PNR adds extra trip to Bicol

MANILA, Philippines – Great news for travelers going to Bicol this Holy Week.

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) on Friday, March 9, announced that it is fielding an additional train trip to Bicol starting next week. The additional trip will also extend the train routes from Naga, the current destination, to Polangui, Ligao, and Travesia in Albay.

Starting March 12, 2012, in addition to the regular 6:30 pm Bicol Express which runs from Manila to Naga City (vice versa) daily, another train will leave at 8:30 pm. 

The Mayon Limited De Luxe will run very Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while the Mayon Limited Ordinary, will run every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. 

The additional trip is expected to arrive at 5:45 am in Naga City, 6:50 am in Polangui, and 7:00 am in Ligao, Albay, the next day.

Here are rates for one-way fares to particular destinations:

• Mayon Limited De Luxe (MLD) : Php 716.00 for Naga; Php768.00 for Ligao; 
• Mayon Limited Ordinary(MLO) : Php416.00 for Naga; Php491.00 Ligao

The MLD will have three air-conditioned coaches, all of which are fitted with executive reclining seats, while the MLO will have three cars fitted with electric fan-ventilated coaches and fixed (non-reclining) seats.

PNR decided to field the additional trip because of the increasing volume of passengers to and from Bicol, and also in anticipation of the heavy influx of travelers during the Holy Week.

The trains are among the 20 donated coaches from the East Japan Railway Co. (JR-East) which arrived in the country late last year. 

Already, some of these coaches are being used by PNR for its commuter operation in Metro Manila, while the others are still being refurbished and re-fitted for further use in its commuter and provincial operations. 

Interested in the amenities onboard the trains? Check out our feature on the relaunch of the Bicol Express. – Rappler.com

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