First car of third NSCR trainset arrives at Valenzuela depot

The first of eight cars of the third eight-car electric multiple unit (EMU) trainset for the Malolos–Tutuban segment of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) has arrived at the Malanday Depot in Valenzuela City, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.

The remaining seven cars are expected to arrive at the depot within the coming week, completing the third trainset.

The third batch of eight-car EMU trainsets arrived from Japan in August, according to the DOTr.

The DOTr targets the start of operations of the Valenzuela–Malolos, Bulacan segment of the NSCR by December 2027. Full operations from Clark, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna are expected by the third quarter of 2033.

The 147-kilometer NSCR project will have 35 stations connecting Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Calabarzon.

The DOTr projects that the railway will cut travel time between Clark and Calamba from about four hours to two hours.

The NSCR is expected to serve 800,000 commuters daily once fully operational, the DOTr said.— MCG, GMA News