The Economy and Development (ED) Council of the Philippines has approved the operations and maintenance (O&M) component of the North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project under a public–private partnership (PPP) scheme. 

The project is designed to enhance regional connectivity and modernize public transportation throughout Luzon. The 147-km elevated NSCR will significantly reduce travel times across Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Calabarzon. In its first year of operation, it is projected to serve around 800,000 passengers daily, with the potential to accommodate up to one million commuters over time. The railway will comprise 35 stations, including 31 elevated, three at-grade, and one underground. Pre-operational activities are scheduled to commence in March 2026 and continue through July 2027. The partial operations concession for Phase 1—covering the stretch from Clark International Airport to Valenzuela, including 13 stations—is set to begin in December 2027 and run through September 2028. Phase 2, which extends service further to Nichols in Pasay City, along with an additional segment from Alabang, Muntinlupa City, to Calamba, Laguna, will operate under concession from October 2028 to December 2031. The railway is scheduled to enter full operational service in January 2032. The total value of the operations and maintenance contract is estimated at PHP 229.32 billion (US$4 billion). 

Maintenance and operations for the NSCR will be supported by depots located in Clark (Pampanga), Valenzuela City, and Calamba (Laguna). The railway will operate two service types: commuter trains, with 51 trainsets each capable of carrying 2,242 passengers, and Limited Express trains, consisting of seven trainsets designed to hold 386 passengers each. Both services are engineered to enhance travel efficiency, with operating speeds ranging from 120 to 130 km/h. As a result, travel time from Clark to Calamba will be reduced to around three hours via commuter trains (down from about four hours), while the Limited Express service will shorten the Clark to Alabang journey to approximately two hours.