Government will run Metro

[NewsWhore]

The government will operate the Santo Domingo Metro, excluding the possibility of any concessions being signed with the private sector for the time being. The news was revealed to Hoy newspaper by the sub-director of the Transport Reorganization Office (OPRET), Leonel Carrasco. The official said that the idea of the private sector running the Metro had been considered, but never under any type of concession. Last week Carrasco said that the private sector running the Metro would relieve the government of some of the expenses, and, even though he said that fares would be between RD$20 and RD$25 pesos, he refused to say how much the government would be subsidizing each fare. As of yesterday, 36 of the 56 cars had arrived and another 18 are expected to arrive over the next few days. Carrasco said that the Metro would be put to the test at the beginning of November, running empty, putting several trains into operation at the same time. The officials also said that OPRET was tidying up the system and making "small repairs" here and there, in order for it to begin operations in December. Among the details being worked on are sidewalks and elevators and the trials on connections and sub-systems of the electro-mechanical sections. Hoy newspaper says that the whole system will be tested throughout November. The Metro system will employ a total of 1600 people.

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