British rail bosses showed interest in the scheduled Line 3 and 4 of Lima’s subway network and could bid for the concession, said Peru’s investment promotion agency today.
The group of rail executives met with a Peruvian trade delegation at an industry convention in London and discussed the transport extension, according to Proinversión in reports by El Comercio, a Peruvian newspaper.
Peru awarded a contract to build the capital’s first $5.7 billion underground line in March to an international consortium led by Spanish builder ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios. The government plans to build four more lines, with the tender process for Line 3 and 4 not yet begun.
“The aim was to build important relationships with rail companies, as Peru is investing in the development of this type of transport,” said Javies Illescas, executive director of the investment agency at the Infrarail 2014 event. “For this reason it seeks to attract the interest of these companies.”
The delegation met with the British chamber of commerce as well as infrastructure and software firms in Manchester on its investment charm offensive, El Comercio said.
Peru is promoting its message through The Economist and Financial Times, two regarded British publications.
A summit, organised by The Economist, took place on May 13 featuring Peru’s economy minister, Luis Miguel Castilla, and former prime minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, as speakers.
Line 3 will go south from Carabayll to Surco while Line 4 will give Peru’s principal Jorge Chavez airport links to the centre.
“We hope to attract their involvement once more and that they come on board in what will be the largest transformation and improvement of transport in Peru,” added Mr Illescas.
Alex Pashley 