San Fernando station (Pampanga)

15°1′36.6″N 120°41′12.15″E

San Fernando
General information
LocationSan Fernando, Pampanga
Philippines
Owned byPhilippine National Railways
Operated byPhilippine National Railways
Line(s)Planned: North Commuter
Former:   North Main Line
PlatformsIsland platform (New station)
Tracks4 (New station)
Construction
Structure typeAt grade (Old station)
Elevated (New station)
Parkingno
Bicycle facilitiesno
Other information
StatusClosed (Old station)
Under construction (New station)
Station codeSFN
History
OpenedFebruary 23, 1892 (1892-02-23); 2024
Closed1988 (Old station)
Rebuilt2021-present (New station)
Future services
Preceding station PNR Following station
Angeles
towards Clark International Airport
 NSCR Commuter Apalit
towards Calamba
Angeles
towards New Clark City
 Apalit
towards Tutuban

San Fernando Train Station is a former railway station located on the North Main Line in Pampanga, Philippines. The station was the site of a stopping place for Filipino and American prisoners of war during the Bataan death march in 1942.[1][2] It is currently being rebuilt as part of the second phase of the North–South Commuter Railway.[3][4] As part of the project, the old station will also be preserved.[5] The old station is a historical landmark in the city.

History

The station was inaugurated by Governor-General Eulogio Despujol and Bernardino Nozaleda, the Archbishop of Manila, on February 23, 1892.[2] On June 27, 1892, José Rizal disembarked from this station to meet some recruits for La Liga Filipina and again the next day en route to Bacolor.[2][6] In April 1942, during the Bataan Death March, the station served as the ending point for the 102-kilometer (63-mile) march from Bataan, from which Filipino and American prisoners-of-war were carted to Capas in Tarlac en route to their final destination, Camp O'Donnell.[1][6]

The station has been closed since the ending of northbound rail services by Philippine National Railways (PNR) in 1988.[7]

The station was to be rebuilt as a part of the Northrail project, which involved the upgrading of the existing single track to an elevated dual-track system, converting the rail gauge from narrow gauge to standard gauge, and linking Manila to Malolos in Bulacan and further on to Angeles City, Clark Special Economic Zone and Clark International Airport.[8] The project commenced in 2007, but was repeatedly halted then discontinued in 2011.[9][10][11]

  • Façade of the train station
    Façade of the train station
  • Frontage
    Frontage
  • Death March marker in the station
    Death March marker in the station
  • Station historical marker (2004)
    Station historical marker (2004)
  • Rear view
    Rear view
  • The station in 2023.
    The station in 2023.

References
  1. Orejas, Tonette. "Death March glimpses in old train station". Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  2. Arcellaz, Princess Clea (August 20, 2017). "San Fernando assures preservation of city's old train station". Sunstar. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  3. Paz, Chrisee Dela (June 25, 2017). "17 stations of Manila-Clark Railway announced". Rappler. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  4. Romero, Maria (March 8, 2021). "PNR Clark Phase 1 almost 50% complete–DoTr". Tribune.net.ph. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  5. INQUIRER.net (June 4, 2019). "PNR to preserve old train stations in Bulacan". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  6. "San Fernando train station | San Fernando, Pampanga - Baktin Corporation". Baktin Corporation. January 16, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  7. "Brief history of PNR". Philippine National Railways (February 27, 2009). Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  8. "Off track: Northrail timeline". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  9. "Northrail construction now 'on track'". bayan-natin.blogspot.com. December 17, 2007. Retrieved October 20, 2011. Sourced to The Manila Bulletin.
  10. Landingin, Roel. "Chinese foreign aid goes offtrack in the Philippines" (PDF). PCIJ (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  11. "Philippines: China-funded Northrail project derailed". Financial Times. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
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