PNR South Main Line
The PNR South Main Line (Filipino: Pangunahing Linyang Patimog ng PNR, also known as Southrail and formerly the Main Line South) is one of the two trunk lines that form the Philippine National Railways' network in the island of Luzon, Philippines. It was opened in stages between 1916 and 1938 by the Manila Railroad. Services peaked in the 1940s until the late 1960s, when the system started to decline. Since 1988, it was the only functioning inter-city rail after its counterpart to the north, the North Main Line, was closed. The intercity section of the line in Laguna, Quezon and the Bicol Region was then closed and reopened repeatedly between 2004 and 2014 due to a combination of declining ridership and was closed since then. Currently, only a little more than half of line is operational PNR Metro Commuter Line between Tutuban station and Laguna, Inter-Provincial Commuter from San Pedro to Lucena and the Bicol Commuter regional rail service between Sipocot, Naga Camarines Sur and Legazpi Albay.
| PNR South Main Line | |
|---|---|
A Kiha 59 DMU parked at Naga station in 2012 when intercity services were still operational. | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Owner | Department of Transportation |
| Locale | Metro Manila Calabarzon Bicol Region |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 47 active |
| Service | |
| Type | Commuter rail Regional rail Inter-city rail (former) |
| System | Philippine National Railways |
| Services | 3 |
| Operator(s) | Philippine National Railways |
| Rolling stock | Refer to the rolling stock section below |
| Daily ridership | 75,000 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1916 |
| Closed | 2014 (Calamba–Sipocot) May 5, 2015 (Tutuban–Calamba) |
| Reopened | July 23, 2015 (Tutuban–Alabang) December 1, 2019 (Calamba–IRRI) June 26, 2022 (San Pablo–Lucena) |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 479 km (298 mi) 255 km (158 mi) (active) |
| Track length | 504 km (313 mi) 319 km (198 mi) (active) |
| Number of tracks | Double track (Tutuban–Sucat) Single-track (rest of the line) |
| Character | At-grade |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Minimum radius | 150 m (490 ft) |
| Electrification | None |
| Operating speed | 75 km/h (47 mph) |
| Highest elevation | 208.6 m (684 ft) near Camalig, Albay |
| Maximum incline | 15‰ |
Since its closure, there has been a planned overhaul of the line. The railway will consist of two standard-gauge lines which will overlap in southern Metro Manila and Laguna. One is the North–South Commuter Railway's South section between Tutuban and Solis stations in north-central Metro Manila to Calamba station in Calamba, Laguna. This route will be electrified with direct current power through overhead lines. The other is the PNR South Long Haul from Sucat station in Muntinlupa to Matnog station in Matnog, Sorsogon. This route will continue to be operated by diesel stock but will run at a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph), over twice higher than the existing narrow-gauge line.