Jamaican Transport Sector and Railways - The Money Train is Coming with Senator Mike Henry

Home-keeping youth have even homely wits…

I would rather entreat thy company

To see the wonders of the world abroad

Than, living dully sluggardized at home

Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness

Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona, I 1

Senator Mike Henry, Minister of Transport and Work, is going to be on the trains come this Saturday April 16^th 2011AD – and the glare of the Media flashbulbs, and Reporters from the various news organizations inclusive of growing community of bloggers.

This as the Inaugural Run of the Passenger Railway Train service daily decorated in Jamaican colours. In effect,  is all set, polished and ready to roll on the Spanish Town to May Pen Route with the Minister and his Ministerial entourage on board as stated in the “Spanish Town excited about train service”, published Tuesday April 12 2011 17:28:47, Go-Jamaica and “Train coaches roll into Old Capital for Test Run”, published Wednesday April 13, 2011, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Brings back memories of the sudden Inaugural opening of the Downtown Municipal Transport Centre on Saturday January 15^th 2011 as chronicled in the article “Confusion at new transport hub”, published Tuesday, January 18, 2011 BY Kimmo Matthews, Observer staff reporter, The Jamaica Observer.

Truly the residents of Spanish Town must be on a high as to the fact that the Inaugural Route will be graced by the presence of Senator Mike Henry, Minister of Transport and Work riding on the sixty eight (68) – seater Passenger trains.

Even moreso the Jamaica colours that that the refurbished and repainted Train Engines and Coaches are adorned. Ditto the fact that most Jamaicans born after 1992AD have never ridden on a train.

That year is significant, as it is the year when the Passenger Railway Train shuttered exactly one hundred and forty seven (147) years after it started in 1845AD. I can vaguely remember my trip on a train. Back when I was a Midland Preparatory School student in the early 90’s.

Chairman of the JRC (Jamaica Railway Corporation) Barry Bonitto (any relation to the tasty fish swimming in Jamaican waters?), confirmed the Linstead to Spanish Town as well as the Spanish Town to May Pen route and Senator Mike Henry presence, quote: “We intend to start operations from Spanish Town to Linstead within a month. We are going to have a test run from May Pen to Linstead on Saturday, with the transport minister and others”

That’s right folks!

Within one (1) month from now, the Passenger Railway Service on the Spanish Town to Linstead will leisurely wind it way with its first set of passengers. I smell Blogger Gold in a follow-up article people, with a slant on technology.

And there will be, to quote Chairman of the JRC (Jamaica Railway Corporation) Barry Bonitto, “A total of 40 people would gain direct employment as brakesmen, ticketing agents and engineers when the train restarts”.

Do I smell Election Campaign money for Spanish Town, anyone!!

Blog article from my personal blog as well as on the Geezam Blog in my capacity as a Technology Writer coming up as soon as the first Passenger Railway Service runs in a month from now in May 2011!!

Especially as I am interested in the type of Passenger Railway Trains and any plans to run them on LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) if possible as opined in my blog article entitled “Jamaican Transport Sector and Excel Motors Limited - Russian Roulette and Top Gear”

Still waiting to see its implementation on JUTC (Jamaica Urban Transport) buses as stated in my blog article entitled “JUTC, Challenge and LNG - Journey to the Center of the Earth”!

Of equal interest too, is if there will be the provisioning of any Telecom Services on the Passenger Railway Trains such as Dynamic or Rolling Municipal Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11n) for passengers as hinted in my blog article entitled “Telecom Providers and 100MBps - Diamonds are Forever”, using Telecom Provider Digicel 4G Broadband or Telecom Provider CLARO soon-to-be-launched LTE (Long Term Evolution) service as the Backhaul to provision this service

A more detailed analysis of the future of the Downtown Municipal Transport Centre and its tempestuous relationship with JATOO (Jamaica Association of Transport Owners and Operators) was proffered in my blog article entitled “JATOO and the Transportation Revolution in Jamaica - Babylon by Bus” and my follow-up article entitled “JUTC and the Downtown Municipal Transport Center - Planes, Trains and Automobiles”.

This development is not surprising, as it had been well publicized in The Jamaica Gleaner, The Jamaica Observer and on the web page of the official of the Government of Jamaica mouthpiece The Jamaica Information Service Website. To wit, prepare to be assaulted by the following list of articles for reference:

1. “Testing the Rails - Transport Minister says plans in high Gear to Resume Train Service”, published Thursday March 31, 2011, The Jamaica Gleaner
2. “Passenger trains to roll again”, published Thursday, March 31, 2011 by, Ingrid Brown, Senior Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Observer
3. “Test run for Rail Service in April”, published Thursday, March 31, 2011 08:59, The Jamaica Information Service Website

Coincidentally (or intentionally?) the May Pen Bridge has been scheduled by the NWA (National Works Agency) to be closed from Monday March 8^th 2011AD to Friday May 6^th 2011AD, a period spanning about six (6) weeks as stated in the article “May Pen Railway Bridge closing for Repairs”, published Friday, March 25, 2011, The Jamaica Observer.

Apparently more than Road Works is on the NWA’s mind; The JRC and the Minister of Transport and Works, Senator Mike Henry will be making their presence felt on this First Inaugural Jamaican-flag themed six (6) coach Passenger Train Service on the Saturday April 16^th 2011

People of Jamaican, specifically May Pen, Clarendon, The Train is Coming featuring Shaggy and Ken Boothe, Money Train (1995) Style!!