Philippine Railways Update! (February 2008)

A roundup of where things are at, information gained from personal emails, various forums and newspaper websites.

Philippine National Railways

Southrail Rebuild
Phase I (Caloocan to Alabang) - Clearing Continues!
*** Trains operating between Tutuban-Alabang-San Pedro-Binan.
*** Services suspended Binan-Legaspi and San Pedro-Carmona.
Phase II (Alabang to Calamba)Southrail Project - Work yet to commence.
Phase IA (Calamba-Lucena)Phase IB (Lucena-Legaspi) - Work yet to commence.
Phase II (Sorsogon Extension Matnog) - Work yet to commence.

Planned Lines
Calamba to Batangas line rebuild - Work yet to commence.

Northrail

Northrail Rebuild
Caloocan to Malolos - Rebuild commenced full steam ahead January 2008.
Malolos to Clark - Rebuild commenced.
Planned lines
Cabanatuan Line - No advice.
Cagayan Valley - No advice.

Panay Railway

Iloilo City to Roxas City - Work yet to commence.
*** There has yet to be movement in regards to anyone willing to finance this project.

Mindanao Railway

Work has yet to commence on any railway building in Mindanao!

Phase 1, Ist Segment (Cagayan de Oro-Iligan City
Phase 1, 2nd Segment (Cagayan de Oro-Gingoog City)
Phase 1, 3rd Segment (Iligan-Marawi City)
Phase 1, 4th Segment (Marawi City-Cotabato City)
Phase II (Surigao-Butuan)
Phase III (Davao City-Monkayo)
Phase IV (Zamboaga City-Dipolog City)
Phase V (Gagayan de Oro-Davao City)

Railway & Industrial Heritage Society

Society was officially registered late last year, since then there has been no advice regarding developments.
Unofficial reports say that an inspection of the observation car at Hondagua (see earlier report) is on the cards.

Locomotive Fleets

Remain virtually unchanged since last reported on the Philippine Railways SIG website!


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Thanks to the following for information included in this updates.
Wheel On Steel (Skyscrapercity Forum), Robert O'Brien, Bill Sullivan
Philippine Star newspaper.