SANTIAGO, Sept 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced a 5 billion U.S.-dollar investment plan to renovate and expand the country’s railway network.
“Trains are not just going to be part of the daily life of Chileans as passengers, but also part of our country’s economic life,” said Pinera.
“We are making a great effort so the railways will not only improve the quality of life of our compatriots, but also make a great contribution to the development of our country,” Pinera added.
Called “Chile on rails,” the plan consists of 25 projects and 1,000 additional kilometers of rails, with an eye to serving triple the number of current users by 2027, or some 150 million passengers. The scheme also aims to duplicate cargo capacity to 21 million tons.
Some 56 percent of the investment is earmarked for regional projects away from the capital Santiago, officials stressed.
In the first half of the 20th century, Chile had an extensive railway network that connected nearly the entire country.
The network was developed by foreign interests in the saltpeter and charcoal mining industries. As these industries petered out and automobiles took precedence, the railways were left to languish.
