Korean contractor Hyundai Engineering & Construction has been chosen by the Philippines Department of Transportation to build three out of nine sections of the country’s 56km Southern Commuter Railway that will connect Manila with the city of Calamba.

The contract, which is worth $1.2bn, requires Hyundai E&C to construct 32km of track. Another Korean company, Dong-Ah Geological Engineering, won a £134m deal to install foundations for the project.

No starting date was given for the work, but Hyundai said it would take 57 months to complete.

The railway will form part of the North–South Commuter Railway, also know as the Clark–Calamba Railway, which will run for 147km between New Clark City and Calamba, and will have 36 stations.