ni GMA, pero pag nakakakita ako ng mga ganitong balita (New Roads, Trains, etc…) medyo nababawasan ang galit ko.
Will you be travelling / stopping at San Pablo City? When?
How about the Calamba route – when it shall commence operation?
If I were you I wont ride on this train because it’s one hell of a ride and i mean that literally its like hell inside and outside the train. The train stations are not properly guarded, I remembered one lady is entering the train her cellphone got snagged by someone outside the train and the lady herself noticed it but couldnt get out anymore to chase for the snatcher because the train is already crowded and people are still getting in. You wont feel the air conditioning because the train is too crowded, i could barely breath. Everyday i travel from alabang to blumenttrit from 6am to 7am via bus and lrt line 1, but when tried the pnr it took me 3hours to reach my destination.
To all reading this blog or whatever you call it, im telling you this is a false advertisement, i have experienced riding this train myself so i know.
Hi Chris! Thanks for your opinion but this is NOT and advertisement and is based on my experience. I’m sad to hear about your unfortunate incident but I don’t it happens to all people and judging the service with one event like that seems unfair.
Thanks for this Ferdz. I believe you, this is indeed true. PNR had its share of dark and not-so-pleasant past, but we should be happy that the state-run railway is improving. The new trains are serving well running from Tutuban to Alabang, soon it will reach Calamba.
The line to Bicol is already passable but the PNR is still assuring the safety of traveling long distance to Bicol.
Last week, a special pilgrim train from Manila reached Naga City safely. Soon, we Bicolanos, hope that we will once again ride the trains that helped this region develop into what it is now.
The PNR is already being served by the new trains since mid-2010, people from Ligao City in Albay to Sipocot, Camarines Sur are now enjoying daily commuter services with aircon, clean and properly maintained trains. Bicol run using the Japan Railways trains serves up to Tagkawayan, Quezon.
Thank you very much for the update Vic! Am looking forward to try out that train to Bicol once it’s operational
The very first time I saw a PNR I feel I’m in the other countries, especially Europe (I’d been to Germany and The Netherlands). Also, the clean railways is very commendable. I hope this will be expanded and maintained by the present government. My father used to work with the PNR way back in the 60′s kaya medyo nostalgic ako….. Sana naman wag ma-politika at nang di mahinto ang programa….
Will there be a Manila Lucena route? and when will be operational? I’m currently studying in pasay and I travel weekly from pasay to lucena. Thanks.
I took the train last October, 2010 from San Andres to Tutuban and I found it to be effective and cheap. No hassles and fast. Only needs to have additional runs. Thanks to the people working at PNR and to the government….
wer are the stations in calamba & what are their schedules?
During the time of GMA napaalis lahat ng squatters sa tabing riles. nalipat sa bulacan laguna etc. Subalit ng pumalit si Pangulong NoyNoy unti unting nagbabalikan ang mga squatters sa tabing riles. Dumarami na muli ang mga squatters sa tabing riles. Bumabalik muli ang mga magnanakaw, agaw-cellphone, akyat bahay at marami pa. Kaya mga taga PNR, muli kayong magtrabaho? Huwag ninyong hayaang muling dumami at magbalikan ang mga squatters sa tabing riles. MAGTRAHAHO KAYO MGA TAGA PNR.
id like to ask what are the pnr plans in the future? i heard for so many years now that squatters along the pnr areas will be relocated, when in particular for the old pnr station in tarlac city? when i was a child those were glorious and happy days of hearing the train whistle but after 2 decades esp in the late 90′s or early 2000 were the mushrooming of squatters erecting even concrete structures as if the land they occupy is theirs. Worst is, which is agree with brady paguitan, is the rampant incidence of akyat bahay and theft for which we are victims.
sana man lng the govt will do something about it. we are legitimate dwellers and lot owners and yet kami ang nvivictimize – no respect for property, naninira na other than ngnanakaw pa. It’s hard to pinpoint fingers as to who the culprits are but i must admit ng wala p cla there never was an incidence of theft and i miss that, kaya tuloy d mdeve-develop ang area. Mgbanat nman sna sla ng buto rather mmerwisyo ng tao tulad nmin