BOGOTA
Crossrail International, in association with our partners Steer, Duran & Osorio Abogados Asociados, and RSSB, has been engaged to provide specialist advisory and consulting services to support Colombia’s Rail Master Plan – Plan Maestro Ferroviario (PMF) – assisting in the development of a National Rail Regulatory Framework for Colombia’s railways and related capacity building activities needed to help deliver longer term benefits.
Signatories to the historic agreement were Colombia’s Minister of Transport Ángela Orozco, British Ambassador Colin Martin-Reynolds CMG, and Alejandra Botero Barco, Director, National Planning Department – Departamento Nacional de Planeación (DNP) – with Crossrail International’s CEO, Paul Dyson, attending ‘virtually’. The official signing of the agreement took place at the British Ambassador’s residence in Bogotá.
“Crossrail International is delighted to be working with our partners Steer, Duran & Osorio Abogados Asociados, and RSSB to support the development of a national rail regulatory framework for Colombia’s railways and to help reactivate the rail sector,” said Paul Dyson. “Our combined skills, knowledge and experience offers the Colombian government a unique opportunity to implement a regulatory framework that is informed by international good practice.”
“We are convinced of the importance of the railway sector for inclusive economic development, increasing competitiveness and meeting emission reduction goals,” said British Ambassador Colin Martin-Reynolds CMG. “We are pleased to accompany Colombia in this process, share our experience in the sector and consolidate and continue expanding our cooperation in infrastructure.”
“The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Government is of the utmost importance as it will allow us to start implementing regulatory aspects and strengthening professional capacities for the railway sector in Colombia,” said Minister Ángela Orozco.
“Our agreement is essential to guarantee the reactivation and effective operation of the railways,” added DNP Director, Alejandra Botero Barco.
The Memorandum establishes the vision for future investment in the Colombian railway sector, and promotes better institutional coordination and broader benefits of the Railway Master Plan (PMF) including the renewal of the regulatory framework and the use of good international practices.
