MANILA - The Philippines has formally signed a contract with a Chinese company to supply trains for the state railway operator's long haul route to the Bicol region.

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) will buy 3 train sets with 3 coaches each from CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive, which won the bidding for the project last October.

The trains, which are set to be delivered in June 2021, will be deployed for long haul service from Calamba in Laguna to Naga City in Camarines Sur and eventually to Legazpi City in Albay, the Department of Transportation said.

The Diesel Multiple Unit trains can each accommodate 168 passengers with 36 seats for business class, 52 seats for first class, and 80 seats for second class.

"This train will represent the first trip for the South Long Haul Project or what we call the PNR Bicol and it would cut down significantly 80 percent of the travel time between Manila and the Bicol region,” said PNR General manager Junn Magno.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan witnessed the contract signing ceremony.

The P175-billion PNR Bicol project will span 581 kilometers and will be funded through official development assistance from China.