The Executive Port Commission (CEPA) of El Salvador has received feasibility studies for the highly anticipated Pacific Train project from a South Korean technical mission. CEPA President Federico Anliker announced on Thursday that the organization, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT), is advancing efforts to bring the project to life.
Anliker outlined that the project would unfold in two phases. The first phase will establish a rail connection from San Salvador to the Port of Acajutla in Sonsonate. A subsequent phase will extend from Acajutla to La Hachadura, a town in the municipality of Ahuachapán. According to Anliker, the Pacific Train will expedite the country’s import and export processes, fostering economic growth.
A five-year governmental commitment, the Pacific Train has been a cornerstone of the Cuscatlán Plan, initially introduced during the 2019 presidential campaign. The project, long anticipated to begin construction, saw former Presidential Commissioner for Strategic Projects, Cristian Flores, predict its realization by 2023.
By August 2024, CEPA designated MOPT as the lead agency, which subsequently engaged consultants to analyze optimal rail routes. Recent developments confirmed that Argentine firm AC&A will spearhead planning for the first segment, linking Acajutla with Sitio del Niño in San Juan Opico, La Libertad. AC&A will build upon existing rail infrastructure, as outlined in an MOPT announcement.
The Pacific Train has undergone multiple evaluations, with SOOSUNG Engineering awarded the feasibility study contract in September 2021. This study, completed in 2022, included market research, network technology assessments, and legal and regulatory analysis.
Earlier this year, the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat (SIECA) revealed the 2035 Regional Mobility and Logistics Master Plan, which estimated the combined cost of the train and new airports in eastern El Salvador at over $2.8 billion.