A commission from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Usace) was in Guatemala to carry out a reconnaissance aimed at reactivation of the railway service in Izabal.
The objective is to enable a section between Puerto Barrios, where the Santo Tomás de Castilla National Port Company (Empornac) operates, and a station located in the place known as Entre Ríos, as well as to develop a Multimodal Logistics Station.
Henry Sáenz, Minister of Defense, explained to Free press that it is a recognition of the area of influence in Izabal and that it is an additional project to the construction of a cargo rail connection that will connect the Quetzal Port Company (EPQ) with Escuintla.
The official explained that this Usace commission evaluates the area and began the necessary reconnaissance so that, in the near future, there is the possibility of developing a project and officially presenting it at the presidential level.
This means that progress must be made in a final design, the execution of analyzes and technical studies, as well as the estimation of the cost of the work to build a multimodal station in Izabal.
To reach that stage it will be necessary sign a letter of understanding (LOA) between the governments of the United States and Guatemala for the project to reactivate the railway line in Izabal, as occurred with the EPQ in May 2025 and in January 2026.
Guatemala must also make payments to Usace to finance technical and feasibility studies, if the interest of the Central Government is confirmed.
Railway reactivation in Izabal takes shape
The minister clarified that, if the final decision is to reactivate this project, the commitments will be assumed through an LOA and will be added to the projects that are already underway.
He announced that it would be a new route to build the railway network, since the system currently only includes the connection between the Quetzal Port Company (EPQ) and Escuintla, so it would be an additional project.
“The section would be between Empornac, in Puerto Barrios, and Entre Ríos. The idea is to remove heavy transport traffic, transfer the cargo by train and then transship it to a dry port that would work in the area, but that is precisely the study that is being carried out,” he stressed.
The minister reiterated that no LOA has yet been signed, but the request was made to Usace, which sent a delegation to carry out the recognition. Now we are waiting to determine the feasibility of executing the project.
Usace advances in railway design
In April of this year, the Government, through the Ministry of National Defense (Mindef), made a payment of US$10 million (about Q73 million) to Usace, to promote the railway and logistics project signed last January.
The transferred resources will be used for the design, construction and maintenance of the infrastructure for the railway connection between Escuintla and Puerto Quetzal.
The railway project is in the study and technical structuring phase, with the aim of determining its comprehensive viability.
The structuring includes the analysis of the logistical demand of potential users, the terrain conditions, the rights of way, the environmental impact and the integration of the project under a multimodal system.
In the coming months, Usace specialists must present the design and planning report for the railway infrastructure, as well as the proposal to articulate a multimodal logistics platform that allows optimizing cargo transportation between the port and the interior of the country.
“The section would be between Empornac, in Puerto Barrios, and Entre Ríos. The idea is to remove heavy transport traffic, transfer the cargo by train and then transship it to a dry port that would work in the area, but that is precisely the study that is being carried out.”
Henry Saenz, Minister of Defense
Within the national port system, the Quetzal Port Company (EPQ) is the main facility for handling bulk cargo, general cargo and containers. It is estimated that between 45% and 50% of the country’s import and export merchandise are moved through that terminal.
The authorities of the Ministry of National Defense (Mindef) reiterated that they seek to ensure that the railway infrastructure responds efficiently to the future operational capacities of the port, which will enter the expansion phase of docks 5, 6, 7 and 8 and is in the study phase.
US supports strategic infrastructure
Last January, the United States and Guatemala signed a new agreement for the development of critical infrastructure. As part of this agreement, technical studies are being carried out for six road infrastructure projects and for the railway section between Puerto Quetzal and Escuintla.
The first agreement signed in May 2025 for the modernization and expansion of the Quetzal Port Company (EPQ).
In addition, this week the Ministry of National Defense (Mindef) announced the acquisition of weapons and coast guard from the United States, whose delivery is scheduled for the period 2026-2027.
For independent political scientist Douglas González, the rapprochement between both countries is reflected in greater cooperation in security matters. The constant visit of senior US officials linked to defense and national security, the strengthening of cooperation in ports, borders and the fight against organized crime, as well as the lifting of restrictions on the sale of weapons, evidence a relationship of strategic trust.