Railways in

Jamaica

Residents of Bog Walk, St. Catherine, converge at the local train station to get a closer view of the
re-conditioned five coach train, which undertook a test run from May Pen to Linstead on April 16, 2011.

The first railway in Jamaica opened in 1845 between Kingston and Spanish Town, a distance of 13 miles (21km). It was built to standard (4ft 8½in, 1435mm) gauge. The network was gradually expanded to serve most parts of the island.

The bulk of the network ceased operation in 1992. A 120km section remains in operation for the transport of alumina (processed bauxite) from works at Ewarton and Kirkvine to Port Esquivel for shipping overseas. Besides the main line network, there were a few short, privately owned lines serving the sugar cane industry, but these had all closed by the 1980s.

In April, 2011, Jamaica Railway Corporation ran a restored passenger train from May Pen via Spanish Town to Linstead (a distance of about 40 miles, 64km) on a trial basis. Regular services commenced in July.

• Jamaica Railway Corporation owner of the (largely disused) network and promoter of the revived passenger service
• Rusal Windalco operator of alumina trains through their subsidiary, Middlesex Rail Services

© 2006-2012 Glyn Williams
Photo image from Jamaica Information Services
Flag image from CIA World Factbook