Inside Chile’s Just-Released 2050 Masterplan: Boosting Rail Spend to 16% to Slash Freight Costs

Chile rail strategy 2050 sets out a long-term policy proposal. It seeks a larger role for rail in passenger transport, freight movement and logistics. The target horizon is mid-century. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The 78-page document is dated April 2026. Its title is Política Ferroviaria Nacional para Chile – Trenes para Chile 2050. Fabián Figueroa prepared it under the auspices of the Instituto Ferroviario de Chile. It sets objectives and modal share ambitions. Also, it outlines institutional changes intended to guide implementation up to 2050. Its scope covers investment levels, freight and passenger modal shares, corridor planning and governance reform.

As reported by Railmarket, one central financial target concerns rail’s share of infrastructure spending. The proposal calls for rail’s portion to rise from 4% to at least 16%. This share refers to total infrastructure investment. Yearly railway spending would rise from 0.06% of GDP. The proposed range is 0.10% to 0.40%, aligned with OECD benchmarks. For infrastructure overall, the document says investment should be above 4% of GDP. The stated target is 6.5%.

Freight targets in Chile rail strategy 2050

In freight transport, the policy sets a target for gross tonne-kilometres. Around half would move through high-efficiency modes, including rail and maritime cabotage. Also, the policy proposes at least a 30% rail modal share. That measure covers net tonnes handled at state-owned ports.

The document gives particular weight to combined rail–road transport. On mainline routes, it cites rail-favourable cost differences. They are five to eight times per tonne-kilometre. For example, the model uses a 1,000 km corridor. Rail is shown at CLP 16 per tonne-km. That equals CLP 16,000 per tonne. Truck transport is shown at CLP 100,000. The comparison implies savings of up to 84%. A mixed 800 km rail / 200 km road option would reduce costs by 67%. That comparison is against all-road movement.

At the same time, the framework seeks to enable at least two fully rail-based international links. The target date is 2050. These links would depend on bilateral agreements and financing conditions.

Passenger rail objectives include a 600 km corridor

For passenger transport, the strategy sets minimum modal share goals of 16% for urban rail and 16% for suburban rail. Urban rail covers metro, tram or funicular systems. These targets apply in metropolitan areas with more than 400,000 residents. The named cities and urban areas are Antofagasta, La Serena–Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Concepción and Temuco.

Meanwhile, the proposed objective for Greater Santiago is different. It calls for a combined urban and suburban rail share approaching 50%.

Separately, the document proposes a high-standard corridor of roughly 600 km. It would connect Valparaíso, Santiago, Rancagua, Talca, Chillán and Concepción. The route would cover around 75% of Chile’s population. In addition, the policy says high-speed rail on this axis should be studied. It could potentially be introduced by 2050. The target interurban modal share is at least 30%. The desirable level is close to 50%.

Governance reform and planning changes

The governance section recommends establishing a Ministry of Mobility and Critical Infrastructure. It also proposes a national rail authority. In addition, it recommends corridor-based planning mechanisms.

The document describes current procedures within Chile’s National Investment System as a limitation. Projects are evaluated individually rather than across the network. Also, factors such as emissions and territorial integration are not systematically included.

The framework is built around eight strategic lines. They cover:
• rail as the backbone of public transport;
• integration into logistics corridors;
• high-performance services;
• institutional modernisation;
• new planning and financing models;
• resilient infrastructure;
• urban integration;
• development of domestic rail industry and skills.

The proposal defines rail as critical infrastructure. It links the 2050 horizon to regulatory reform within three years. Integrated plans would be implemented within five years of adoption.

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