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IN A RECENT new developments, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) has announced that it has committed to revive railway transport services between Camarines Sur Region and the Quezon province following the repair of one of the damaged bridge connecting the two provinces.
PNR General Manager Geovanni Miranda said that the agency has completed the repair of the Binahan Bridge in Ragay, Camarines Sur, inching it closer to reactivating commuter trips between Bicol Region and Southern Tagalog.
The Binahan Bridge sustained extreme damage from Typhoon Kristine in November 2024, and it took the PNR two months to reconstruct it.
The bridge is one of the crucial structures requiring PNR restoration to pursue its plan of resuming Bicol services to Southern Tagalog. The agency’s Engineering Repair Crew had enhanced the durability of the bridge by replacing its wooded ties with synthetic alternatives.
‘Let’s hope the PNR is not just rebuilding bridges and railways, but also public trust. If there’s one thing the Filipino commuter deserves after decades of waiting, it’s a ride that finally arrives on time.’
MORE BRIDGES RESTORED
The PNR will move on to restore other bridges and structures that have to be fixed in the alignment.
The agency aims to extend train services to Ragay, Camarines Sur and, eventually, Tagkawayan, Quezon. Once the PNR finishes repair works, it would be able to recommission a 99-kilometer line from Naga, Camarines Sur to Tagkawayan, offering commuters another mode of transport to Bicol and Southern Tagalog.
The 99-kilometer Naga to Tagkawayan route, soon to be reactivated, will not just reduce travel time—it will restore a sense of connectivity to the Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions.
For rural communities and urban centers alike, this railway offers more than convenience; it offers opportunity. Students, workers, farmers, and small traders will gain a safer, more affordable way to travel and do business.
REVIVING MORE LINES
And there’s more good news. The resumption of the Legazpi-Naga route shows that this revival is not limited to one line.
With ongoing repairs and a planned increase in trips, the railways are slowly chugging back to life, with PNR making inclusive transportation a reality.
Affordable fares—ranging from ₱20 to ₱155, with discounts for students, PWDs, and senior citizens—make it a far cry from the daily expenses of provincial bus fares or fuel costs.
Recently, France expressed interest to bankroll the railway as conveyed by French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad Laurent Saint-Martin during his visit in April.
GAME CHANGER
Furthermore, the much-anticipated South Long Haul railway project—stretching from Muntinlupa to Sorsogon—should not remain a pipe dream. If executed with transparency and urgency, it could be a transformative game-changer for regional development and national logistics.
The newly inaugurated PNR station in Pili, Camarines Sur—complete with tactile pathways, breastfeeding stations, and clean facilities—signals a shift in how we see public infrastructure: no longer just utilitarian, but humane and inclusive.
“We will continue to revitalize the existing PNR lines from Quezon to Camarines Sur to provide safe, reliable and affordable mass transportation to fellow Filipinos,” Miranda said.
PUBLIC TRUST
The PNR is currently operational only in the Bicol Region after shutting Metro Manila services in 2024 to make way for the construction of the P873.6-billion North-South Commuter Railway.
Yes, the tracks are being laid again. But the question remains—will we, as a nation, stay the course this time?
Let’s hope the PNR is not just rebuilding bridges and railways, but also public trust. If there’s one thing the Filipino commuter deserves after decades of waiting, it’s a ride that finally arrives on time.