The speech by Ineco's president, Sergio Vázquez Torrón, who opened the event, emphasised that there is no single recipe for railway development.
Ineco participated in the International Forum for Railway Revival, held in Bogotá and organised by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF). The event brought together institutional leaders, international experts and high-level government representatives to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of railway revival in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The speech by Ineco's president, Sergio Vázquez Torrón, who opened the event, focused on the fact that there is no single recipe for railway development, as each country must build a system adapted to its needs and based on its particular characteristics. He also shared some universal keys that could be useful for all countries in the region, highlighting strategic planning, technical and political consensus, the importance of interoperability and standardisation, and the need for public funding for such complex transformative projects.
The Director General of International Business, Ainhoa Zubieta, also participated in the discussion ‘Institutionality in the railway sector’, alongside representatives from CAF, Colombia, Costa Rica and Venezuela. The debate focused on the importance of establishing solid governance models, addressing fundamental issues such as institutional clarity, the differences between passenger and freight services, and the need for adaptive approaches depending on the context of each country. Ainhoa Zubieta highlighted Ineco's experience in implementing institutional frameworks in complex international projects.
The second day of the forum featured two new presentations by Ineco. Javier Anibarro, an expert in Transport Economics and Policy, presented a case study on the strategic planning and institutional framework of the Spanish railway system, highlighting the factors that have enabled a profound modernisation of the national network in recent decades. Finally, Jon Aizcorbe, an expert in safety, energy and rolling stock, addressed the keys to railway standardisation, explaining its benefits in terms of interoperability, efficiency and safety, as well as its possible application to the Colombian context.
More than 40 years of experience in Colombia
Ineco's participation in the forum was part of its long history in Colombia, where the company has carried out more than 50 projects since 1981 in the railway, aeronautical and educational infrastructure sectors. Its first project was the feasibility study for mass transport in Bogotá, and since then it has maintained a constant presence, with clients such as the Medellín Metro, SACSA, AEROCALI and AEROCIVIL.
Ineco is currently working on two major projects: the Digital Agenda for Transport in Colombia and Brazil, promoted by the Inter-American Development Bank, and the feasibility study for a railway connection between Medellín and Bogotá, promoted by Ferrocarril de Antioquia. The latter poses a technical challenge due to the complexity of the route, but it also represents an opportunity to apply innovative solutions that will drive the development of the Colombian railway system.
