ECUADOR

Ecuadorian state-owned rail company Ferrocarriles del Ecuador will spend $US85 million during 2011 to resume operations on the Quito-Guayaquil line. The investment falls under the government’s $US245mn plan to repair and upgrade the 456km railway by the end of 2012. With 33% of the line already operational, the company is to launch new tenders during 2011 in order to finish the work. The passenger rail service will mainly serve the tourism industry, benefiting six provinces and 22 municipalities. The Quito-Guayaquil railway is known as one of the world’s most difficult engineering projects. The route begins at the coast and climbs to 3,600 metres above sea level at its highest point.