The Presidential Commissioner for Strategic Projects, Cristian Flores, reported that the feasibility study for the construction of the Pacific Train has concluded.
The official shared the information during his participation in a television interview in which he assured that this logistics development project would become a reality by next year.
“In this month of September, the feasibility study was concluded. There are various institutions working, such as the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA) and the Ministry of Public Works (MOP)”, he said.
The official explained that to consolidate this initiative, there is also a technical team that evaluated all the engineering, design, and route work.
According to Flores, the first phase of the Pacific Train is planned as an alternative for logistics and passenger connectivity from San Salvador to Sonsonate, while the second will connect Sonsonate with the port of Acajutla.
Likewise, he said that the main purpose is that a third phase of the project can connect to Guatemala since “this is a new way of handling logistics loads and connecting with all the rail systems in North America.”
Government authorities have highlighted the revitalization of cargo transport that the incursion of the train will bring since, according to official data, around 10 million tons of cargo circulate in the region at a speed of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour and, with the implementation of the railway system, will inject speed and dynamism into this activity.
The feasibility study cost $470,000 and was financed by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) and was carried out by the consortium of South Korean companies: Soosung Engineering, Korea National Railway, Dong Engineering Consultants and Architecture, and Pyunghwa Engineering Consultants.
On social networks, the director of CABEI for El Salvador, Luis Rodríguez, expressed his support for the project, which is part of the strategic work promoted by the government of President Nayib Bukele to turn El Salvador into a logistics hub.