The Chilean government has approved the US $ 1.9 billion 2020-22 investment plan of the Chilean National Railway Company. A US $ 1.3 billion project in Chile will start in June 2020 to build a railway between Santiago and Melipira, while the Santiago to Batuco line, which costs US $ 650 million, and Consai, which costs US $ 220 million The Pusio Biobio railway bridge will start construction in 2021.

Chilean National Railways also plans to modernize the Santiago – Chillan intercity service at a cost of US $ 115 million. This includes the construction of a rolling stock maintenance center. The project started a tender for engineering research on April 20. The technical tender will begin on July 13, followed by an economic tender on July 31, and the contract is expected to be awarded in August.

The Chilean National Railway Company plans to provide some funding for the project by issuing a US $ 130 million bond, which is expected to be issued soon. Other projects include retrofitting the Talca-Constitucion line, expanding the commuter rail service from Valparaiso to Quillota and La Calera, purchasing vehicles for the San Diego-Nos-Rancagua commuter line, and upgrading the freight line to San Antonio.

long term plan

The 2020-22 plan is part of a long-term $ 5.57 billion investment plan that aims to increase annual passenger capacity from about 50 million passengers to 174 million passengers by 2027, while increasing the annual passenger capacity Increased from 11.5 million tons to 21 million tons.

42% of the planned investment of the Chilean National Railways will be used for suburban services on the existing routes from Santiago to the south, southwest and northwest to serve new housing development projects.

Most of the funds will be used for the new commuter rail service from Santiago Alami to Maloco and Melipira. The project was tendered in 2002, but no valid bid was received, mainly due to differences of opinion between EFE and the San Diego Metro. The new project will be implemented by the European Railway Passenger Transport Company alone, with an estimated annual passenger flow of 30 million to 50 million passengers, which will become the most frequently used service by the European Railway Passenger Transport Company.

About 20% of the investment will be used for suburban services in Valparaiso and Concepcion.

goods

One of the country ’s main integrated freight ports is located in Valparaíso, while the ports of Talcahuano and Rilcon in Concepción handle large amounts of forestry products. Rail freight through the port of Valparaíso is scarce, and if there is no significant investment in the new railway corridor proposed by the private sector consortium, the possibility of recovery is very small.

However, the Chilean National Railways plan includes projects aimed at increasing passenger flow in the suburbs of Concepción, while minimizing conflicts with freight services. It is essential to build a new bridge on the Biobio River to replace the 130-year-old monorail bridge.

About 20% of the planned investment is to promote rail transportation, especially between San Diego and a new giant port to be built in San Antonio on the west coast of San Diego. In the first stage, the railway layout will be improved on the port side, a new freight terminal will be designed on the city side, and the loop will be extended along the monorail line. In the second phase, the terminal will be completed and the entire line will be upgraded to a dual line, including through the tunnel.Editor / Huang Lijun