SOUTHEAST ASIA CONSTRUCTION24 Jun 2019
SMEC awarded railway project in the Philippines

SMEC has been commissioned by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), through Oriental Consultants Global (OCG), to provide detailed design on the Manila Clark Railway Project (MCRP North Line) and the North South Railway Project, South Line (NSRP South Line). SMEC said it will assist JICA in the preparation of documents for the detailed design of the civil, structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical works.

The MCRP North Line and NSRP South Line are two major sections of the Philippines’ railway transport system, which aims to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila and beyond, promote inclusive growth and improve transport and logistics services to currently underserved areas. SMEC has also provided basic and detailed design and construction supervision of the North South Commuter Rail (NSCR).

“We’re proud to continue our successful partnership with Oriental Consultants Global Co Ltd on another major commuter rail project that will support economic growth and improve everyday life for people in the Philippines,” said Ric Yuzon, SMEC’s country manager for the Philippines. “We bring railway engineering expertise from projects all around the world. This appointment, along with our previous work on the NSCR, consolidates our presence in the transport sector.”

The MCRP North Line will feature approximately 50.5 km long from Malolos to Clark, and around 70 km up to New Clark City. The line will start at the city of Malolos, passing through the town of Calumpit in the Bulacan province, the town of Apalit and cities of San Fernando and Angeles until reaching the Clark International Airport (CIA), all in the Pampanga province. It will include viaduct, bridges, seven stations including an underground station in CIA, and about 45 ha of depot, workshops, operations control and training centres.

The NSRP South Line will be approximately 56.5 km long from the city of Caloocan to Calamba, plus around 13 km up to the proposed depot site at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños in the Laguna province.