The Editor, Sir:

It appears that the long wait for the return of viable railroad transportation is in the making, or maybe it's the usual 'in season do nothing-lip service'. However, just in case the powers that be are serious, here are a few items that I would like to suggest for consideration.

Any plan to resurrect this overdue and much needed transportation system should not be implemented without an 'integrated socio-economic needs assessment' being conducted, inclusive of public input. Why? Simply because the socio-economic dynamics have changed significantly since the last train pulled out of the station and our needs are more dire and complex, than a mere concept of 'reconstruction of mini-buses on tracks'.

Meaningful suggestions

I suggest that a 'railway committee' be created if one is not already in place. Its scope should be expanded to include maintenance of the system once it is implemented, with annual budgetary allocations, disbursed in quarterly increments or an income-generating plan for necessary upkeep and improvement/expansion, for example 'Railway business tax credit' wherein businesses can offset some of their tax responsibilities by purchasing annual train passes for their workforce. This would immediately decrease the various stresses on our daily traffic situation and their supportive infrastructure.

A viable financial maintenance system will ensure that the system does not fall into disrepute or becomes obsolete and simultaneously enhance the likelihood of economic self-sufficiency for railroad operations. Ultimately, a self sustaining railway system enhances the country's infrastructure capacity for production and efficiency, if staffed by persons competent in the necessary disciplines and not by patronage cronies just looking to 'eat-a-food'.

The committee should consult with the Government's 'think tank' on economic development and establish railroad tracks along economically viable corridors as in raw material to market/end user link up. An example of this type of economic transportation system is already in existence locally within the bauxite mining industry and overseas with the CSX rail lines of the United States.

There are lots of goods that need to travel from point A to point B, with most of these major goods (agriculture being the exception) located in or around urban centres. Imagine a network of railroad tracks that leads directly from the cement factory connecting to various points all over rural Jamaica. The potential 'stimulus' could be exponential. A simple linear routed track that runs down the middle of the island is outdated. The Committee should also consider schools, residential neighbourhood clusters and environmental tourist scenic routes in the designing of new railroad tracks.

This type of visionary plan possesses the potential to reinvigorate the country's economic and transportation system, if designed holistically and implemented strategically.

I am, etc.,

JOHN ROOTS

rawdata08@yahoo.com