GUIGUINTO, Bulacan — The year 2012 seems good news for Bulakeños because the Northrail system, a modern railway that will run from Caloocan City to the Clark Economic Zone in Pampanga, is expected to be operational in two years.

Zoilo Andin, president and chief operating officer of the North Luzon Railways Corporation (Northrail), said the test run on its tracks in the Caloocan portion of the project is expected to be made this June before President Arroyo steps down from office.

He said all civil works could be completed by the middle of 2011.
Northrail is a government entity tasked to build, manage and operate the railway project that is divided into four phases. Phase 1 is from Caloocan to Clark and is divided into two sections, with Section 1 running from Caloocan to Malolos, Bulacan and Section 2 from Malolos to Clark.

Phase 2 of the project will cover a branch line to the Subic Bay Freeport, Phase 3 will go southward from Caloocan to Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, and Phase 4 is an extension line from Clark to San Fernando, La Union.

“We have gained momentum in our undertaking to build a modern day railway system from Caloocan to Clark in Pampanga. Based on our 2009 performance and lessons learned, we are now certain, more than ever, of having our trains running on the 82-kilometer track from Caloocan to Clark in the next two years or so," Andin said here.

“After surmounting recurring difficulties encountered in previous years, our physical achievements for Section 1 in 2009 have even surpassed cumulative accomplishments since construction work commenced in 2007,” Andin explained.

The Northrail executive said their accomplishment rate in the coming months is expected to rise dramatically because Northrail has already attained a higher degree of functional synergy among contractors, engineers, technical and support personnel that translated to faster and effective application of engineering and construction approaches.

He said preliminary work of some tedious and critical undertakings, such as construction design and drawings, has either been completed or are already being implemented.