TT getting $7-b light rail in three years: Imbert

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is spending $190 million (US$30 million) for the design and planning of its proposed Rapid Rail Transit System.

It says the first part of phase one of the rail project would be completed by the end of 2009, with a further $266 million (US$42 million) on the second portion of this phase.

But government is still holding the option not to proceed with the project. Works Minister Colm Imbert told reporters in such a case, government would not be able to any of the $190 million invested in the design and planning phase.

He shrugged off the cost calling it "a small figure" in the context of the overall estimated capital cost of $7 billion (US$1.2 billion).

The contract is between Government and Trinitrain, a consortium comprising Bouygues Construction, Alstom and RATP Development. The Consortium would operate and maintain the service for 15 years.

Imbert explained that the first segment of the project would provide service between Port of Spain and St Joseph and from the capital to Chaguanas. He said that route could be in use in three years, which would be near the end of the mandate of the current government.

Other segments include a Diego Martin-to-Port of Spain route, Port of Spain to Arima, Arima to Sangre Grande and Curepe to San Fernando. He said he expects the railway to be fully operational by 2012 or 2013 with the capacity to move at least 100,000 people daily.

Imbert boasted that the procurement exercise was "one of the most transparent in the world" with an anti-corruption clause that the Government is willing to make public, although he didn’t produce any details of the clause.

While Imbert was giving time lines for the project he didn’t provide cost estimates for the acquisition of the lands on which the railway would run. "We have a ball park figure, which I would prefer not to disclose at this point in time," he said.

"We are going to try and minimise land acquisition but there were some areas where it is inevitable, especially where you come into Port of Spain and it is densely populated," he said.

Used water taxis bought

On another transportation development, Imbert revealed that government has bought four used ferries for $85 million (US$12.6 million) for its water taxi service between Port of Spain and San Fernando.

But he could not say when they would arrive. “Seeing is believing. I have been burnt too many times with those boats. And when I see them, then I will believe."

He hoped they would in Trinidad soon so the ferry service could get into full gear. He explained that using the old boats (one of them is eight years old) is an interim measure because government is planning to buy new one.