Passenger trains to roll again

Test run in Clarendon, St Catherine next month

BY INGRID BROWN Senior staff reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com

Thursday, March 31, 2011

PASSENGER rail coaches could begin rolling within weeks of the first test run scheduled for April 16 from May Pen in Clarendon to Spanish Town and Linstead in St Catherine, Transport Minister Mike Henry has disclosed.

According to Henry, next month's trial run will help to, among other things, determine the feasibility of operating the passenger coaches as well as the fare rate to be charged.

"I can start the next week if it is economically feasible after we work it out," Henry told journalists at yesterday's weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in Kingston.

The test run, which will involve specially invited passengers, will be an opportunity to show the sceptics that the rail system can work again in Jamaica, Henry said.

"What I am doing is saying here it is... showing the sceptics that it can work," he explained.

The number of passengers the train will transport will be increased over time, as Henry said the capacity of the coaches will be phased in based on the economic needs, since no Government subsidy will be sought for its operation.

For now, Henry said four coaches capable of transporting up to 300 passengers, in addition to cargo coaches have since been refurbished.

The transport minister said despite not having any investors on board as yet, limited funding had been found to rehabilitate that leg of the railway system as well as some of the coaches.

The minister said scrap metal and underutilised lands were also sold to fund the current rehabilitation of the service.

"What we have done is rehabilitate what we have, rebuilt and repainted the coaches, repair the engines and we are doing the first test run as we have to deal with lines that have not been used in a long time," Henry said.

As such, Henry said the test run would not involve crossing the badly deteriorated May Pen Bridge, which he said is currently being repaired and should be completed within the next 30 days.

Additionally, Henry said the railway station in Spanish Town has been reclaimed and the lines rehabilitated.

He explained that he has had several offers from private investors for the rehabilitation, but has not been able to fully pursue them because of some internal issues to be addressed.

"What we have done is utilise assets which were abandoned to rehabilitate the railway, then we have major investors who are interested in the railway and those are being pursued by the board," he explained.

In the meantime, the transport minister said talks with five investors from the United States, Canada and United Kingdom are advanced.

"We sent out some MoUs (Memoranda of Understanding) to the investors but the Office of the Contractor General made some objections to the board and that has delayed it," Henry said.

Henry made it clear that the train service will not be competing with other modes of transportation, but will instead complement them.

"The Gorge is having a delay so school children who go from Linstead to Spanish Town, we will probably provide a service for them which will save them waiting two hours in the Gorge," Henry said.

He added that there are several other earning options for the coaches, among them private rentals and heritage tours.

"Let's not confine it to just a few passengers who want to travel... look at running fibre optic cables along railway, heritage and other tours," Henry said.

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COMMENTS (25)

Sean Knight
4/1/2011

John Marris I too am skeptical it might be part of the "give us another term because we have plans" talk. However we can hope that a lot of work is happening behind the scenes.

Ralston Nelson
4/1/2011

Mr. Gillings, your concerns are well founded and warrant great scrutiny. Any infrastructure upgrade must instantiate safety concerns as critical to the success of a revitalized railroad. This means the development of an effective signalling system and barriers to restrain innocent motorists and those who need to be protected from their own recklessness. Overall, this has to be primarily a people effort facilitated by the Government in partnership with private investors.

Ralston Nelson
4/1/2011

In spite of the dominance of air travel, I have always derived a fair measure of nostalgia traveling with railways around the world. Given the island's enormous beauty, it's with a sense of great pride that I welcome the return of the Jamaica Railways. If the infrastructure initiative receives the private sponsorship the MInister alluded to, then I think there is a chance to successfully revive this institution.

Beresford Davidson
3/31/2011

Thanks Mike! Wonderful indeed our train will start running again. Add a coach where we rum and beer sippers can relax, enjoy the ride home and have drink or two. Bar tenders must be on board with their certificates. They can run a shift arrangement for nights and early mornings along with regular commuters schedule. Please keep the coaches clean.

Le View
3/31/2011

This is a pleasant surprise. In a recent post I asked about the feasibility of re-implementing the railway system. I had no idea it was in the pipeline. Even though it is in the testing phase, I have to say kudos to the minister; it obviously did not take an arm and a leg and all the bureaucracy that usually go along with projects of this magnitude. I guess it's because no government subsidy was sought. Either way I'm glad the work started: this is a move in the right direction in my opinion.

Nejeeper KNG
3/31/2011

The reason why the JRC went out of business was not because of a lack of passengers, it was because of poor management and a lack of vision. The Diesel use to carry regular passengers while the Train carries market goods and heavy freight. There are no developing countries in the world without a functioning rail operation to fit transportation needs. How can a country go backwards in terms of development and compete in a 21st century world. Reconnect the two cities by rail and get modernize.

Esmore Gillings
3/31/2011

I think some more time should be taken to do the thing properly. My experiences with trains in other parts of the world is somewhat different from what I am currently seeing via TV and print media. Are the lines going to left open to all and sundry, aren't these supposed to be secured areas to prevent injury/fatally to persons and animals. Additionally, can't we get some new coaches for passengers and use the old ones for cargoes?

