Clark International Airport station explained

Clark International Airport
Symbol:PNR
Symbol Location:manila
Address:Clark Freeport
Mabalacat, Pampanga
Country:Philippines
Coordinates:15.1988°N 120.5566°W
Owned:Philippine National Railways
Operator:Philippine National Railways
Line:North Commuter
Platform:Two island platforms
Tracks:4
Other:P2P buses
Clark International Airport
Structure:Underground
Parking:Yes
Bicycle:No
Accessible:Yes
Status:Under construction
Opening:2027

Clark International Airport station is an under-construction underground North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) airport rail link station located in Pampanga, Philippines. The station will host the first direct airport rail link in the country, being connected to its namesake, the Clark International Airport.[1]

Station layout

The station is located underground. It will have two island platforms and quadruple tracks, stemming at a section of the line underneath a roundabout for roads at ground-level. Allowances for a future transport hub have already been allotted and a parking lot is located atop the station.

History

A rail link from Clark International Airport to the capital was originally planned in the 1990s.[2] The first proposal, called the "Manila–Clark rapid railway system", was discontinued due to disagreement on funding. In the early 2000s, the Northrail project was pursued. This involved the conversion the rail gauge from narrow gauge to standard gauge, and linking Manila to Malolos, Bulacan and eventually to Clark and the airport. While the project commenced in 2007, it was repeatedly halted due to allegations of overpricing, then discontinued in 2011.[3] [4] The station is being constructed as part of the second phase of the North–South Commuter Railway.[5]

Design

The station will be built at the end of the Clark spur line of the NSCR, while the mainline will lead to the future New Clark City station in Capas, Tarlac. Without a railway wye to link the station with New Clark City, there are no direct segments linking the two sections.[6]

It will begin as an approximately 1000m (3,000feet) quadruple-track segment of the mainline before splitting near the SCTEXNLEX Interchange Road. From there, it will continue as an elevated line for at least 1000m (3,000feet) before approaching an at-grade section in which the two depot tracks for the Mabalacat rail yard will meet the branch line. The Clark Airport-bound section will transition from at-grade to depressed before approaching a Y-junction with one of the depot tracks. At this point, the rest of the line will be underground until it reaches the station. According to detailed design documents, the maximum speed for this section is at 120km/h due to a tighter curve radius.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Paz . Chrisee Dela . 25 June 2017 . 17 stations of Manila-Clark Railway announced . 2019-04-24 . Rappler . en.
  2. Web site: Off track: Northrail timeline. February 17, 2019. ABS-CBN News.
  3. Web site: Landingin. Roel. Chinese foreign aid goes offtrack in the Philippines. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120425082137/http://www.realityofaid.org/userfiles/roareports/roareport_452449c76e.pdf. April 25, 2012. October 20, 2011. PCIJ (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism).
  4. Web site: Philippines: China-funded Northrail project derailed. February 17, 2019. Financial Times. en-GB.
  5. News: Romero . Maria . March 8, 2021 . PNR Clark Phase 1 almost 50% complete–DoTr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210308114142/https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/03/08/pnr-clark-phase-1-almost-50-complete-dotr/ . March 8, 2021 . March 9, 2021 . Tribune.net.ph.
  6. Sekiguchi. T.. Balakrishnan. V.. MCRP Detailed Design, General Details for CP-N04: Bidding Documents. The Detailed Design Study (including Feasibility Study) of the Malolos-Clark Railway Project and the North-South Railway Project-South Line. Japan International Cooperation Agency, Tokyo Metro Co. Ltd., et al.. II. 4. May 6, 2019.