The Philippine National Railway or PNR as it is more commonly known, has faced neglect and lack of funding over recent decades. The rail network consists of two main rail lines: the North Main Line, commonly known as Northrail, and the South Main Line, likewise known as Southrail. In Metro Manila, the lines are also known as the Green and Orange Lines respectively.

This network spanned over 900km of line stretching from San Fernando City in La Union to Legaspi City in Albay. Northrail stretching over 300km from Manila to San Fernando City was abandoned in the late 1980s leaving only Southrail currently operational.

Both Northrail and Southrail are single-track lines (except in Metro Manila) built using the older cape gauge standard. This results in lateral instability, together with the age of most of the passenger cars means that trains can only run up to 50 km/h.

In the early 2000s the Philippine government understood the need to rehabilitate these lines, both increasing tourism and providing the public with an efficient and speedier form of transportation within the island of Luzon.

Construction has already begun on the rehabilitation of Northrail, Southrail and creating a Northrail-Southrail linkage (which previously did not exist). Both China and Korea are involved with these projects.

The North and South rail projects will be upgraded from the present-day single track to a dual-track system, (separate tracks for north and south bound trains to allow for simultaneous operation) and will be capable of speeds from approximately 80 to 130 kph.

The railways to be rehabilitated/built are: