LETTER: "The Pilgrim" questions the cost of T&T's Rapid rail

So, Imbert says that the GOTT has so far paid TT$55 Million for the first phase of the rapid rail project.

At an exchange rate of US$1.00=TT$6.30, this converts to US$8.73 Million. The question now arises: what exactly did 'Trinitrain Consortium' actually DO that cost so much.

The explanation that it covers "the planning, identification of feasible alternatives and preliminary engineering" is very suspect when compared to the cost of actual "design and construction".

Surely 'planning' and 'preliminary engineering' must have a design component, else what exactly is being planned and what is being engineered?

How could this phase cost almost US$9 Million, when the design, construction, and supply of materials and the actual rapid rail system including engines, cars, etc. costs by comparison Euro 16,678,133, which at an exchange rate of EURO 1.00 = TT$9.18 comes to TT$153,118,168 or US$24,304,470?

Does "planning, identification of feasible alternatives and preliminary engineering" usually cost 1/3 of the total cost of the project, and yet does not actually "design" anything?

The math seems askew, and someone needs to pursue this matter further. Specifically, one must ask who exactly is Trinitrain Consortium? And are any of the usual suspects involved in it either directly or indirectly, including UDECOTT, Sunway, Monteil, and so on.

I have said it before: the Devil is in the details...
"The Pilgrim" - Via email