Record number of bids for Philippine North-South Commuter Railway

The bids cover the third phase of the line.

PHILIPPINE National Railways (PNR) has received a record 34 bids to undertake civil works for the 40.5km Calamba phase three section of the elevated 147km North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project.

The bids were received from 23 companies, including 17 international bidders. The contracts include the construction of elevated stations and a 30-hectare train depot. Further bids are due to be opened later this year.

The NSCR will run from Calamba, Laguna, in Luzon’s CALABARZON, to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga, cutting end-to-end journey times from four hours to 1h 30min. The 38km Phase one will run from Tutuban Station in Manila to Malolos City, Bulacan. The 54km PNR Clark Phase two will run from Malolos to Clark, while Phase three will run from Manila to Calamba. 

The international companies are:

China Construction First Group Corporation (China)

Chun Wo Construction (Hong Kong)

Leighton Contractors (Asia) (Hong Kong)

DL Engineering & Construction (South Korea)

Dong-ah Geological Engineering Company (South Korea)

GS Engineering & Construction. (South Korea)

Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea)

Lotte Engineering and Construction (South Korea)

Posco Engineering & Construction (South Korea)

Samsung Construction & Trading Corporation (South Korea)

PT Adhi Karya (Persero) (Indonesia)

PT PP (Persero) (Indonesia)

PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) (Indonesia)

Gülermak Ağır Sanayi İnşaat ve Taahhüt (Turkey)

Acciona (Spain)

Italian-Thai Development Public Company (Thailand)

Sumitomo Mitsui Construction (Japan)

The local companies are:

D.M. Consunji

EEI Corporation

First Balfour

Megawide Construction Corporation

Prime Metro BMD Corporation

Santa Clara International Corporation

The Calamba section will have 19 stations, including five in Manila.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided advisory services on the bidding process under its Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility and is also preparing a proposal to provide funding support that will be considered by its board of directors in the fourth quarter of this year.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is also providing funding for the NSCR to procure rolling stock, a railway system and consulting services, while the ADB assistance will be utilised for civil works.

The NSCR Extension Project is scheduled to be completed in September 2025.

https://www.railjournal.com/financial/record-number-of-bids-for-philippine-north-south-commuter-railway/