Peru’s capital Lima took a crucial step toward modernizing its urban mobility with an ambitious railway project with trains donated by the United States. The Lima-Chosica Railway project will connect Lima with the province of Huarochirí, marking a significant advance in infrastructure and quality of life, Peruvian daily La República reported.
On November 16, 2024, Lima Mayor Rafael López Aliaga and then U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken formalized the delivery of 20 diesel-electric locomotives and 93 railcars for the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima (MML). The transferred equipment of California railroad operator Caltrain, made surplus by the electrification of a state line, will continue its service in Peru, the U.S. Embassy in Lima said in a statement.
“U.S. companies will provide over 50 percent of the services for this project and the supplies for this project, from signaling equipment to railroad tracks to engineering and design expertise,” Blinken said during the donation ceremony.
The project will benefit more than 200,000 passengers per day, improving mobility, tourism, and quality of life, the U.S. Embassy said. It will also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing 20,000 metric tons of annual emissions, equivalent to removing 4,000 gasoline-powered vehicles from circulation. The project will also contribute to reducing Lima residents’ commute times from hours to minutes, railroads magazine Trains reported.
“After completing the legal procedures for the donation, the Ministry of Transport and Communications has the opportunity to replicate this model in other regions of the country,” Mayor López Aliaga said during the donation ceremony.
According to the MML, the donation is valued at approximately $1 billion. The cars and locomotives will arrive in the country in March, La República reported.
From Silicon Valley to Lima
The donation process began when Caltrain launched a bidding process to determine the destination of its retired vehicles. MML expressed interest in acquiring all this equipment and, after negotiations, the transfer of wagons and locomotives built between 1985 and 1987 was agreed, Caltrain said in a press release.
“This donation is positive and practical. The United States would not approve a donation if it were unserviceable equipment; this is not their way of proceeding. This is not an improvised project, but a carefully planned and comprehensive one,” Jorge Serrano, advisor to Peru’s Congressional Intelligence Commission, told Diálogo.
Geopolitics and modernization
“These are F40PH trains, with 3,200 horsepower, designed to reach speeds of up to 177 kilometers per hour. They have air conditioning, stainless steel structure, two levels, and toilets,” Mayor López Aliaga told Peruvian TV channel Willax Televisión. “This is an example of healthy geopolitics, which benefits the entire metropolis and especially those who need it most,” he added.
According to Juan de Dios Olaechea, president of Ferrocarril Central Andino, the company that manages railroads in Central Peru, “the donated trains have an estimated useful life of 80 to 100 years, so they are in full operational cycle,” he told Perú 21 TV. He also stressed the need to improve the average speed of traffic in Lima, currently reduced to 4 km/h during rush hours.
“The trains will be installed quickly, as only the [train] stations will need to be upgraded. This project will alleviate the chaotic public transportation in the capital, mainly benefiting the most vulnerable people, as it will be a social support train that will connect Lima from east to west, a fundamental section,” Serrano said.
For Serrano, the U.S. donation and support will be long-lasting. “Not only is mobility improved with this donation, but it also boosts the modernization of the railway system, by demonstrating the benefits of working with a committed and reliable partner such as the United States,” he said.
According to Olaechea, the Lima-Chosica Railway will be developed in three phases, consisting of several test runs, the initial use of the existing railroad track, and the installation of advanced control systems. In parallel, a second railroad will be built with a trellis system, which is projected to be operational by 2026.
Multifaceted relationship
Railway cooperation is part of a broader, multifaceted relationship between Peru and the United States that encompasses economic development, security, and the fight against narcotrafficking. In November 2024, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, the United States announced a $65 million counternarcotics assistance package, Voice of America reported.
The package includes the delivery of nine Black Hawk helicopters and the reactivation of the non-lethal aerial interception program against narcotrafficking and organized crime. In addition, the United States is contributing to reinforcing security at the Port of Chancay with scanners to strengthen cargo inspection. During APEC, NASA and Peru’s Space Agency also signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance space cooperation.
In addition, the railroad collaboration aligns with Peru’s efforts to advance its connectivity plan. According to Serrano, the U.S.-donated train system that will operate in the capital, “will allow for more fluid mobility and will foster regional development.”
