TENDERS were due last month for construction of a US$973m two-line light rail network in the Colombian city of Cali, 450 km southwest of Bogota. Work is expected to start next year, with the first segment opening in 2000, when the city’s population is predicted to reach 1·8 million. The government has agreed to contribute US$479m towards the cost, with rest to be raised by the city.
Line 1 will be 16·5 km long and Line 2 7 km; there will be 22 stations. The network will make use of existing railway rights-of-way, linked by tunnels under the city centre. Light rail services are expected to handle around 200000 daily riders on opening, increasing to 273000 in 2005 and 300000 in 2010. o
