PARAMARIBO, Suriname, (CMC) — Suriname says it is spending euro130 million on developing a new railway system within an 18-month period.

Journalists were shown a 3D impression of a smoothly running train painted in the national flag by the presidential Commission Construction Railway on Thursday.

The new railway will allow for commuters to move from the Poelepantje area in Paramaribo southward to the village of Onverwacht in District Para. It will run on the left side of the Indira Gandhi road, a busy artery that leads to the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport.

Officials said the intention is to eventually take the railway all the way to the airport, and thereby relieve the current infrastructure.

The ambitious project will be carried out by Dutch railway systems contractor Strukton Systems.

“We have extensive technical knowledge and experience in this field and we’re happy to help,” said Strukton manager, Les van Seventer.

The contract features the construction of a 29-kilometre dual railway track from Paramaribo to Onverwacht, the delivery of five diesel trains, the training of the necessary personnel, and the construction of a Paramaribo Central Station at Poelepantje and eight train stops and 16 flyovers on the route.

The trains will be able to carry 250 people with 134 seated and 120 standing.

Head of the presidential Commission Construction Railway, Eddy Jozefzoon, said that a definite start date for the construction could not be given but that preparations were well under way.

He said one of the biggest challenges will be to convince land owners to sell their properties along the proposed route.

Jozefzoon said the project will result in significant employment opportunities for nationals and that private bus owners need not worry about losing business.