Philippine Railway Historical Society News and History!

~~ ONLINE TICKETING MULLED ~~

KRIS BAYOS
October 5, 2012, 3:51pm
MANILA, Philippines —
The Philippine National
Railways (PNR) is mulling the implementation of online ticketing for the
interprovincial trips of the Bicol Express as soon as it will start operations
up to Legazpi City in Albay.

PNR General Manager Junio Ragrario said it is inconveniencing Bicol Express
passengers is they have to go to the train station twice: first, to buy their
tickets ahead of scheduled trips and second, to board their assigned trains on
the date of travel.

"We are mulling the possibility of ticketing for Bicol Express through the
Internet so that passengers will only have to go to the train station once,
which is during their scheduled trips," Ragrario added.

The rail official said the online ticketing that they are studying to use for
the Bicol Express would be similar to the online ticketing for airline
passengers.

But since online ticketing would require payment using credit cards, it may not
be convenient for all types of passengers, Ragrario said, adding that cash
payment for advance ticketing at train stations may still be available for the
benefit of those who do not have credit cards.

However, the PNR's commuter line running from Tutuban in Manila to Alabang in
Muntinlupa City will still implement manual ticketing until the government bids
out an automatic fare collection system for the PNR, and the Light and Metro
Rail Transit systems.

Meanwhile, the rehabilitation of rail tracks and train stations in Albay is
ongoing to allow the Bicol Express to run up to Legazpi City before the annual
exodus of people to the provinces for their Christmas and New Year's vacation.

"We target to finish by December so that the Bicol Express could transport
passengers up to Legazpi City in time for Christmas," he said.

Ragrario said the trip from Manila to Legazpi City aboard Bicol Express will be
13 to 14 hours long but they will make its fare "very competitive" with the
rates of ordinary buses to lure passengers to opt for the comfort of rail
travel.

Wooden larch ties are being installed in the Travesia bridge between Polangui
and Guinobatan. There are at least 15 to 20 kilometers of rail tracks between
Guinobatan and Legazpi City that need inspection and rehabilitation before the
PNR's Bicol Express can service the route. The stations in Guinobatan, Camalig,
Daraga and Legazpi City will also need renovation for the reopening.

There is a total distance of 30 kilometer between Ligao and Legazpi City
stations and a total of 478 kilometers from Tutuban to Legazpi City.