TDU is a small cooperative, integrated by 15 people, interested to develop the railway passenger services in Uruguay and help small towns that, at present, have transport problems.
There is one line in our country (Montevideo-Minas) that has track in good shape and several towns between endpoints that have transport problems because roads were unable to replace trains on that line which dissapeared in 1988. At present, all have bus service but it is slow (because tracks go straight and roads are not direct) and expensive. Also they have not direct connection with bigger towns and with other towns, things that only the railway can do. In 2009, 775 signatures were presented in favour of passenger service on the line to the State Railway, which is not interested to do so.
If we reunite all the money, we plan to purchase a diesel railcar in the USA to transport passengers on that line. With one car we can obtain permission to run on the tracks of the national network and also obtain funds to purchase more railcars to improve services and expand them (we plan to run 4 trains daily each way). We will also set up a workshop to mantain the cars. If not, we will start setting up the workshop and continue to looking for funding on banks, which is more difficult and slow.
When all services will be running, we expect to move around 280.000 passengers per year. We also expect to move parcels, which at present are carried by bus or truck and charges a lot to move some items which in a train can be carried easily and at less cost.
Total population outside Montevideo that will be served by the line is 85.000 people.
The Internal Return Rate of the project is 26 % and the Net Present Value of the project (with all services running) is USD 1.380.713.
We will be uploading soon a video showing small towns where we talk with the people of those places.