Santo Domingo-Santiago rail project rolls on

The Dominican Republic is moving forward with preparations for a rail link to connect capital Santo Domingo with Santiago by rolling out he project's feasibility studies.

During a seminar hosted by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (Cabei) on February 3, international consulting firm ALG Global Infrastructure Advisors, assigned to carry out the market studies for the project, presented a report with the objectives and the methodology to determine the feasibility of the line. 

In addition to Cabei president Dante Mossi and Dominican officials, also present at the hybrid seminar was the executive director of Cabei representing South Korea, Dongjoon Kim. The Asian nation has allocated US$630,000 through non-reimbursable technical cooperation funds to complete the works. 

“This is the first time ever that the Dominican Republic and South Korea have worked together for the railway sector,” said the executive. 

“The objective is to evaluate the integration and connectivity of the two most populous cities in the Dominican Republic – Santiago and Santo Domingo – and to link these two areas with Haina port,” Hostos Rizik, executive director of the Dominican Republic to Cabei, said at the event. 

Specific details about the project are yet to be determined. However, local firm Compreica presented in January a similar proposal to connect both cities via an electric rail line that would run 986km from one urban area to the other. 

According to the video presentation, the project's first stage would start at Santiago city and cross the Cibao airport, La Vega and Bonao cities and two airports and an airport in Santo Domingo. 

OPPORTUNITIES AND OBSTACLES

During his presentation, ALG Global Infrastructure Advisors partner Cesar Valero Mendoza said four key elements would be key for the success of the rail line. These are railway-port installations, logistic platforms, an integrated urban and interurban transport system and restructuring of the highway transportation system. 

As part of the firm's proposal, the train would also require railway-port integration at Haina port in the south of the country, a logistics platform and/or tax-free zone in Santiago and a food distribution network between the two cities. 

According to Valero, these elements could also be an obstacle to the project, since if they are not built or added, the rail line will lose its potential value. However, the project’s biggest problem will be making it feasible for both freight and passenger transport. 

The studies, which also include an analysis of the country’s current regulations, should be concluded within six months.