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Uruguay expects passenger train between Progreso and Montevideo before 2029
🇺🇾 Uruguay /Economy & Trade

Uruguay expects passenger train between Progreso and Montevideo before 2029

From El País · (16h ago) Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Uruguay's Minister of Transport and Public Works, Lucía Etcheverry, expressed a strong expectation that a new passenger train connecting Progreso and Montevideo will be operational before 2029.
  • A consultancy from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is studying the feasibility of the project, which will utilize the existing Ferrocarril Central infrastructure.
  • The government aims to have a defined project by the second half of this year, with significant construction starting in 2027 and substantial completion by 2029, aligning with President Orsi's goals.

The Uruguayan government is making significant strides in improving public transportation infrastructure, with a particular focus on re-establishing passenger rail service between Progreso and Montevideo. Minister Lucía Etcheverry has voiced a firm expectation that this vital link will be operational well before 2029, signaling a commitment to modernizing the country's transit systems.

Estamos con una firme expectativa de que bastante antes del 2029 vamos a tener transporte de pasajeros

— Lucía EtcheverryMinister of Transport and Public Works, Lucía Etcheverry, expressing her expectation for the new passenger train service.

This initiative is not just about convenience; it represents a substantial investment in the Ferrocarril Central, a project that the minister believes deserves a strong, visible signal of progress to the citizenry. The project's feasibility is currently being assessed by a consultancy from the Inter-American Development Bank (BID), ensuring a thorough and internationally-backed evaluation.

Porque además, esta inversión histórica en el Ferrocarril que ha hecho el país merece también una fuerte señal a la ciudadanía

— Lucía EtcheverryMinister Etcheverry on the significance of the investment in the Ferrocarril Central.

Beyond the Progreso-Montevideo line, the Ministry of Transport is also advancing a metropolitan transport reform. While an initial plan involving tunneling on Avenida 18 de Julio was shelved following discussions with the capital's mayor, Mario Bergara, the ministry is moving forward with conceptual design and expects to define the project by the second half of this year. Construction is slated to begin in 2027, with a target for significant completion by 2029, the final year of President Yamandú Orsi's current term.

Estamos en esta semana, o a más tardar la próxima, concretando el llamado para la contratación del diseño conceptual del proyecto

— Lucía EtcheverryMinister Etcheverry on the timeline for contracting the conceptual design of the metropolitan transport reform.

From Uruguay's perspective, this is more than just infrastructure development; it's about enhancing the quality of life for citizens and demonstrating tangible progress. The emphasis on evidence-based decision-making and the strategic alignment with the president's goals underscore a national drive towards efficient and effective public services. The successful implementation of these projects will be a key indicator of the government's commitment to national development and citizen well-being.

Seguimos trabajando con mucho compromiso para tomar las decisiones más informadas y con evidencias. Siempre con el foco puesto en mejorar la calidad de vida de la gente

— Lucía EtcheverryMinister Etcheverry on the government's approach to decision-making in transport projects.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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