MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Santiago airport expansion and fast train plans unveiled by Chile

Fast train would link airport with downtown Santiago and Valparaiso

The Chilean government this week unveiled two major public transport initiatives aimed upgrading the nation’s transport infrastructure: a third runway and expanded terminal at the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (AMB) and a fast train service connecting the airport to the port city of Valparaiso in 2010.

AMB currently handles 10 million passengers, a 4.75% increase over the previous year. But with the planned expansion, the airport will be able to handle 19 million passengers by 2024 and 50 million by 2045. The airport expansion plan is estimated to cost 800 million to 1 billion US dollars.

Leading business and union figures back the project, saying it will increase tourism, create jobs and boost Chile’s competitiveness.

“There is not only going to be a sharp rise in passengers here in Chile, but also a vast increase in the number of international and domestic flights,” said Public Works Minister Sergio Bitar.

“This clearly reflects the urgency of situation. We simply have to create enough space to cover the anticipated growth… New land would have to be purchased to the north east of the current airport to accommodate some of the newer air lines, and some of the older aircrafts such as the Airbus A-380 would move to the new territories in order to provide enough space for everyone.”

The controversial expansion plan is likely to be hotly debated by local residents in the nearby Pudahuel borough. There is also significant opposition to airport expansion because of contamination concerns.

by Paul Herbert, Santiago Times