TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Consultancy WSP has been appointed to provide national infrastructure agency NIDCO with technical services during the construction of the Trinidad rapid railway.

WSP will act as project manager for the design, build, operate and maintain contract which the government awarded to the Trinitrain consortium of Bouygues Construction, Alstom and RATP Développement in April.

Work has already begun with a series of stakeholder workshops. The US$70m 20-month initial phase will identify routes and station sites, leading to detailed proposals for construction and operation, and the choice of rolling stock.

A 50 km line is proposed to link Port of Spain to San Fernando, while a 54 km second line will cross from east to west between Port of Spain and Sangre Grande. Construction is expected to take four years, after which RATP Développement will run the lines for 15 years.

'Traffic congestion in the morning and evening peaks can last up to 4 h each way starting as early as 06.00 in the morning on most days, with some people having to commute for 6 to 8 h a day while travelling only 80 km', said Vic Stevens, WSP Project Manager. 'By linking Port of Spain to the main commuter towns, the railway will be important to the future prosperity of Trinidad & Tobago while doubtlessly being the catalyst for major development outside of Port of Spain.'