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Bolivia seeks to sign deal with Brazil on Trans-Oceanic Railway

Xinhua, January 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

Bolivian President Evo Morales will seek to finalize an agreement with his Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousseff on plans for a railway linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, it was announced on Wednesday.

Bolivia's Minister of Public Works, Milton Claros, told the press in La Paz that this meeting, scheduled on Feb. 2, would be crucial toward finally getting started on the ambitious Trans-Oceanic Railway.

"We will discuss both our visions for the railway, confirm our interest and study Brazil's proposal. We will state very clearly that the Trans-Oceanic Railway is a high priority for Bolivia. If we reach an agreement, we will have to sign an agreement," he explained.

According to Claros, there is a good chance such an agreement will be struck as the Brazilian government has shown "great interest" in the project.

Bolivia's plans for the Trans-Oceanic Railway would see it begin at the port of Santos, in southern Brazil, enter Bolivia at the town of Puerto Suarez, cross the cities of Santa Cruz, Montero and Bulo Bulo, before entering Peru and finishing at the town of Puerto de Ilo, on the Pacific Ocean.

If built to these specifications, the railway would run for 3,360 kilometers, including 1,600 kilometers on Bolivian soil.

In May 2015, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazil and Peru to build the Trans-Oceanic Railway, with Chinese involvement. Enditem