By SEAN DOUGLAS Wednesday, September 30 2009

MINISTER of Works and Transport Colm Imbert gave figures to the Senate on Monday which suggests the cost to plan the proposed rapid rail (a project which has since been placed on hold) is about $450 million.

He was replying to three questions from Opposition Senator Wade Mark. He said the rapid rail contract consists of three phases. “Phase One is normally for a period of 20 months for the purpose of planning identification of feasible alternatives, conceptual and preliminary engineering of the preferred solution.

The exact price for Phase One of the contract is stipulated in the signed agreement and expressed in three currencies as follows: Trinidad and Tobago dollars $55,744,756; in Euros, $16,678,133 and in US dollars, $37,797,858.”.

These costs of Phase One add up to about $450 million. Imbert said Phase Two involves the detailed design and construction and will last about 39 months.

“Phase Three, operation and maintenance is expected to last for at least 15 years with a government option to break at ten years.”

He said the cost for Phases Two and Three will be the subject of negotiation on an open book pricing basis and will be determined later in phase one should the Government decide to proceed with phase two. Imbert concluded: “The number of trains, their speed, the mode of power, segments and the number of stations will be determined following a review of the feasibility options that will flow from Phase One”.

He said the design/build/operate and maintain contract was executed between the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO) and the Trinitrain Consortium in June , 2008. “The prices for Phase 2 — design and construction — and phase 3 — operation for the proposed segments of the system — are to be negotiated and finalised during Phase 1”.