Durrant Pate/Contributor

There is good news for Jamaica’s under-utilized rail service, as the Jamaica Railway Corporation (JRC) is currently in discussions with a private company to broaden the commuter rail service between Old Harbour and Linstead to Angels, St. Catherine.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, during his Sectoral Debate presentation in Parliament, disclosed that the aim is to transport over 5,000 workers daily from Old Harbour and Linstead to Angels. This, is in supporting the upcoming business process outsourcing (BPO) investment in Angels. 

“The partnerships with private companies indicate potential revenue stream expansion for the JRC. In addition, as the Government continues to explore options for delivering a safe reliable, comfortable and affordable public transportation service, we intend to take a serious look at the reintroduction of rail service between Kingston and St. Catherine in the short term for both passenger and freight rail services,” the minister explained further.

Benefits of reintroducing service between Kingston and St. Catherine

While not preempting the review, Vaz highlighted that the re-introduction of rail service between Kingston and St. Catherine can potentially:

• Ease congestion on our roads in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR) especially during peak commute hours,

• Handle the movement of a larger volume of commuters in quicker time than buses, taxies and private motor cars,

• Deliver a safe, reliable, comfortable and affordable transportation experience to hundreds of thousands of commuters,

• Result in significantly reduced carbon emissions as more commuters choose to travel by trains,

• Drive economic development in St. Catherine as businesses exploit cheaper more reliable options for moving goods.

Student passenger rail service 

Referring to the student passenger rail service, which was initiated as a pilot in January 2022, Minister Vaz told Parliament that despite impacting the JRC’s cash flows, his ministry will assess the project with a view to establishing a sustainable programme. The service provides secure and economical transportation for students from Old Harbour and Linstead to Spanish Town with efficient communication channels established with parents, schools, and students. 

Since its inception, the service has served 136,724 passengers, with an average daily usage of approximately 500 students, highlighting its importance and growing demand. 

More rail excursion service

He notes that excursions hosted by the JRC on Emancipation Day and National Heroes Day provided opportunities for public engagement and nostalgic experiences for rail enthusiasts. He announced that plans are underway to make these excursions annual events.

Additionally, he advises that the JRC continues to offer private excursions to schools and community groups, enriching the education curriculum and providing unforgettable experiences for participants.