Jamaica Passenger Train Service Restored

[Gilbert B Norman]

There does not appear to be a report on this development, but passenger service was restored on Jamaica Railways during 2011 between May Pen and Spanish Town (25 miles):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkMm-f9FLFg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It had been discontinued during 1992.

I rode such during 1983 Williamsfield-Montego Bay and return.

[george matthews]

Services seem to have closed again.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railways_of_Jamaica" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[philipmartin]

That was fast. I like the part where the people who died in the 1957 wreck had their belongings stolen.

[Gilbert B Norman]

Here is coverage from the Jamaica Gleaner of the closing:

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2012 ... lead9.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It certainly appeared to be a temporary service; the material I located earlier hardly suggested that.

It further appears that JRC is just some bureaucracy that just won't die as the Wiki article linked by Mr. Matthews report that what train operations remain are in private hands. That is handling bauxite (key ingredient for aluminum) from mine to an ocean port.

All told, my 1983 ride was quite the experience; glad I chose to do so.

Finally the quite new Swiss built Coaches on my ride reportedly have ended up in Cuba.

[Gilbert B Norman]

Here is video from the short lived passenger train:

https://youtu.be/jkMm-f9FLFg


Here is an official film from the now defunct Jamaican Rail Corporation. There are scenes of rail operations betwixt and between the propaganda:

https://youtu.be/daJmHW2Bd9Y

While I'm sure you can be transferred from airport to hotel in their shuttle van, and stay without incident, sitting on a beach is not exactly my idea of a vacation. Somehow, I don't think I would be traveling about the interior today much as I did during the 1983 visit I noted above.