The Western Tramway Project, Colombia's first regional railway connecting the capital Bogotá with nearby satellite cities, breaks ground on June 17, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of CCECC

The Western Tramway Project, Colombia's first regional railway connecting the capital Bogotá with nearby satellite cities, broke ground on Tuesday (local time), Chinese infrastructure giant CCECC said on Wednesday.

The project is also the first large-scale infrastructure project launched in Colombia since it joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in May, marking new progress, according to the company.  

Colombian President Gustavo Francisco Petro, Chinese Ambassador to Colombia Zhu Jingyang, along with senior Colombian officials and Chinese company representatives, attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

The project covers designing, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and transfer of a 39.66-kilometer dual-track electrified railway with 17 stations, 10 bridges, and one depot, linking Bogotá with four satellite cities in the Cundinamarca Province, with an estimated capacity of daily transport of 115,000 passengers after opening. 

Notably, the project will reduce commute times to 30-40 minutes, allowing those who work in the capital to return to satellite cities daily. 

"Currently, the long commute time has kept many people to only return to their homes once a week. Most such commutes take place in the form of public bus or passenger car, and takes about one and a half hour," said a manager familiar with the situation. "When the tram is put into operation, the travel time will be cut by 60 percent." 

CCECC said the project will adopt a localized management approach and is expected to generate around 6,000 jobs for local workers.

China and Colombia signed a cooperation plan on jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road on May 14. 

Colombian Ambassador to China Sergio Cabrera Cardenas told the Global Times in a recent interview that Colombia's accession to the BRI is expected to strengthen bilateral cooperation in e-commerce, trade, education, culture, manufacturing and agriculture.

Global Times