Imbert: Trains to run from Grande to Westmoorings

[Plex]

The Government�s proposed rapid rail service will run from Sangre Grande in the East to West Mall, Westmoorings, with a line running from San Fernando to the Grand Bazaar where it will connect with the main East-West line.

Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert revealed several of the stops along the line yesterday, during a breakfast meeting with members of the business community at the headquarters of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce at Columbus Circle, Westmoorings.

With traffic congestion continuosly reducing the country�s productivity, Imbert said the rapid rail will run alongside the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway and would be elevated in areas prone to flooding such as Caroni.

In an effort to reduce traffic flow into Port-of-Spain, Imbert also announced that the City Gate transit hub would be redesigned to accommodate the rail traffic.

Apart from the railway, the �new� City Gate will feature bus, maxi taxi and taxi terminals.

Imbert suggested that the transportation system would be integrated and a �downtown circulator� would also be housed in City Gate, limiting the number of cars entering the city.

�The downtown circulator system would consist of small, easily accessible buses, peripheral parking areas and terminals to allow commuters to avoid downtown parking and congestion,� he said.

In justifying the rail system, Imbert said the cost of acquiring property for a special purpose busyway would be exorbitant.

Finincial details

Imbert also revealed that the Government would not be able to recover its $7 billion capital investment in the rapid rail project from the fares to be charged for the service.

There is no way the capital cost could be recovered from (charging) fares...That is basically impossible,� he said.

We see the capital costs of projects like this as redistribution of the income from oil and gas.

We do not intend and we have never intended to recover the capital cost of this project through fares.�

The projected annual operating cost of the rapid rail system will be $300 million.

During a question and answer session, T&T Transparency International vice-chairman Victor Hart questioned the changing cost of the project over the past three years�from $20 billion to $7 billion.

He called for a financial feasibility study to be done before the contract for the rapid rail system was awarded.

Imbert discarded the suggestion.

He said the reduced cost of the rail was due to the reduction in its distance.

Imbert also said the country was at three times the international benchmark for mass rapid transit.

He cited several transportation studies ranging from one done by Canadian consultancy firm Cansult�s in 1996 to another by Indian consultancy firm Rites Limited.

Imbert maintained that both studies called for a rapid rail system.

He stated that the operating cost for the rail was based on a detailed study of the length of track, energy costs, the number of trains, repairs, operating hours and wage rates.

The Trinidad Guardian

[NarendZORCE]

I hope this plan pulls through. We need a PROPER high tech rail system. Secure, Star-Trek Appeal and it must be STRICTLY maintained.
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[Plex]

Agreed, it should ease the traffic congestion on the road...It can be a cost savings for any driver with his car less wear & tear; less mental stress to work etc..

I really hope $7 billion dollars is spent properly..