It may seem like a conversation from the 20th century, but for several reasons, the development of railway networks in Colombia has always been quite limited. With only 3,000 km of railway built, of which only a quarter is functional and with very limited usage mainly as a tourist attraction for locals who have never experienced train travel, Colombia has long held the dream and necessity of constructing a robust railway network. Unfortunately, this goal has constantly been hindered by poor planning and corruption for over a century.
However, it appears that all of this might be about to change. While the previous government had plans to revive the railway sector, the current government has made efforts to put these plans into action. The National Development Plan for 2022-2026 aims to reactivate over 1,800 km of railway with a vision for a 5,350 km network by 2050. To achieve this, the government intends to allocate 3.5 trillion Colombian pesos (approximately 890 million dollars) to modernize and expand the national railway infrastructure.
Challenges and Opportunities
This ambitious project presents a significant challenge for Colombia’s economic and commercial development due to its scale. Nevertheless, it also offers great opportunities for job creation, attracting foreign investment, and promoting regional development. Furthermore, constructing and reviving this railway network in the 21st century will integrate it into a more developed ecosystem that includes well-established roads, highways, airports, and river ports, all with clear needs and resources.
Another clear benefit of a freight railway network is that it would ease the burden on Colombian roads, which are often overwhelmed by trucks. This has significantly increased the costs and time of land transportation, impacting logistics across the entire country.
Seeking International Partners
As announced a few months ago, the British government has shown interest in collaborating to reactivate and strengthen Colombia’s railway network. As a first step, Colombia and the United Kingdom reached an agreement for 400,000 pounds sterling (approximately 550,000 dollars) to support the reactivation and consolidation of railway operations in the country.
China is another major player expressing interest. China has made significant advancements in railway construction within its own territory, building around 38,000 km of railways since the beginning of this century and with plans to have over 70,000 km by 2035. Regionally, China has already closed deals with Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil for railway projects totaling over 2 trillion dollars. In the case of Colombia, the plan is to attract these investments through concession agreements, allowing countries or companies making investments to operate, maintain, and improve this infrastructure.
