PNR set to revive Bicol-Quezon trips

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June 14, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Railways (PNR) has committed to revive rail services between Quezon and Camarines Sur following the repair of one of the bridges connecting the two provinces.

PNR general manager Geovanni Miranda yesterday said the agency has completed the repair of its Binahan Bridge in Ragay, Camarines Sur, inching it closer to reactivating commuter trips between Bicol Region and Southern Tagalog.

Binahan Bridge is one of the crucial structures that have to be restored for the PNR to pursue its plan of resuming Bicol services to Southern Tagalog.

The bridge sustained extreme damage from Typhoon Kristine in November 2024, and it took the PNR two months to reconstruct it. To enhance the durability of the bridge, its traditional wooden ties were replaced with synthetic alternatives.

The PNR will move on to restore other bridges and structures that have to be fixed in the alignment. The agency aims to extend train services to Ragay, Camarines Sur and, eventually, Tagkawayan, Quezon.

Once the PNR finishes repair works, it would be able to recommission a 99-kilometer line from Naga, Camarines Sur to Tagkawayan, offering commuters another mode of transport to Bicol and Southern Tagalog.

“We will continue to revitalize the existing PNR lines from Quezon to Camarines Sur to provide safe, reliable and affordable mass transportation to fellow Filipinos,” Miranda said.

The PNR is currently operational only in the Bicol Region after shutting Metro Manila services in 2024 to make way for the construction of the P873.6-billion North-South Commuter Railway.

Currently, the PNR is working with the Department of Transportation in finding a funding source for the 557-kilometer South Long Haul (SLH) Project. The P175.32-billion SLH will build a railway from Sucat, Muntinlupa City to Matnog, Sorsogon, parallel to the inactive line of what used to be the Bicol Express.

Supposedly, the SLH will be financed by a loan from China. However, the Philippines withdrew its application for financing due to inaction on the side of Beijing and a dispute on the interest rate to be charged to the loan.

Recently, France expressed interest to bankroll the railway as conveyed by French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad Laurent Saint-Martin during his visit in April.