See Axis of Logic's extensive report on Venezuela's new railway system with photos of trains, railways and construction

March 22, 2009 Railway Development Boosts Dynamically

The program, having started in 2006 and lasting until 2030, will include the installation of 15 13,000-kilometers-railways connecting the states of the northern coasts with the center and west of the country, as well as it will promote the economic exchange with the members of ALBA and UNASUR

The Bolivarian Government continues executing the National Plan for Railways Development, started in 2006 and expected to be consolidated for 2030, with the construction of 15 railways of more than 13,000 kilometers long.

The project implies the consolidation of the newest communication system of Venezuela, and it will be able to transport about 210 million passengers a year and an estimate charge of 190 million tons per year by 1,548 trains.

It will have 379 train stations, including passenger stations, cargo stations, technical stations and inter-stations all over the country.

The main purposes are guaranteeing the national endogenous development by means of a railways system, decongesting the national road system and providing new development scopes, as well as considerably saving energy per passenger and ton of cargo transported, facilitating the development of border towns and stimulating the drop of overpopulation in the north-coastal region.

Additionally, the railways system is expected to strengthen international trade with the countries member of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of our America (ALBA, Spanish acronym) and of the South-American Nations Union (UNASUR, Spanish acronym) among other integration mechanisms.

The system comprises the stretch Tinaco-Anaco (Guárico-Anzoátegui, Center- northwest), whose construction started on March 22, during Aló Presidente broadcast number 328.

The stretch called “Emilio Arévalo Cedeño”, is part of the North plains- Center West System, including the states of Cojedes, Guárico, Aragua and Anzoátegui, with a length of 468 kilometers and 10 stations (Tinaco, El Pao, Dos Caminos, El Sombrero, Chaguaramas, Valle de la Pascua, Tucupido, Zaraza, Aragua de Barcelona and Anaco). It will count on 4 inter-stations and a demand per year of 5,800,000 passengers and 9,800,000 cargo tons, and a speed of 220 Km/H. It will also generate 1,800 direct and more than 5,400 indirect employments.

The main purpose of the construction of this stretch is the operation of a multi-modal passenger and cargo transportation system cheaper and more efficient.

This stretch will benefit the Endogenous Development Centers (NUDE, Spanish acronym) of Campo Libertador, Argimiro Gabaldón, Santa Rosa de Tácata, Roblecito and Agua Clara, among others.

Also, it will include the economic areas of Sustainable Development of Mesa de Guanipa, Camatagua, and El Sombrero.

Likewise, the stretch San Juan-San Fernando, called “Rodrigo Arévalo” is under construction, and is part of the route La Encrucijada- San Fernando de Apure. It will cover the states of Guárico and Apure (south). It will count on a length of 252 kilometers, seven stations in total (San Juan, Ortiz, El Rastro, Calabozo, Corozo Pando, Camaguán, and San Fernando de Apure) and four stockpile centers (Ortiz, Calabozo, and San Fernando de Apure), with a electrified double railway.

This stretch, will have a demand per year of 2,700,000 passengers and 2,800,000 cargo tons, with a speed of 180 Km/H, it will produce 1,800 direct and about 2,160 indirect jobs.

This route is conceived for the development of the north plains region and the Orinoco Apure Belt, permitting the efficient and cheap transportation of big amount of cargo and passengers and establishing a communication means between the development scopes: La Encrucijada, Aragua state (junction of many trade routes of the north coastal area) and San Fernando de Apure at an Industrial level.

The stretch will also cover Calabozo, a very prosperous area in terms of agriculture and fishing. Additionally, it will stimulate the interregional trade and the economic growth of the surrounding populations.