Transport in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago, a Caribbean country which relies heavily on industrialisation and tourism, has well-developed transport systems. Trinidad is the larger island, with a business-oriented economy and the seat of the country's government and Piarco International Airport, the country's major airport. A smaller number of international flights from fly directly to Tobago's Crown Point Airport.

Public Transport

Public transport is provided by a government-run bus service (known as the Public Transport Service Corporation, or PTSC), privately owned mini-buses (locally known as maxi-taxis), as well as privately owned cars. Maxi-taxis and some cars carry passengers along fixed routes for a fixed fare, although cars are slightly more expensive for similar routes carried by maxi-taxis because of their much smaller passenger capacities. Travellers can also negotiate with car taxi drivers to go "off-route" for short distances for an additional charge if one's destination is not exactly on the car taxi's route. Car taxis are not allowed to utilise the Priority Bus Route, however, and as such maxi-taxis and buses are preferable for speedily entering and exiting the cities (especially Port of Spain) during rush hour (7am-9am and 4pm-6pm).

In Port of Spain all maxi-taxis and buses heading out of the city are centrally housed in the transportation hub known as "City Gate". In all other locations and for Port of Spain Intra-city transportation, taxi-stands are scattered at various streets of the town or region, and after sunset some of these taxi-stands may change location, although this changed location is also fixed. Recently there has also been a growth in popularity of American-style taxi-cabs which do not work along a fixed route and can be booked for specific times for specific journeys. They are several times more expensive than fixed-route public transport vehicles, however their prices are still well within the budget of budget-wary tourists and professionals who frequently call upon their services.

Ferry Service

Ferries operate between Port of Spain and Scarborough. Cars can be brought onto the ferries and kept in the cargo areas. Ferries run daily, Sundays through Fridays (no service on Saturdays). They leave Trinidad on weekdays at 2 p.m., and on Sundays at 11 a.m.; Tobago ferries leave at 11 p.m. The ferries are inexpensive, in spite of the minimum 2 1/2 - 3 hour travel time between Port of Spain and Scarborough. Passengers fares are TT$100 (about US$17). Because of the ferries' popularity, many people book their ferry trip well in advance. A Water Taxi service is currently being implemented which will ferry people from Port of Spain to San Fernado and various other locations on the coast of Trinidad only. The service should be operational by mid 2008.

Railways

Railways:There is a minimal agricultural railway system near San Fernando, but the Trinidad Government Railway that was built while Trinidad and Tobago was a colony of the United Kingdom was gradually scaled back until it was discontinued in 1968. (The narrow-gauge agricultural railroad was shut down in the late 1990s).

On April 11 2008 the Trinitrain consortium announced it would plan and build 105 km two line Trinidad Rapid Railway. [cite news | work=Railway Gazette International | date=2008-04-11 | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2008/04/8364/trinidad_rapid_rail_consortium_confirmed.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=83&cHash=cdf5461278 | title=Trinidad rapid rail consortium confirmed |] The new railways are needed to overcome growing road congestion. [ Railway Gazette International September 2008, p 584 ]
* Port of Spain - San Fernando 50 km (north - south)
* Port of Spain - Sangre Grande 54 km (east - west)

tatistics

Highways:
"total:"8,320 km
"paved:"8,320 km
"unpaved:"0 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines:
crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural gas 904 km

Ports and harbours:
Pointe-à-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora

Merchant marine:
"total:"2 ships (GRT|1,000|metric|first=yes or over) totaling GRT|2,439|metric/DWT|4,040|metric|first=yes
"ships by type:" (1999 est.)
* cargo ship 1
* petroleum tanker 1

Airports:6 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
"total:"3
"over 3,047 m:"1
"2,438 to 3,047 m:"1
"1,524 to 2,437 m:"1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
"total:"3
"914 to 1,523 m:"1
"under 914 m:"2 (1999 est.)

(Transportation information from the CIA World Handbook.)

External links

* [http://www.ptsc.co.tt/ Public Transport Service Corporation]
* [http://www.patnt.com/ The Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago]
* [http://www.caa.gov.tt/home.asp The Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority]
* [http://www.visittobago.gov.tt/load_page.asp?id=13 Travel & Transportation - Getting Around Tobago] - The Department of Tourism, Tobago House of Assembly

References