Conference on the construction of Uruguay’s Central Railway

On August 17, the National Academy of Engineering of Uruguay (ANIU) organized a conference on the construction of the Central Railway (Ferrocarril Central), the most important infrastructure work for rail transport in recent years.

Representatives from the Ministry of Transportation and Public Works (MTOP) and the Central Railway Construction Consortium presented general and specific aspects of such an important project.

The project

The “Central Railway” project includes the construction and maintenance of 273 km of railways between the Port of Montevideo and the city of Paso de los Toros, bringing them to a higher standard that will allow freight trains to circulate at 80 km/h and 22.5 tons per axle, as reported by the MTOP on its website.

It includes an initial 26 km section of double track, a dozen minor tracks for rail crossings, a section of track for industrial access, and more than 40 rail bridges being strengthened or built new.

The project constitutes a significant step within the framework of the transport infrastructure program that the country is developing to enhance its logistics platform, due to its complementarity with the truck and the port system, and due to its influence in the territory as a factor in the viability of productive enterprises, due to their greater competitiveness and sustainability.

Event program developed

• Dimensions of the work and roles of the MTOP
  Eng. Luis Ceiter, Eng. Jorge Kliche
• Basic engineering and track infrastructure
  Eng. Florencia Cirigliano, Eng. Axel Uriel
• Track superstructure
  Eng. Benoit Branger, Eng. Facundo Bracho
• Bridges and underpasses
  Eng. Gonzalo Suzacq
• Railway signaling and safety
  Eng. Cesar Gay