The contract, which has a value of P142bn (£2.8bn), is for the first 380km of the PNR Bicol project.
Secretary Art Tugade signed the contract with a joint venture of China Railway Group, China Railway No 3 Engineering Group and China Railway Engineering Consulting Group. The work covers the design, construction and electromechanical works for the project.
Construction of the project is expected to generate more than 5,000 direct jobs per year.
The first 380km of PNR Bicol will span 39 cities and municipalities, four provinces and two regions. It will involve the construction of 23 stations, 230 bridges, 10 passenger tunnels and a 70-hectare depot in San Pablo, Laguna.
Future segments will give PNR Bicol a total length of 565km, connecting Metro Manila to the southern Luzon provinces of Sorsogon and Batangas. Once fully operational, it will cut travel time between Metro Manila and Bicol from the current 12 hours by road to as little as four hours. Passenger trains will run at speeds of up to 160km/h, while freight trains will run at up to 100 km/h.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
