The Urban Train project could be integrated with Asunción’s Historic Center and the area around the Port of Asunción, but the decision depends on technical studies that are still under way. The possibility was discussed at a meeting led by President Santiago Peña and First Lady Leticia Ocampos, as part of the “Asunción 500 Years” urban revitalization plan, which is intended to prepare the capital for its 500th anniversary.
The proposal is to assess a route and stations connecting the future rail system with heritage, cultural and commercial areas in the center. The government’s stated aim is for the train to serve not only as a means of transportation, but also as a tool for urban recovery, stimulating commerce and strengthening tourism.
“We are working so that this project not only connects cities, but also reaches the heart of our capital,” Leticia Ocampos said. According to the first lady, the undertaking could help restore railway heritage, bring historic sites closer together and prepare Asunción for the future without breaking with its roots.
The discussion revives the historic importance of railways in the daily life of the Paraguayan capital. The former railway service and, later, trams crossed the center and linked neighborhoods, commercial areas and public spaces. The intention now is to consider that memory in designing a network adapted to current needs.
The Port of Asunción, the capital’s port area on the banks of the Paraguay River, is among the integration alternatives being analyzed. The location of the stations, compatibility with urban projects and the relationship with protected buildings and spaces still need to be defined during the technical stage.
For that reason, the connection with the Historic Center remains a possibility under study, rather than a project that has already been approved or is in operation. Before establishing its final design, the project will have to reconcile mobility, heritage preservation and the planning set out in “Asunción 500 Years.”