El Salvador's Pacific train stuck in design phase

El Salvador’s 500km Pacific train is still in the design stage, the presidential commissioner for strategic projects, Cristián Flores, told a radio station Thursday.

The public works and transport ministry (MOPT) expected this stage to be finished by now.

“The feasibility studies concluded in September last year, which made clear the positive [impact] of this project, and some financial studies were carried out to evaluate freight volume, cost, income and the areas of opportunity for passenger mobility,” Flores added. 

Seoul-based Soosung Engineering is responsible for the design. The train will be electric, according to executive ports commission Cepa. 

Flores also said that the project is currently being offered to potential investors. “We have had a large number of investors interested in this, who oversee this type of projects in Spain, Mexico and South Korea,” he said. 

MOPT and Cepa will oversee the works, carried out in three phases: San Salvador-Acajutla port, Acajutla port-La Hachadura, San Salvador-east of the country.

“During the [feasibility] studies, it was clear that this opens the door for a concession, a PPP, so that a private company may operate it with state participation,” Flores said.  

The train is part of the Cuscatlán plan, a campaign promise of President Nayib Bukele.

Last year, it was announced that construction would begin in 2023. In April, the head of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (Cabei), Dante Mossi, said in a statement that tenders for the first 103km, US$300mn section will be launched this year.

Pictured: Pacific train render. Source: Cristian Flores (@CrisFloresSV)