Are We Finally Getting Japan-Level Trains? Japan’s Biggest Transport Firms Bid to Run PH’s Mega Railway Project

Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Tokyo Metro, Sumitomo, and Alstom are among 28 Japanese transport giants that just showed up to say they want a piece of the Philippines’ biggest railway project ever. The government’s ₱874-billion North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) is now officially on their radar, and that could mean a future of Japan-level trains in Manila and beyond.

The NSCR is not just another train project. At 147 kilometres long with 26 stations, it is set to become the longest commuter railway in Philippine history. It will link Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, and Laguna in one continuous line, with three main segments:

• PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban to Malolos)

• PNR Clark Phase 2 (Malolos to Clark)

• PNR Calamba (Solis to Calamba)

If this comes together, Luzon will feel smaller. Travel times will shrink, access to Clark International Airport will be smoother, and weekend trips outside the city will no longer mean sitting in traffic for hours.

Also read: The Clark International Airport Underground Train Is in the Works

Image credit: meeuwesen | Unsplash

The interest of these Japanese firms came out during the final round of the Department of Transportation’s international roadshow in Tokyo. Officials said the turnout of heavyweights was a clear sign the project is on the right track.

These companies are not just name-dropping. They showed up to explore what it would take to operate and maintain the railway once it is up and running. The Philippines is dangling a system that could redefine commuting, and Japan’s biggest players want first dibs!

This railway will follow a public-private partnership model. The government builds it, but a private concessionaire will run the day-to-day operations.

That means the winning company will decide how trains are scheduled, how systems are maintained, and how commuters experience the ride. In other words, your everyday commute in the future could be managed by the same companies that operate Japan’s famously efficient networks.

Also read: Train Etiquette 101: How We Can Learn a Thing or Two from the Japanese

• Tender launch: late September or early October 2025

• Winning operator announced: 2026

• Targeted start of operations: 2028

It is not an overnight fix. But considering the ₱874-billion scale of the project, three years until the first rides is not far off.

Metro Manila has been stuck with gridlock traffic and outdated trains for decades. The NSCR is being sold as the game-changer. The project aims to cut travel time, reduce pollution, and finally modernise a railway system that has not kept up with the country’s growth.

For Filipino travellers, this project is more than just a daily commute. Imagine having a reliable train straight to Clark Airport, or weekend trips to Laguna without sitting in traffic for hours. The possibilities are real, and the benefits could reach far beyond Metro Manila.

Also read: Commute Etiquette: 10 Things Filipinos Should Know By Now But Don’t

The competition is not limited to Japan. The bidding will be open to global players, raising the stakes and the pressure. Still, the sight of 28 Japanese firms showing up is a strong signal: world-class operators see real potential here.

₱874 billion. 147 kilometres. 26 stations. Millions of lives changed. The Philippines is finally close to getting the train system it deserves. What this country deserves is not another promise, but a transportation system that makes commuting safe, accessible, and comfortable.

Featured image credit: fikrirasyid | Unsplash