JR East and RATP Dev, a subsidiary of the Paris-based transportation authority RATP, aim to participate in the operation of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), which is currently under construction in the Philippines. On October 16, the two companies announced that they had signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly bid for the management and operation of the NSCR.
The NSCR is a new 147-kilometer rail line with 36 stations, connecting Clark International Airport, Metro Manila, and Calamba. Trains manufactured by JR East Group's J-TREC and Spain’s CAF will be introduced for the line.
JR East stated, "By establishing a strategic partnership with RATP Dev and participating in this project, we aim to contribute to the economic and social development of the Republic of the Philippines by providing sustainable and reliable public transportation services."
RATP Dev described the NSCR project as one of the most ambitious in the Philippines, noting that it presents a significant opportunity for the two companies to leverage their expertise in managing large-scale transportation networks.
RATP operates the metro, buses, suburban rail, and trams in Paris and its surrounding areas, while RATP Dev operates public transportation services in 15 countries worldwide.
The total project cost of the NSCR is approximately PHP 874 billion (around ¥2.26 trillion), financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan’s Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Although partial operations are scheduled to begin in 2028, land acquisition challenges have caused construction delays, raising the possibility of a postponed opening.
