Incoming Uruguayan government commits to Montevideo light rail

URUGUAY: The national government elected in the autumn is to ‘carry to an end’ Montevideo’s proposed tram-train project by the end of its term.

Local politician Francisco Legnani said he had agreed the plan with President-elect Yamandú Orsi. Uruguay held presidential elections in October and November last year, and the new government will formally come to power on March 1.

A 35 km light rail route has been proposed to link central Montevideo with El Pinar in the east by the ‘Three Eses’ consortium of Stadler Rail Valencia, Stiler and Saceem. The consortium is currently working on feasibility studies of the proposal.

The route would start in the capital’s historic centre and run along 18 de Julio, Italia and Giannattasio avenues through Ciudad de la Costa to El Pinar, serving 33 stops in the urban area along the coast. In June 2023, the government gave its backing to the development of a more detailed feasibility study at the …