There’s one thing nostalgic and calming about railway journey that I get pleasure from every time I journey trains in different nations. From the distinctive horn asserting arrivals and departures, the rhythmic clickety-clack of the wheels, the swaying movement on the tracks, and the altering surroundings of rural landscapes, touring by prepare presents a distinct expertise to what I’m usually used to.
On a prepare, you don’t must take care of visitors on the highway or the warmth and discomfort of different types of public transport. Not like vans which squeeze passengers in like sardines and confine you to at least one spot the entire time, you may stretch your legs, stroll round, and discover completely different cabins on a prepare. Prepare journey could also be sluggish, however f you’re not in a rush, it may also be very enjoyable . You’ll be able to simply sleep in consolation, get misplaced in a guide, or watch the surroundings roll by.
The final time I rode the PNR prepare within the nation was again in 2011 through the short-lived revival of the Bicol Specific route from Manila to Naga. Whereas this long-haul route is at present suspended as a consequence of ongoing railway rehabilitation, it’s nonetheless potential to go on shorter prepare rides from Naga, Camarines Sur to Sipocot and Legazpi, Albay on the Bicol Commuter regional rail service.
I’ve been eager to journey the PNR prepare once more only for the expertise, so when a highway journey round Albay and Sorsogon with Naga-based dad and mom got here up, I made a decision to incorporate the 100-kilometer route from Naga Metropolis to Legazpi Metropolis in Albay by way of the PNR prepare journey to kick off the journey.
Coming from Manila the night time earlier than, I took Isarog Traces Bus Okay (guide tickets on-line right here), which departed at Cubao at 8:30 pm and arrived at 5:15 am simply in time to catch the primary PNR prepare departing for Legazpi at 5:38 a.m. The timing was a bit tight, so if you wish to arrive earlier within the morning, you may journey buses that go away at 6:30 or 7:30 pm simply to be protected. In case your bus is delayed, you might additionally catch the afternoon prepare to Legazpi and arrive within the night, although it is likely to be too darkish to get a view of the surroundings. GoogleMaps is up to date with the PNR prepare schedule, and you may simply see what station you’re in with the GPS.
For locals who stay in Bicol, using the PNR prepare in all probability feels as routine and bizarre as how metropolis people really feel about using the MRT and LRT. However there’s at all times one thing enjoyable about making an attempt a brand new route for the primary time. Driving trains in Manila isn’t precisely scenic, whereas this specific prepare route passes by Albay, providing views of Mayon Volcano, the world’s most good cone.
I needed to rush a bit from the bus station to the prepare station however getting tickets was simple. The prepare ticket from Naga to Legazpi prices P155 per particular person, with reductions for seniors, PWDs and college students.
Not a variety of passengers journey from finish to finish repeatedly. There have been a variety of empty seats coming from the Naga terminal, although extra passengers received on at different prepare stations and flag stops. The cabins are all new and clear and the air-conditioning was fairly sturdy. Since I rode in a single day from Manila on a chilly bus, I used to be ready with a jacket and an inflatable neck pillow, which made the journey extra comfy.
Not like the front-facing seats and sleeper cabins discovered within the outdated Bicol Specific, the seats listed below are all on the aspect, much like the LRT commuter trains. The journey from Naga to Legazpi takes roughly 3 hours, so passengers have loads of time to make amends for sleep on board.
Among the finest components of prepare journey is attending to admire the surroundings. Sadly, some home windows of the prepare aren’t that clear as a result of the intense warmth has warped a few of the clear stickers and tint outdoors overlaying the glass home windows making their floor look cracked, so that you may not get the perfect views relying on the place you sit.
I transferred to a seat close to the entrance of the prepare the place the home windows have been a bit clearer. You’ll be able to spot Mayon Volcano when you attain cities of Albay like Ligao and Daraga. Whereas it’s arduous to take pictures on a shifting prepare, you may nonetheless benefit from the view. PNR beforehand shared this view of the prepare from the driving force’s POV.
Not like terminals with stations, flag stops are platforms alongside the tracks with metallic stairs the place passengers can board or alight from the prepare simply. If you happen to journey from a flagstop, you may pay the roving conductors for tickets.
In the course of the journey, I ended up having a chat with one of many conductors and discovered that almost all passengers are every day commuters who use the prepare for the shorter legs, fairly than leisure vacationers after sightseeing in Albay. He mentioned they’d in all probability get extra passengers if the prepare left earlier within the morning, in time for workers and college students to get to highschool and work on time in Legazpi and Naga respectively (the trains arrive somewhat earlier than 9:00 am on each ends).
For leisure vacationers on the lookout for a brand new approach to discover Bicol, it’s potential to deliver pets (so long as they’re carrying diapers) and folding bicycles aboard the prepare, in order that’s one thing that may curiosity bikers desirous to discover Albay sooner or later. Sadly, bikers can’t journey and produce full-sized bicycles contained in the prepare (except they’re dismantled, packed correctly, and handled as cargo with a separate charge equal to at least one particular person). Hopefully, they’ll change this rule sooner or later.
There was a slight delay within the Travesia station after I rode, which gave passengers an opportunity to make use of the restroom on the station. Not like the sleeper cabins of the outdated, there’s no restroom on board the brand new trains, so make certain to go earlier than or after your journey. You wouldn’t wish to be caught at a random terminal because the prepare leaves.
The prepare rolled into the Legazpi Station on Penaranda Road at 8:56 am, about 14 minutes behind the anticipated time of arrival. Usually, the entire journey time must be round 3 hours and 4 minutes.
The tip of the road in Albay is the enduring Legaspi Station, a pebbled artwork deco prepare station designed by Pablo Antonio Sr. (1901-1975), who’s thought to be the Father of Philippine Fashionable Structure and the 1976 Nationwide Artist Awardee for Structure.
This station initially designed within the late Nineteen Thirties is confronted with the Manila Railroad Firm’s signature stone masonry. Whereas the design feels very dated by trendy requirements, should you’re a historical past buff, you’ll discover the classic look notable. I’m glad they preserved the unique heritage look as a substitute of constructing a contemporary station as an alternative.
I seemed for a restaurant within the neighborhood to kill time, however most locations weren’t open but so I hailed a tricycle to SM Legazpi as a substitute for brunch and to regroup with household who drove a automobile from Naga. In case you weren’t in a position to get a superb view of Mayon from the prepare, when you’re in Albay, you may your fill from wherever within the metropolis from completely different vantage factors, together with the mall’s Meals Corridor on the third Ground.
to strive using the Naga to Legazpi PNR route sooner or later? Take a look at my full journey information with detailed schedules, fares, working timetable, FAQs, journey ideas and extra right here.
