GUIDE: PNR Route, Schedule, and Latest Developments
Before the advent of light railway and the subsequent rise of the LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3, there was the Philippine National Railways (PNR), the most encompassing of all the railway transit systems in the Philippines.
Philippine National Railway (PNR) / IMAGE from Philippine Primer
The PNR used to span the entire island of Luzon, from La Union to Bicol, and has been in operation since November 24, 1892, making it the oldest railway system in Southeast Asia.
It is not exactly in stellar condition, but the PNR is still being used by most Filipinos to date. However, PNR’s NCR operations are temporarily suspended starting March 28, 2024 and will reopen after five years. This is due to the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NCSR) project, which aims to connect as far as Clark, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna.
North-South Commuter Railway Project
The North-South Commuter Railway Project is a 147-kilometer railway system that will connect Pampanga in the North and Laguna in the South. This project is led by the country’s Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the PNR, with financial and technical support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
From North to South: New Clark City to Malolos and vice versa (NSCR Project) / IMAGE from PNR’s website
From North to South: Malolos to Tutuban (NSCR Project) / IMAGE from PNR’s website
From North to South: Solis/Tutuban to Calamba City, Laguna (NSCR Project) / IMAGE from PNR’s website
Once completed, the NSCR Project is said to cut down the travel time from Buendia Station in Makati to Clark International Airport in Pampanga. Passengers coming from Makati may expect to reach Clark in less than one hour, according to NSCR’s website.
For now, there are southbound buses available from Divisoria (Tutuban) to Starmall in Alabang and vice versa for commuters who are affected by PNR’s suspension of operations. This will include alternative bus stops near the railways and adjusted trip schedules for commuters.
Active Southbound Operations
Updated PNR routes as of May 23, 2024 / IMAGE from Philippine Primer
As of May 23, 2024, PNR still has active operations for the following train routes:
- Calamba to Lucena
- Sipocot to Naga
- Naga to Sipocot
- Naga to Legaspi
- Legaspi to Naga
Calamba to Lucena: Route & Fare Matrix
The PNR Calamba Station is located at Purok 7, J.P. Rizal Street, a 10-minute walk from SM City Calamba. Southbound, the PNR Calamba Station services passengers going to Pansol (Calamba), Los Baños, San Pablo City, and Quezon Province.
Its route and fare matrix are as follows, as of April 2024:
| CALAMBA STATION | |
| Station | Regular Fare |
| Pansol/Masili (Calamba) | Php 20 |
| Los Baños/College
Popular for: University of the Philippines Los Baños |
Php 20 |
| International Rice Research Institure (IRRI) | Php 25 |
| San Pablo City
Popular for: Seven Lakes, Casa San Pablo, Cathedral |
Php 25 |
| Tiaong (Quezon Province) | Php 70 |
| Candelaria (Quezon) | Php 80 |
| Lutucan (Quezon) | Php 90 |
| Sariaya (Quezon) | Php 95 |
| Lucena (Quezon) | Php 105 |
Note: Senior citizens, students, and differently-abled individuals (PWD) can avail of the 20% discount by presenting a valid ID.
Daily AM train schedules are announced every 10:00 p.m., the night before on PNR’s Facebook page. For PM train schedules, these are posted every 11:00 a.m. These are subject to change depending on the availability of train sets. To get the updated list of train schedules and operations, it is highly advised to regularly visit PNR’s Facebook page for official announcements.
Sources: www.pnr.gov.ph, www.nscr.com.ph, Philippine National Railways’ Facebook page
