"The first mass transportation project to be developed in the country and that the first stone will be laid next year, is the Pacific Train, is a project that already has the basic engineering design from the port of Acajutla to Sonsonate which is a first section but we are still studying the rest because the idea is to reach San Salvador and then connect the east and west of the country", he said.

According to the official, there are plans to link the railway system with the border sector of La Hachadura through Guatemala and then connect it with Mexico and the United States. This Pacific Train project in its first stage will have an approximate investment of $300 million.

"What we already have is the basic design of the first stage and we are looking at the elaboration of the bidding bases for the construction of the first stage, which would have an investment of approximately $300 million, because there are a series of constructions that are an initial part of the project", he said.

Currently, a basic engineering and technical structuring study is being carried out for line one that will connect the port of Acajutla with San Salvador, for a first segment of 69 kilometers. With this, it is planned to start the bidding process for the contracting and execution of the first 21 kilometers between Acajutla and Sonsonate.

"The final idea of the Pacific Train is to connect the cargo mainly with Guatemala, Mexico and finally take it to the United States, which is a substantial objective and in this way we would generate a direct impact on our economy", he said.

The goal is to shorten the time it takes to move merchandise from the 45 days it currently takes to reach the United States to approximately two and a half days, which would have a direct impact on trade, development and economic growth in the country.

El Salvador, according to the official, is currently leading the Regional Infrastructure Master Plan, through the Council of Central American Transport Ministers, of which it holds the protempore presidency for the year 2023. The plan, among others, contemplates multimodal transport for cargo so that it no longer only passes through highways, but also by sea and rail.

"We want to connect various parts of the country, we seek to connect from the western terminal where there will be both rail and bus transportation through a terminal and that the population can be transported throughout the country through a transportation system such as the train", he said.

Translated by: A.M