DOTr unveils new PNR trains, FREE RIDE for first 10 days

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday unveiled two new trains for the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

The new 8100 series diesel trains from Indonesia were unveiled at the Tutuban Station in Manila by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and PNR General Manager Junn Magno.

“These new sets na dumating sa atin would entail capacity of up to 92,000 passengers a day. This alone, itong apat na dinala natin, is capable of giving us another 30,000 passengers already,” Magno said.

The waiting time on each of the 26 stations on the train line will also be cut down to 15 to 20 minutes from the current one and a half hour, officials said.

The new trains will carry passengers from Tutuban to Alabang and back free of charge for 10 days.

“Kumikita na siya sa short-term wise. ‘Yung long-term operations na lang [ang] kailangan namin linisin, which is 50 years nang marumi ang balance sheet,” Magno said.

Tugade said the DOTr will seek a fare increase when the “situation is ripe.”

Free rides for 10 days.

Up until now, the government shoulders P26 for each passenger.