EDITORIAL – Out of derailment

President Duterte promised to improve infrastructure, and among the first projects to be approved by his administration is the revival of the railway service in Luzon. The south line of the railway project, from the Tutuban central station in Manila to Sorsogon in Bicol was among the seven projects approved recently by the National Economic and Development Authority, which the President chairs.

Now called the North-South Railway, the project has been bogged down, like several other big-ticket projects, in corruption scandals for several years now. Duterte was elected not only because of his tough stance on crime but also because of perceptions that he is an action man, that he can cut through red tape, deal with bureaucratic paralysis and finally get things moving.

The railway project, once called the NorthRail, was supposed to be the 21st-century incarnation of the railway service that once ran from Northern Luzon all the way to the Bicol Region. The train service was launched in the 19th century and was used extensively by Philippine revolutionaries in the waning days of the Spanish colonial period. But the railway service fell into disrepair and is still waiting to be revived.

Many countries have invested heavily in modern railway services, from inner city light rails to commuter trains, subways and high-speed express railways. The trains are popular because they follow predictable schedules and are not slowed down by traffic jams. As transporters of cargo, trains help decongest vehicular traffic around container ports.

In several countries, trains provide efficient, affordable transportation between airports and city centers. Train stations can also be tourist attractions, such as those in Moscow and the central stations in Manhattan and Washington. In the Philippines, there are several train stops that can be restored and turned into tourist sites, such as the one in Paco, Manila. But first, the railway project must push through.

That a single railway project can’t get off the ground in the Philippines says a lot about the state of the nation. Perhaps under President Duterte, railway projects may finally get out of derailment.