August 30, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The P229-billion concession to deal with the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) has obtained queries from French traders.
Lately, the Division of Transportation (DOTr) performed a market sounding exercise in Paris, France for the NSCR.
Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan led the delegation that was tasked to buy the railway to French rail operators who might wish to vie for the concession.
“We’re actually listening to good curiosity (from personal companies and different international locations). The market could be very concerned with taking part and ultimately bidding for the NSCR concession,” Batan mentioned.
The concession covers the operations and upkeep of NSCR’s trains, stations and depot for a interval of 15 years. Likewise, the profitable bidder for the contract will handle the interoperations of the NSCR with different railways, significantly the Metro Manila Subway Venture.
Though native conglomerates are doubtless bidding, the concession is being pitched abroad consistent with President Marcos’ instruction to ask overseas traders, too.
Through the market sounding, Batan offered the chance to French rail operators with an extended historical past of working every kind of methods, from high-speed trains to regional companies.
Based mostly on information from state-run operator SNCF Reseau, France manages the second longest railway community in Europe, spanning greater than 28,000 kilometers and a minimum of 3,000 stations.
“The members function the broadest railway community on this planet. They’re severely having a look at taking part within the NSCR,” Batan mentioned.
The NSCR, costing P873.6 billion and co-financed by Japan, will change into the Philippines’ longest railway, protecting 147 kilometers between the Clark Worldwide Airport and Calamba, Laguna. It’s projected to ferry as many as 800,000 passengers day by day.
The DOTr will open the NSCR in phases. The primary in line for operations is the Malolos-Clark section, earlier than the tip of the Marcos administration in 2028.
The Economic system and Growth Council, chaired by President Marcos, authorised the bidding of the NSCR’s concession in July, with the invitation to qualify to be issued in September.