ShareThisMANILA — The iconic Bicol Express from Manila to the Bicol Region or up to Naga City is back.
In line with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s directive to improve the transportation industry in order to spur economic development in the countryside, the Philippine National Railways resumed operations of its Manila-Naga train route Wednesday.
The “soft opening” of the PNR’s famed “Bicol Express” is meant to test the market and get objective feedbacks from paying train passengers.
“PNR will just have a soft opening of the Bicol Express Wednesday (June 29). The purpose of this measure is to get an impartial and unbiased feedback from the paying passengers and have enough time to improve PNR’s services before it proceeds with its grand opening later,” the PNR said in a statement.
Ever since the long hiatus of the Bicol Express, PNR decided it best to have the operation in stages starting with a soft run and giving reduced train fares for the coming few trips.
In this manner, the PNR can test the market and adjust and correct minor problems or inconveniences that might arise before it makes the Bicol Express fully operational.