PARAGUAY’s Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) has presented the technical feasibility study for a 44km light rail line between the capital Asunción and the neighbouring town of Ypacaraí, with tenders to construct the line under a $US 300m public-private partnership (PPP) due to be released later this year.
The study was completed by Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation (Kind), a subsidiary of Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The line will be constructed in four sections:
- Section 1: Central Station - Botanico (7.5km)
- Section 2: Botanico - Luque (8.2km)
- Section 3: Luque - Yuquyry (7.3km)
- Section 4: Yuquyry - Aregua - Patino - Ypacarai (21.17km)
The proposed line will be double track from Central to Luque, and single track from Luque to Ypacarai. The Central - Ypacarai section is estimated to attract 121,000 journeys a day in 2026, rising to 160,000 in 2055, while the Central - Luque section is expected to attract 108,000 journeys a day by 2026, rising to 138,000 a day by 2055.
The 30km/h line will be integrated with other modes of transport through an electronic ticketing system, with fares set at a nominal price of Guarani 3600 ($US 0.53), although this will be decided at a later date.
A series of presentations of the study were attended by Chilean freight operator Pacific Railways, the Ministry of Finance, the Technical Secretariat for Economic and Social Development Planning (STP), the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC), senators, deputies and representatives of Kind.
Following the presentations, the head of the MOPC, Mr Arnoldo Wiens, and representatives from Kind signed a cooperation agreement to provide support and continuity for the project.
The first phase of the double-track line will run from Central Station to Luque, using the right of way of the former Carlos Antonio López railway.
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