Pat Dempsey
3/31/2011

I applaud this initiative, which will serve to alleviate the congestion to and from work for the ordinary people. I remember losing so many hours commuting from Spanish Town to Kingston, although I wake very early. It can sometimes be worse than traveling from Brooklyn to Manhattan. I would only emphasize that they operate and adhere to a timely departure and arrival,as well as ensure that it is safe for the passengers utilizing the services. Good Job! Let's keep moving forward.

renrick hall
3/31/2011

some amount of rum talk is clear within this minister's report. i hope he realises that the rebuilding and repainting of the coaches; and repairing of the engines border on the use of antiquity; and could result in a similar problem, where operational cost will far exceed revenue. on the other hand, a properly thought out system which must involve the mass movement of portmore commuters, can work. be warned commuters, it will cost very much to ride. some good thoughts expresses by you all.

Island Patriot
3/31/2011

John Marris, you're hilarious! I'm choose optimism in this instance however, for the sake of passengers having more feasible alternatives, and given that the JUTC and the private taxi and transport services organizations just proposed a fare increase recently. I'm glad the the OCG did object to the MOU's for investors into this transport alternative, God forbid we end up with another JPS or FINSAC debacle and further rape & exploit the people of Jamaica!

John Smith
3/31/2011

Joan Porteous: good spot. "I can start the next week if it is economically feasible after we work it out..." is the strangest quote in the story. Doesn't make sense, cause if there was no such study done how do you even start to refurbish the old trains and the tracks? I don't think the Minister is that incompetent so there must be some communication error going on there. Otherwise it's a bit rushed, to say the least...

Isaac Riley Jr.
3/31/2011

I remember the round trips from Kingston to Spanish Town; I look forward to the reopening and extending of the lines island-wide.

simon templar
3/31/2011

Anybody saying that Mr. Knight is cross examining the way he does because of politics is either being disingenuous or has never seen the man in court before. Mr. Knight gives his best to his client and is most dangerous in cross.
If PM had so been minded and had retained Mr. Knight and Mr. Knight had agreed he would have been showing the same enthusiasm that he is showing now in his cross examination
Most of the criticism now is because of jealousy. Mr. Small is behaving like a spoilt brat.

JOHN MARRIS
3/31/2011

Hold your breath fellow Jamaicans. Dont take this talk about commercial passenger train service serious, it will occur when the Pope becomes a protestant.

ESTEBAN AGOSTO REID
3/31/2011

Great news !! Just dying to get back on the trains !! Hopefully, the Williamsfield (Mandeville) to May Pen leg will come on stream relatively soon.Bway mi nah tell yuh nuh lie, mi miss de train dem. Nuff respect !!

Brooklyn Jamaican
3/31/2011

My only advice to you all is maybe franchise it out. Keep government out of it. No subsidies, let those who ride pay true market rates. Otherwise it will eb back to square one.

Peter Claude
3/31/2011

@Jakan 2011.. thank you. all you ever hear about is we have foreign investors. where did they listed that they were looking for investors that only foreign ones heard about it?

Ainsworth Cole
3/31/2011

We should be aware that modern passenger rolling stock now includes passenger coaches that are integral with the propellsion system, meaning, no big engine pulling coaches behind but all in one deisel systems. These coaches will be more economical to run and can run more frequently delivering good service especially at peak travel times. A modern integrated transport system does include rail and connection to busses, I hope this connection will be made so we can have a modern transport service

Ainsworth Cole
3/31/2011

The route from Willamsfield in Manchester and Clarendon Park to Kingston is feasable and so is the route to Linstead with the closure and disruptions through the Bog Walk Gorge, however the route will not be very profitable without the vital missing link, the line from Spanish Town into the city. This line must be upgraded and reopen as soon as possible if we are serious about the rail service. The investors when they come onboard will show us how it's done with modern passenger rolling stock

tickyticky fish
3/31/2011

I am please that the railway will be running again this will create many jobs and spin off jobs
Why are Jamaican investors not interesting in investing in the railway? and why the government not selling share to the public Are the government want to continue with its "economic terrorism" by selling out all of Jamaican's asset?

Shorna Watson
3/31/2011

First time that I am aware of this project not sure how many more Jamaicans knew about it yet foreigners was able to be a part of this feasible venture before any locals were even made aware We jamaicans are exhausted of being sold out to other countries When Jamaicans are in foreign countries that country's resources belong to the country's natives and when we are in our country our rights are being sold out My question is will Jamaicans get a chance to be a part of this project?

Dr. Joan Porteous
3/31/2011

"I can start the next week if it is economically feasible after we work it out,"
Should there not be a feasibility study before implementation?
Trains rolling is excellent and will certainly be beneficial to farmers in the transportation of their produce. Every developing nation should have trains as part of its mas-transit system

Nadine Johnson
3/31/2011

This is Good move Mr Henry But why the focus on showing the sceptics it can work? The Talk should be here Jamaicans we are finding ways to make life easier. This is a way to help with travelling on the roads. I want to hear more talk about making Life for Jamaicans easier and this a start.

george watson
3/31/2011

If Mr. Henry makes this work then generations will call him blessed. But it is not up to the minister alone to make it work. Passengers and people with goods to be delivered have to show a willingness to use the service.
The Minister must realize that competitors will throw every stumbling block in the way of making it a success.

Jakan 2011
3/31/2011

Why look to foreign investors first? Don't Jamaicans count? Stop selling foreign first and give Jamaicans the chance to own Jamaican assets.
Please rethink this Mr minister

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