Paraguayan Railways reactivate freight and passenger trains with Argentina

Ferrocarriles del Paraguay S.A. (Fepasa – “Paraguayan Railways”) informed that it is finalizing the details to reactivate the passenger and freight train that connects the border towns of Encarnación (Paraguay) and Posadas (Argentina).

In this context, the president of Fepasa, Lauro Ramírez, commented, “I am returning from Buenos Aires precisely for the last adjustments that will allow us to have a freight train transporting Paraguayan merchandise in a couple of weeks, after more than ten years”.

The head of Fepasa said that he is also currently negotiating with the Yacyretá Binational Entity (EBY) the possibility of the EBY acquiring two locomotives to make them operational for the passenger and cargo service between the cities of Encarnación-Posadas, where an Argentine company currently operates it.

In 2018 this possibility had already been raised, and now they are again in negotiations, he said. He also added that another possibility is to lend the Argentine locomotives; however, he clarified that the important thing is to resume the freight transport service since it is an activity that generates income and sustainability for the institution.

He also stated that the service allows Paraguay to transport its products at competitive costs and would eliminate “a little of the disadvantage of the Mediterranean”.

“Previously, almost 500,000 tons of cargo were transported by Argentine locomotives, and now this service should be resumed,” concluded Ramírez.

With information from Portal Portuario