Trains

Beneath the steady chug of their engines and the relentless churn of rusty steel, trains might well be defined by the way they shaped the world.

For sure, trains are more than just backdrops to the most vivid expressions of the human condition — the immeasurable pain of separation; the irresistible lure of the unknown, or the reassuring feeling of nearing one’s home.

Trains and railroads, more importantly, started the transportation revolution in the 19th century and improved the lives of people by transporting food and other goods. Railways revolutionized travel and connected many points in the world.

India, for instance, is home to the fourth largest railway network in the world with a jaw-dropping 70,000 kilometer route, transporting both goods and people – 20,000 passengers use the train daily from more than 7,000 stations across India. 

In Europe, locals and visitors alike go from one Schengen state to another on a train. It’s easy, fast, and convenient. The view of the charming countryside is icing on the cake.

I have slept on many sleeper trains abroad, with the engine’s chug-and-tug gently rocking me to a deep slumber.

Within a city, a rail system is the easiest way for any commuter. Once upon a time in Russia, I escaped the legendary Moscow traffic by taking the famed Moscow Metro, touted as one of the best subway systems in the world. It’s not only efficient, but also teeming with art deco, classical music, and an old world charm.

I am sure that like me, Filipinos who have taken convenient train rides abroad are sad and green with envy. It truly is heartbreaking that we don’t have a massive train system here at home.

Even our neighbor Thailand has overtaken us in this aspect. Visitors arriving in Bangkok can just take the train to the city. Here, we have to haggle with abusive airport taxi drivers.

This brings me to my main point. Why is it that after all this time, one president after another, batches and batches of lawmakers later, billions poured in infrastructure projects by conglomerates, we still do not have an efficient and reliable train system in the country?

Colonial era

It is easy to blame the past. I’ve always thought things could have been different if we were instead colonized by the British.

Maybe, like India, we would have been bequeathed with a massive and efficient railway system. Instead, we had the kalesas, the horse-drawn carriage introduced to the Philippines in the 18th century by the Spanish.

And when the Americans came, we followed the American system of transportation — the use of roads and the cars they sold.  

We were flooded with American-made cars, sleek and sexy. Remember the Studebaker? Who didn’t dream of owning one? And then there’s the Chevy, the Dodge, and what-have-you.

We love cars because the Americans said they were great, just like cheeseburgers and fries, belts and suspenders, ketchup and hotdogs, and silly tennis shoes.

The Love Bus

During the Marcos era, the government developed and promoted the Love Bus, those light blue commuter buses with giant red hearts. Some were double-decker buses to accommodate more commuters.

Railway projects

And so today, hundreds of years later, we do not have a massive train and railroad system that works efficiently.

Rail projects were not made a priority until late in the ’80s. The Philippine National Railways (PNR), once dubbed by former senator Ninoy Aquino as rolling coffins, traces its history to the colonial days, but earthquakes and neglect destroyed many of the lines.

The LRT and MRT happened, too, but they are hardly safe and comfortable now. 

Today, traffic is getting worse so we need more railroad projects — massive and longer and not just mass rapid transit systems.

Our colonizers are long gone. It’s time we think on our own and consider what Filipinos really need. We needed rail projects yesterday, not today and not tomorrow.

During rush hours, our public buses are bursting at the seams. The MRT, LRT, and the PNR are also spilling over with weary passengers. I have taken many third-world rides in my life, but taking our very own commuter trains still surprises me.

Game changer

I am happy to know that the government is giving railway projects much needed attention. 

Tycoon Sid Consunji of conglomerate DMCI Holdings said for instance, that the new 22-kilometer North South Commuter Railway project would be a game changer for the country. 

DMCI and Japan’s Taisei bagged the project’s P54-billion civil works contract.

Targeted for completion in 42 months, the project would use the existing PNR alignment from Malolos to Tutuban and will shorten travel time to just 35 minutes from a gruelling two-hour trip or more. It is expected to serve 300,000 commuters a day.

This is certainly good news. I hope there will be more and I hope the government does it right.

In a country of 100 million, mass transportation systems are really necessary. I hope these train projects really get going – no conking out, no derailment. 

Iris Gonzales’ email address is. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales.