Railway revival: a success story

Dennie Quill, Gleaner Columnist

NOT TOO much attention has been paid to the fact that folks in St Catherine woke up to a brand new day Monday in which they were able to board the train to get to work and various other destinations to conduct their business.

Reinvigorating the passenger train service at a time when the Bog Walk gorge has been closed for repairs is bound to provide relief to people in St Catherine who must move from one point to another to fulfil their daily commitments.

Jamaica boasts one of the oldest rail systems in the Western Hemisphere. To be precise, the railway opened in this country on November 22, 1845 - a mere 15 days after the first railway was inaugurated in England. This is history that ought to be celebrated again and again.

But bad management and rotting infrastructure drove passenger trains to the wall in 1992. Although the bauxite companies continued to use the trains to transport ore, passenger rail service was essentially dead. Scattered segments of unusable track and ramshackle stations were what remained.

Perhaps recognising the historical significance of the railway and its potential to contribute to the development of the economy, resumption of rail service became a favourite subject for transport ministers throughout the years. Revival of the rail service seemed high on everyone's list of priorities.

Ministers in the previous administrations made announcements, conducted studies, convened high-level meetings and took business trips to faraway lands. But with no concrete achievements to show, rail-based transportation seemed like an unattainable dream.

roaring back to life

So in 2008, when Mike Henry, the new minister of transport, announced that his Government was partnering with China to revitalise the railway and build 18 new stations, many felt a sense of déjà vu.

But, Mr Henry came through big time and the trains have roared back to life, even in a limited way. Surely, Mr Henry and his Government deserve some praise for demonstrating how success can be achieved with creative minds and energetic hands.

Let's hope that Mr Henry can continue this resuscitation of the rail service and that Jamaicans will see rail as a powerful alternative form of transportation for people and freight. Planning experts believe that improvements in transportation efficiency in countries like ours can be made through greater emphasis on mass transportation.

Bringing back the trains is likely to come with a hefty price tag, and many will question whether the country can afford it. But if we are serious about national development, we must recognise that a reliable and efficient transportation service - linking the road network, rail and aviation - has to be a key ingredient.

Beyond that the Jamaica Railway Corporation (JRC) needs to be nimble in marketing its services by seeking to attract freight, including waste, heavy-duty equipment and food, as well as tourists who would, no doubt, enjoy a scenic train ride around parts of rural Jamaica.

At the same time, the JRC needs to look out for scrap-metal thieves. This may be an opportune time for the Government to introduce legislation that will mete out harsh punishment to persons found guilty of stealing metal from public infrastructure.

Now, if the Government could only bring the success story of the railway to Port Royal, a national treasure whose lustre has been sadly transformed into a murky façade. The culture minister, Olivia Grange, needs to take some lessons from Mr Henry!

Dennie Quill is a veteran media practitioner. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and denniequill@hotmail.com.