THE Dominican Republic has advanced plans to expand the capacity of Santo Domingo metro Line 2 following legislative approval of a major new international financing package.
The Senate approved a loan worth $US 178.3m earlier this month that was originally agreed with the French Development Agency (AFD) on May 28.
The AFD loan forms part of a wider, multi-year cooperation programme between the Dominican Republic and the agency and will support the procurement of new six-car trains, construction of a new workshop and depot facility, installation of electromechanical and signalling systems, and the supervision and delivery of associated technical studies. Alstom agreed a contract in April 2024 to supply eight three-car trains for Line 2, which can be operated in multiple.
Dominican Republic president, Luis Abinader, formally submitted the AFD loan to Congress earlier in the approval process, framing the Line 2 expansion as a strategic priority within the administration’s wider urban mobility and public transport modernisation agenda.
The AFD loan will be repaid through 42 semi-annual installments, with final maturity scheduled for December 15 2049.
The 13.9km Line 2 runs east-west with 18 stations. Construction of a 7.3km mostly elevated westerly extension, which will add five stations, is underway. Work is also underway to extend Line 1 by 2.5km and develop a 13km elevated monorail.
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