PERU’S Ministry of Transport has invited tenders for consultants to review the technical and economic feasibility of building a standard-gauge railway between Puno and Desaguadero to replace the present train ferry across Lake Titicaca. The bi-weekly ferry severely constrains capacity on Enafer’s main link to Bolivia, and recent droughts and low water levels have given problems with docking the ferry.
In recent years much Bolivian transit traffic has shifted to Arica in Chile, which has better rail and road connections. The Ministry hopes that a through rail link will revive Enafer traffic, and is considering building the line as mixed gauge so that Bolivian metre-gauge stock can run through to Puno.
Military engineers began grading the formation for the line during the 1970s , but no work has been undertaken for many years. Bids for the study were due to be submitted by July 27, with a contract to be awarded this month. o
