The Economy and Development (ED) Council of the Philippines has approved the operations and maintenance (O&M) component of the North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project under a public–private partnership (PPP) scheme.
The NSCR will span 147 km and include 35 stations across Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Calabarzon. It is expected to serve up to 800,000 passengers per day during its first year of full operations, increasing to around one million daily commuters. The total O&M contract cost is estimated at USD3.9 billion.
Pre-operations will begin in March 2026, with full operations planned for January 2032. The concession period includes two partial operation phases: Phase 1 (Clark to Valenzuela) from December 2027 to September 2028, and Phase 2 (Valenzuela to Calamba) from October 2028 to December 2031.
The NSCR will operate two types of services: commuter trains with 51 trainsets, each with a capacity of 2,242 passengers and limited Express trains with seven trainsets, each accommodating 386 passengers. Trains will operate at speeds of 120–130 km/hr, reducing travel time from Clark to Calamba to three hours, and from Clark to Alabang to two hours via express services. The system will be integrated with the Metro Manila Subway and supported by depots located in Clark (Pampanga), Valenzuela, and Calamba (Laguna).
In preparation for the tender in October 2024, RATP Dev and JR East have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on a joint bid. The NSCR project is part of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028, which is currently undergoing a midterm review to align with evolving economic conditions and development targets.
