Light rail system under active consideration, says President

The establishment of a modern rail transit system remains under active review as the Government advances key initiatives aimed at improving the national transport network.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali raised the matter on Monday during the commissioning of the newly upgraded Aubrey Barker Public Road, saying the country’s transport system must prioritise safe, affordable, and efficient movement of citizens.
He pointed to plans for a broader mass transit framework designed to ease congestion, reduce travel times, and strengthen connectivity.
“We are giving serious consideration to options such as a light rail system for high density corridors, circular roads that allow commuters to reach distant destinations by bypassing existing traffic bottlenecks and larger modern buses for longer distance services, including routes to rural and hinterland communities,” the president stated.
He said the transformation would bring wide-ranging social and economic benefits, improving daily life and supporting productivity across sectors.
“We are building a country where a farmer gets produce to market faster, where a parent gets home earlier, where business reaches customer easier, where investors see readiness, where communities once separated are now united,” he said.
The ongoing studies are examining light commercial rail along the East Bank and East Coast Demerara corridors, with a potential freight line from the Atlantic coast to Lethem.
These initiatives follow historical, now-defunct lines and reflect an ambition to improve logistics, linking industrial zones and other important national infrastructure.