Cundinamarca aims to stay on track for 2027 launch of US$650mn light rail

Colombia’s Cundinamarca department still plans to start operations of the US$650mn Regiotram de Occidente light rail in September 2027 and avoid negative effects of the national government’s budget postponement.

Recently, the finance ministry decreed that 12tn pesos (US$2.9bn) will be moved from the 2025 budget to the 2026 one.

The light rail is 70%-financed by the national government, while the rest comes from the department.

"We have a balance that will allow us a period of flexibility to finance [Regiotram de Occidente] for around 18 months," governor Jorge Rey told local outlet El Tiempo.

According to Rey, Cundinamarca has still resources available from 2023 and 2024 and expects the finance ministry to transfer funds from last year, which could help fund the project until the first half of 2026.

“The problem will arise once those 18 months are up, when we have progressed construction to the point where the available funds are depleted, and we require more money, and when the government fulfills the transfer of the resources scheduled for 2025, doing so in the second half of 2026.”

Rey said the construction of the workshop yards and land management issues have reached progress of 28% and that work on the central corridor should start in March.

Regiotram de Occidente will be 100% electric and connect the center of Bogotá and the municipalities of Facatativá, Madrid, Mosquera and Funza. A link with Bogotá's metro line No. 1 is also planned.

Meanwhile, Regiotram del Norte is at a very early stage, Rey said, as technical elements are being defined to be able to take the project to the transport ministry.

“Regiotram del Norte would be the crowning achievement in this government’s support for the rail system,” said the governor.