TRAINS and training simulators for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) will arrive late this year, Transportation Secretary Arthur 'Art' Tugade said.

The trains will arrive in December while the training simulator for the Philippine National Railway's Clark Phase 1 project will arrive between September and October.

'Mayroon tayong lugar na tinatayo ng DOTr na paglalagyan ng simulator. Ito ang gagamitin para sa training ng mga taong magpapatakbo at gagabay sa proyektong ito (DOTr is building a place for the simulator. This will be used to train employees),' Tugade said in a statement.

The PNR Clark Phase 1 Project is a 38-kilometer railway that runs from the Tutuban Station in Manila through the cities of Caloocan, Valenzuela and the municipalities of Meycuayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto and ends in Malolos, Bulacan. It can accommodate 300,000 passengers daily and will shorten travel time from Malolos, Bulacan to Tutuban, Manila to 35 minutes.

The rail line is funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Meanwhile, the PNR Clark Phase 2 project will connect Malolos, Bulacan and Clark, Pampanga. It will also feature the country's first Airport Express which will take travelers from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Makati City in Metro Manila in 55 minutes.