The planned extension of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) to New Clark City is drawing early interest from local and international companies as the government advances technical preparations for the 18.1-kilometer project.

Around 30 companies participated in the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) market engagement conference covering the detailed engineering design and International Checking Engineer requirements for the NSCR-New Clark City Extension, alongside a separate consultancy package aimed at strengthening the agency’s capacity to deliver railway projects.

The turnout gives the government a pool of potential technical partners as it seeks to extend the NSCR farther north and accelerate its railway infrastructure pipeline.

The proposed extension will span 18.1 kilometers and include one additional station in New Clark City, Tarlac, strengthening rail connectivity between Metro Manila and emerging economic centers north of the capital.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said Tuesday that greater private-sector participation would support the expansion of the railway network while improving the government’s ability to deliver projects.

“We thank the companies that have shown interest in helping us further improve the railway sector to provide passengers with more comfortable and faster travel. We need to add more trains and further strengthen the capabilities of the people behind these projects so we can complete them faster,” Lopez said.

DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways, Infrastructure and Public-Private Partnerships Eduardo Danilo Macabulos said the strong turnout showed that domestic and foreign companies remain willing to participate in the government’s railway program.

“This shows two things. First, many companies and consultants in the Philippines and abroad are ready to help us implement these projects.

“Second, the private sector still has confidence in participating in our projects because they believe that our procurement is transparent and fair, and they believe that the Department of Transportation has the capacity to move our railway pipeline forward next year,” Macabulos said.

In addition to the NSCR extension, the conference covered Institutional Capacity Strengthening: Project Delivery Support for Railway Projects, or CDC-1.

The consultant for CDC-1 will help strengthen the institutional capacity of the DOTr railway sector’s project management offices in project delivery, performance management, and capability development.

The DOTr is positioning railways as a key part of efforts to ease congestion in the Greater Capital Region while improving links between Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.