Chile-Bolivia railway to resume recovery works

Bolivia: Recovery work began in the 128 mile-long stretch of the historic Chilean Arica-La Paz railway, reported the national press.

Several Bolivian media echoed Saturday the official signing of the contract by the Port Company of Arica, changing 8,000 rails and of the anchoring track systems.

Experts consulted said that with the recovery of the tracks, in less than 20 months of work, Chile achieves one of its commitments with the Bolivian State.

Walker San Miguel, Bolivian Ambassador to Chile participated in the signing of the agreement and insisted on intensifying bilateral relations.

Regarding the railroad, he expressed that his country also must repair the tracks located on Bolivian soil.

Obviously, as work progresses on the Chilean side, Bolivia must perform additional tasks of improvement in order to get the railway to reach La Paz, he said.

He said that the beginning of the recovery of La Paz railroad in the first month of 2010 was part of an agenda of 13 deal signed, a guide for bilateral exchange.

In the agenda there are fundamental points for Bolivian diplomacy; one of them is the recovery of a sea outlet, lost more than a century ago.

La Paz, Prensa Latina