Ian Thomson Newman

REHABILITATION is underway of the 62km line linking Tacna in southern Perú, with Arica in northern Chile, and the passenger service should be restored in July with two round trips per day using a refurbished railbus.

Last month President Michelle Bachelet of Chile announced ambitious plans to develop public transport in the country's main cities, with a focus on Santiago. Ian Thomson Newman outlines the objectives of the plan.

THE Chilean government has announced a $US 4.2bn urban public transport investment plan, of which some 45% is slated to be financed by concessionaires.

SERVICES on the first metro line in the Peruvian capital Lima reached the northwestern suburb of San Juan de Lurigancho on July 26 with the opening of the 12.4km second phase from Miguel Grau to Bayóvar.

THE Chilean embassy in Argentina and the government of the Argentinean province of Salta hosted a symposium for senior diplomats, politicians, and industrialists in Salta on May 29 with the aim of kickstarting the revival of the Northern Transandine railway.

During the last 50 years, Bolivia has carried out five feasibility studies into connecting its two separate networks, but not one of them has brought the project closer to fruition. With a sixth study underway, Ian Thomson-Newman questions the prospects for a new Atlantic - Pacific rail link.

Chilean State Railways, which operates commuter rail lines in Santiago, Valparaíso and Concepción, is expanding services in all three cities. Ian Thomson-Newman outlines the strategy.

CHILEAN State Railways (EFE) has revised its plans for the re-inauguration of freight services over the Chilean section of the Arica to La Paz Railway (FCALP).

SOARING traffic has encouraged Chilean State Railways (EFE) to dust off plans for a new suburban service in Santiago, and extensions to the commuter rail lines in Concepción and Valparaíso.

A BILATERAL agreement was signed in Buenos Aires on October 15 that will pave the way for the restoration of freight services across the border between Chile and Argentina.