The Spanish Railway Association Mafex, in collaboration with the consulting firm Incofer, organized a trade mission to Colombia with twelve companies from the railway industry. In Colombia there are several public and private investment projects for a railway in constant evolution. These projects are mainly focused on freight and metropolitan transport.
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(29/10/2013)
The work program included meetings with representatives from the main institutions in the country, among which are the Directorate of Infrastructure of the Ministry of Transport, the National Planning Department and the National Infrastructure Agency.
Meetings with Medellín Metro and infrastructure administrators Ferrocarril de Occidente and Cerrejón were also held. The round of contacts was completed with the visit of railway operators Carboneros, Drummond and Prodeco, as well as Vale and Ferrocarril de Occidente.
Colombian market
Until 2014, Colombia plans to boost freight traffic through the improvement, modernisation and maintenance of the 819 kilometres of lines currently existing on its network, for which 537.6 million dollars have been earmarked. Among the projects included in this area is the refurbishment work on two of the corridors of Red del Atlántico (Atlantic Network).
From 2014 on, the plan is to start building the 1,179 kilometres of new lines, for which there will be an investment of 2,624 million dollars.
All of this is accompanied by five additional initiatives from the private sector, which are currently under consideration by the Government before their final approval.
Urban transport
With respect to urban transport, the extension of the Bogotá Metro is planned, scheduled for 2015. The study and design of the new branch line is currently underway. This new line would be out to tender in two years, with the purpose of putting it into commercial operation between 2018 and 2019. In addition, the Ayacucho Tramway, in the city of Medellín, is already under construction.
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