Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista leads the groundbreaking of the Banlic, Calamba depot of the South Commuter Railway Project, which will connect Metro Manila to Laguna. Andrea Taglines, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday said the North-South Commuter Railway could begin partial operations in 2027, one year later than initially stated.

PNR says North-South Commuter Railway may start partial operations in 2026 

The northern line of the NSCR, which would run from Clark, Pampanga to Valenzuela City in Metro Manila will be the first to go online, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said at the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Banlic, Calamba depot. 

Bautista and Philippine National Railways (PNR) Chairman Michael Macapagal earlier said this portion of the train line could be done as early as 2026.

Meanwhile, the Manila to Calamba, Laguna segment of the project, is expected operate by 2029.

The entire NSCR project, which consists of 35 stations, was initially eyed to be complete and fully operational by 2028.

The delay comes as the DOTr continues to face challenges in terms of right-of-way acquisition. 

Bautista said this is why the government created an inter-agency task force that would focus on resolving right of way issues concerning railway projects.

The relocation of families affected by the project is also underway.

Families affected by railway project to be relocated in same area: PNR

The NSCR is a 147-kilometer mass transit system that is planned to connect Clark, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna.

It is expected to ferry up to 800,000 passengers daily and halve travel time from Clark Airport to Calamba to less than 2 hours from the current 4 hours.

Bautista hopes that in the coming years, with the completion of the NSCR and other big-time railway projects such as the Metro Manila Subway and the MRT Line 7, mobility and the traffic situation in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces will improve.

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