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Gov't considers putting commuter buses on rail
published: Thursday | November 20, 2003

By John Myers Jr. Staff Reporter

ROBERT PICKERSGILL, Minister of Transport and Works, has revealed that the Government is considering a proposal to modify commuter buses to run on rail.

He said this was being considered, even while negotiations to settle on an agreement for the restoration of rail service has hit a snag. The Minister told a press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, yesterday, that arrangements were being made for him to visit London, England, to examine a similar project to "look at the positives and then put everything into the mix and see where we go from there."

"Suffice it to say interesting and exciting times are ahead for transportation," Pickersgill said.

The Minister, who was giving an update on negotiations between the Government and Indian/Canadian consortium Railtech Jamaica Ltd., formed by Rites Ltd and CPCS Transcom to restart the country's rail system, asserted that "if really we could have the buses running on the train line, it would cut the travelling time and cost tremendously."

NEGOTIATIONS HIT A SNAG

According to Pickersgill, negotiations have hit a snag as Railtech, citing a possible fall-off in ridership with the advent of Highway 2000, tried to redraft an agreement that was reached in 2002, but it was rejected. Pickersgill explained that under the agreement, "It was proposed that the Government grant an exclusive concession to Railtech to operate the railway service, for a minimum of 25 years."

The proposed arrangement would allow the company to operate the rail service as a commercial venture, putting it in direct control of the profits and losses incurred by the business. Railtech would also have the option of operating a general freight transportation service.

"Rites subsequently advised in early 2003, that Rites/CPCS Transcom was re-evaluating the railway project with regard to the impact of Highway 2000," the Minister said. A request was forwarded to the National Investment Bank of Jamaica (NIBJ) to consider an agreement which would, in essence, protect Railtech from any losses resulting from a fall-off in ridership.

But despite the apparent backdown, Minister Pickersgill said the company is still interested in operating the service, if it was found to be a viable option.

In the meantime the Transport Minister reported that the number of motorists travelling on the newly-constructed Old Harbour bypass has so far been encouraging. He said a total of 156,000 vehicles have travelled on the highway from September 22, to November 7.

He mentioned that preparations are in place for the segment extending from Bushy Park, St. Catherine to the Mandela Highway to be completed in October 2004, the Portmore Causeway and Dyke Road leg by August 2005 and the Sandy Bay to Williamsfield, Manchester leg by August 2008.

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