T&T Rapid Rail project cost $55M so far: Imbert

Works Minister Colm Imbert told the Senate Monday government has paid $55 million to Trinitrain Consortium for the first phase of the billion-dollar rapid rail project. That phase is expected to be completed in April.

Read about Trinitrain Conrortium

The project is in three phases. The first involves planning, identification of feasible alternatives and preliminary engineering.

The second is the design and construction and the final phase is operation and maintenance phase for 15 years.

But Imbert said the project is not even a certainty, adding that at the end of phase one government would take of of three options.

• proceed with Trinitrain as the contractor to commence design and construction for some of segments of the project
• have a competitive tender process for the project
• to put the entire project on hold

"No decision has been made to date regarding these options. The decision will be made following completion of phase one when the Government will have the full detail of the prices negotiated with Trinitrain for phases two and three," the minister said.

Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Teshiera has hinted that given the current economic situation the government may decide to halt the project.

Imbert has not said if the initial $55 million preliminary contract would have to be done all over whenever government decides to proceed with it.