Recently, a significant official announcement next to the abandoned railway line in Medellin reignited the hope of the Antiochians. A railway plan that has been on hold for several years is about to receive new funding and vitality.

Andres Julian Renton, the Governor of Antioquia Province, announced that he will apply to the legislative body for financial approval of 2.6 trillion pesos to fund the first phase of the stalled riverbank train project.

Seeking a breakthrough in the stalemate

The 63 kilometer riverside train project is planned to connect Caldas and Barbosa, and will operate on an abandoned railway line parallel to the A line of the Medellin Metro. Among the 17 planned stations, 8 can be interchanged with the subway.

Although the technical and planning research of the project was completed in 2021, its progress has encountered a series of obstacles. One of the main reasons is the delay in obtaining the national common funds required by Colombian law. In addition, the project is also facing multiple challenges such as the shift in policy focus from the government of President Gustavo P é tro to freight upgrading, as well as overlapping responsibilities between the Antioquia Provincial Railway Agency, the Medellin Metro, and the Abrara Valley Urban Authority.

Governor Lundong pointed out that the first phase of the funding application can be fully covered by regional resources, and all feasibility studies have been completed. Once the funding is approved, the regional government is expected to determine the specific delivery mode of the project in early 2026.

Long term regional blueprint

At present, the project is considering two construction plans: the first is to construct the northern section of about 32 kilometers between Belo and Barbosa through public works bidding. The second plan is more ambitious, aiming to restore the entire abandoned corridor of 193 kilometers between Port Berio and Caldas through a public-private partnership model. The latter plan will reconnect the line to the national railway network and provide a freight channel to the deep-water port of Santa Marta in the Caribbean Sea and the central city of La Dorada, greatly enhancing regional connectivity.

The riverside train is just a part of the grand regional vision of Antioquia province. The long-term plan of the province aims to develop 7 corridors, including the Urawa Railway, Coffee Railway, and Northern Railway, with a total length of 2497 kilometers by 2053. In addition, the high-speed railway project connecting Medellin and the capital Bogota is also under consideration, which is consistent with the strategic direction of Colombia's first large-scale infrastructure project under the the Belt and Road cooperation in recent months - the western tram project. Keywords: International News and Information, International News Network

The restart of the riverside train marks a crucial progress by the local government of Colombia in breaking the administrative and funding deadlock and promoting critical infrastructure projects. It is not only expected to activate regional transportation and economic lifelines, but also a solid step taken under the grand blueprint of national railway revitalization and regional integration.Editor/Cheng Liting