Peru rehabilitates the Tacna - Arica railway after being closed for almost three years due to COVID-19 (VIDEO)

In a historic act today, Wednesday, December 21 at 7:23 a.m., the Tacna – Arica railway was put back into operation after this service had been suspended since March 16, 2020 due to the closure of borders due to the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19.

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The Regional Government of Tacna carried out maintenance work on the 60 kilometers of railway line from the city of Tacna to the port of Arica, Chile, with the support of soldiers from the Third Cavalry Brigade of the Peruvian Army.

Governor Juan Tonconi, the Chilean consul Alejandro Gibbons and the director of Foreign Relations Zósimo Morillo highlighted the cultural exchange between the regions of Arica and Tacna. (Photo: Adrian Apaza)

Oldest international railway

The Tacna – Arica railway is the oldest international railway line that remains active in South America. It was put into operation in 1856 in the government of Ramón Castilla.

The railway as well as its easement and the administration of the stations located in Tacna and Arica is in charge of the Peruvian state, represented by the Regional Government of Tacna.

Travel from Tacna to Arica by train takes about 40 minutes and immigration controls, by Senasa, Police, and their Chilean counterparts, are carried out at both stations. (Photo: Adrian Apaza)

Important for business development

In a brief ceremony, the governor of Tacna Juan Tonconi Quispe, accompanied by the Chilean consul Alejandro Gibbons and the director of the decentralized office of Foreign Relations Zósimo Morillo, highlighted the importance of this service for the economic, commercial, cultural and social exchange of the sister regions of Tacna and Arica.

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GRT economic development manager Gonzalo Arias highlighted that economic activities will now be much more fluid with the start-up of this service, which will have daily departures from Tacna to Arica at 6 a.m., and from Arica to Tacna at 8 a.m. :00 pm, at a cost of 15 soles or 3,500 Chilean pesos.