LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...
LOOK, BOSS, IT'S DA TREN. IT'S THE TREN...
I thought this day would never come. After decades of living with squatters and a decaying rail system as a permanent scar slicing across my city, I believe things have finally taken a turn for the better. While driving down the northbound side of the South Super Hiway near Magallanes, I was gobsmacked to see the brand new orange and silver rail cars of the newly renovated Philippine National Railways system to my right. And all I can say is "Wow". So cool. Can't wait to take a ride on it from Tutuban Station to FTI in Taguig. Living in a warehouse in Sucat can now feel like a loft in Brooklyn. Then again, maybe not.
See you all onboard.
See you all onboard.
Some more shots I took on the hi-way. The Makati skyline is behind.
The way the trains looked like a couple of years ago or so.
A close-up shot of the new trains. Apparently, they are made in Korea. I like that they kept the original classic logo of PNR on the front. Well done. Well done. Thanks mithrilcloud.Now if we can only imagine a train that can take us all the way south to Mayon Volcano and north to Ilocos and Baguio, perhaps we can realize it. And looking at the new trains above, I know that it's not entirely impossible.
Labels: ladies and gentlemen
posted by carlosceldran @ 9:54 AM
12 Comments:
I would love to go home to Bicol riding on these new trains like how we did in the 80s.
I would love to go to Baguio on one of these, just like the 1960s (didn't really go to Baguio, but got you as close as possible before switching to bus or train). We have some of the best miners in the world, wonder what's preventing their redeployment to digging tunnels to Baguio or through Metro Manila for rail? Much better use of their skills than losing our people to South African or Australian mines.
...and maybe gentle train rides will encourage more people to read and revive the print industry.
i was hoping the third comment would have gone and said I would love to go to XXX like in the 1940's.
haha. I don't even know if the trains were up by then.
back to topic: I hope to find a place to go to on them trains soon.
It's nice to find out that PNR is back. Hope to try riding these trains one of these days! Hope you post more photos soon.
Sadly the old logo is only there temporarily, they are gradually being replaced with the new one.
Not sure you would want to go to Baguio or Bicol in these. There is no toilets, only sideways seeting and aren't that comfortable for such a long trip.
Best check out the refurbished coaches of PNR for the longer runs. They are awesome.
Regards
Brad
Philippine Railway Historical Society
http://philippine-railways.blogspot.com
Carlos likes these new trains?
What happened to good old "nostalgia" and History?
Would it not be better if the old trains were properly restored and put back to service?
If they could do it with Old Steam Trains in Europe and The Orient Express, surely we can do the same.
You're all about History, aren't you Carlos? What's the excitement about "da tren, da tren?"
I think in certain places like super urban Mega Manila, where it's congested, nostalgia needs to give way to modernity. The "old steam trains" of Europe are not the ones that they use in cities like Paris or Madrid or London. Misplaced nostalgia will end up looking like sheer stubbornness.
Yes, I really like what they did with these trains! And I've heard that they will restore the Manila-Bicol service as soon as they refurbish the tracks going south. This one goes all the way south to Alabang, doesn't it?
I am so glad that the modernization of the PNR trains are slowly becoming a reality. I am hoping that it will not only help the commuting public but slowly help ease transport of goods from and to the provinces. BRAVO!
unfortunately, the sights along the railways are still ugly. they need to clean them up, including the squatters.
to anonymous re: nostalgia:
i don't think there should be any connection between the Philippine History and the new look of the train. the point is, the long lost hype about these old school means of transportation has been revived.
plus, don't use the old steam engine of Europe as an excuse because it's no Europe here. PNR is PNR regardless of the look of the train unit. maybe you should put that in your history.
@ old train guy,
Carlos is happy because the system is finally working. He knows that new trains and tracks would mean renovations of trains next.
Anyway,
I can't wait to go to Bicol and Baguio via the PNR! I hope it will be soon!
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