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Association "Friends of Latin American
Railways"
Who has not heard of adventurous stories
of Latin America travellers – trips over precipice gorges in the Andes,
never ending delays yet spontaneous and hearty encounters with indigenous
passengers. Certainly, all that belongs to the unique atmosphere which
can be felt aboard a train in the southern hemisphere of the new world.
Where there is a train, there is both pulsating
life and connecting people, and it brings together producers and consumers.
As the roads often are in a dismal state, the railway delivers essential
goods also into remote areas.
In spite of the importance of the railway
as such, their operators encounter great difficulties. Long years of mismanagement,
financial problems and the building of more and better roads have resulted
in neglected infrastructure and outdated rolling stock, thereby thinning
out timetables or even producing large scale closures and dismantling of
the lines. As a consequence, entire territories are depopulated, and a
migration to the already too large urban areas – including their slums
– takes place. Moreover, by that time, the traffic problems in these oversized
conurbations logically have gone out of hand.
Is there any help to slow down or even
improve this adverse situation? We believe, yes – but someone must, as
always, do the first step! This represents the very foundation of the Association
of "Friends of Latin American Railways". Yes, we are a bunch of dedicated
railway "buffs", yet at the same time we were able to mount an effective
lobbying group to support the cause of maintaining and improving the railway
situation south of the USA.
It goes without saying that at first the
collation of written information, pictures, films and establishment of
the right contacts represented the prime task. Thereafter we could provide
advise to potential travellers, liaise with railway companies, authorities
and the media, the latter both in Latin America and the rest of the world.
As a next phase, planning and the procurement
of funds is being established, and this in order to directly influence
certain attractive but worthwhile projects.
Above and beyond, the social aspect of our
regular gatherings in Switzerland's traditional
railwaycity of Winterthur (north of Zurich)
is an additional asset for our members.
Would you like to learn more about the
"Friends of Latin American Railways"? Please submit the form below via
eMail. We will be glad to supply more details.
The Railways of Latin America need your
support – with your help we can do even better! |