I welcome President Ali’s railway plan

Dear Editor,
President Dr Irfaan Ali’s announcement of plans to construct a railway linking East Bank and East Coast Demerara gives me hope that commuting in Guyana can finally get faster, safer, and fairer.
I spend enough time in traffic between Georgetown, the East Bank, and the East Coast to measure my week in brake taps. When President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali spoke about introducing a modern train system, it felt like a turning point. We’ve widened roads and added new links, yet the gridlock finds its way back every morning and evening. At some point, we have to admit that paving more lanes won’t solve a problem born of too many cars heading to the same places at the same time. A reliable train network is the kind of big, practical step that can actually change daily life here.
More than anything, I want my time back. Predictable travel matters. Trains run on schedules that don’t bend to every minor fender-bender or sudden downpour, and they can move far more people per hour than a road choked with private cars and minibuses. If we connect the busiest corridors – especially the East Coast and East Bank – many of us could trade a stressful, open-ended drive for a ride we can count on. That kind of reliability is priceless when you’re trying to get to work on time, pick up the kids without panic, or simply plan a day without building in an hour of “just in case”.
Beyond time, there’s the quiet benefit of safety. Every day we navigate abrupt stops, risky overtakes, and the near-misses that spike your blood pressure long after you’ve parked. Shifting a meaningful share of trips to rail lowers those exposures. With modern signalling, well-lit stations, and clear pedestrian access, the journey becomes calmer. Fewer cars battling for the same strip of tarmac means fewer chances for things to go wrong.
Then there’s the cost we don’t always tally. Fuel, maintenance, parking, and lost hours add up – often silently, week after week. If fares are fair and service is frequent, a train pass could undercut the total cost of driving daily or stitching together multiple minibus rides. That can leave more money for groceries, school supplies, and savings. For families walking a tight budgeting line, the difference would be felt immediately.
There is a cleaner promise too. Anyone who has sat in a mid-afternoon snarl knows the taste of exhaust and the weight of heat radiating off idling engines. Modern electric trains, especially as our power mix improves, can cut emissions per passenger and reduce the noise and fumes that hang over our busiest corridors. Streets near stations would feel different – quieter, with air that doesn’t sting after a long standstill.
Fairness is the test I keep coming back to. The people who spend the largest share of their income and time on transport stand to gain the most from reliable rail. That’s why affordable fares, accessible design, and simple, integrated payments matter. If stations are designed for seniors, parents with strollers, and persons with disabilities, then the system serves everyone – not just those who already have good options.
In the end, success looks simple to me: shorter, reliable trips between the East Coast, Georgetown, and the East Bank; stations that feel safe at dawn and after dark; fares that don’t sting; and trains that arrive when the timetable says they will. If we hold to those principles, President Ali’s train plan won’t just move people. It will buy us back time, reduce daily stress, and open doors to opportunity across Guyana. That’s why I welcome it – because done well, it can change the shape of an ordinary day for the better, and that’s the kind of progress everyone can feel.

Yours sincerely,
Philip Inshanally