IDEA
Offering a safe and sustainable modern transport solution of maximum efficiency that allows the pass through the Central Mountain Range of Colombia (‘Cordillera Central de Colombia’).
It is a multimodal integrative solution (road and rail modes) that optimizes the service in the Bogotá – Buenaventura logistics corridor.
The Project consists in the realization of an innovative and efficient rail system for the transshipment of cargo vehicles between the western and eastern edges of the Central Mountain Range (‘Cordillera Central’), connecting Quindío (Armenia) and Tolima (Ibagué).
The trucks and truck-trailers will be moved on platform wagons that will be integrated into trains run by electric locomotives, thus avoiding the pass through Alto de La Línea.
The Ferropista allows a better continuity of the road between Armenia and Ibagué in the crossing of the Mountain Range (‘Cordillera’), avoiding that way the cargo transport ascent to high levels, eliminating the adverse environmental effects and collaborating in social integration and equity.
The current demand in the pass through Alto de La Línea reaches 1.4 million trucks and truck-trailers per year, of the same order as the Eurotunnel (FR – UK) and more than all the alpine passages with tunnels based between Switzerland and Italy.
OBJECTIVES
To reduce transit time and travel expenses between Armenia and Ibagué.
Functional specialization of the transport infrastructures:
- Ferropista: cargo transport.
- Highways under construction: cars and buses.
To increase efficiency and environmental sustainability. To fight against Climate Change (COP25 Objectives).
To enhance competitiveness, productivity, and territorial articulation.
To provide reliability, safety, and versatility to the transport system.
To improve the connectivity in the Bogotá – Buenaventura corridor (520 km), boosting Colombia’s main external trade axis.
To substantially promote the communication between the Cauca river basin and the Coffee Belt (‘Eje Cafetero’) with the Magdalena river basin.
To strengthen Port of Buenaventura’s connection with the Caribbean ports – Barranquilla, Santa Marta, and Cartagena, as well as with Venezuela.
To improve the conditions of use of the road to Alto de La Línea
To contribute to the equity, social cohesion and integration in Colombia, favoring relations between communities and populations.
To create new industries and opportunities for specialized training and education, thus incorporating the greatest technological advances into the country.
To promote new economic activities and boost the tourism development.