Jamaica Railway Corporation earns millions

Nadisha Hunter, Staff Reporter

THE JAMAICA Railway Corporation (JRC) has earned close to $2 million since it commenced the passenger train service a week ago between Linstead and Spanish Town in St Catherine.

Some 17,000 persons have travelled the mode of transportation to date.

Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry disclosed the figures to journalists Thursday night while on a tour of the Spanish Town Train Station, where he made an assessment of the service.

Henry said the income generated was enough to cover the operating costs for the service.

"So far, in the seven days, it is beyond the budget that was prepared and projected, so at the moment, it is not running at a cost, it is running as some income to the railway," the minister explained.

He said if the service proved successful on the Linstead to Spanish Town route, repairs would be done on the Kingston leg for the journey to be extended. However, he did not confirm if a request for the service to begin along the May Pen route in time for the Denbigh annual show in early August would be granted.

Commenting on the competition the train service now posed to taxi and bus operators, Henry said he was willing to work with the operators for unity.

"I am not into being cheaper. I will come above it (price) to make sure the taxis benefit too. I am not in competition; I am here to integrate with them."

JIS