The Chimborazo province has recently seen activity from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Ecuador's Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MTOP) in efforts focused on assessing the potential for railway reactivation. The IDB delegation, working closely with MTOP officials, initiated a review of the 12.8-kilometer segment between Alausí and Sibambe, a preliminary phase aimed at evaluating both the infrastructure and rolling stock within this corridor.
The visit included a range of site assessments spanning Urbina to the central facilities in Riobamba, with stops at stations like Plaza Eloy Alfaro and a detailed inspection of the main workshops, where the technical state of locomotives and other assets was examined.
The Chimborazo railway reactivation plan envisions a phased approach. Following the Alausí-Sibambe section, the 31.3-kilometer Urbina-Riobamba stretch represents the second stage under review. The next steps for the MTOP and IDB teams involve examining the 24.9-kilometer Colta-Riobamba section, concluding their field evaluations with inspections at Chimbacalle Station and Chiriyacu Workshops in Quito.
