Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday inspected the speed test of a Chinese-made train in the country's mid-western region.
Accompanied by Chinese Ambassador Zhang Tuo, Chavez traveled aboard the "Demus," which can carry 300 people and reaches a top speed of 120 km per hour.
During the test run, the train traveled 10 km on the line connecting the city of Barquisimiento, capital of the state of Lara, with Yaritagua, state of Yaracuy, more than 300 km west of the national capital Caracas.
It was an "integral" test, said Chavez, while hailing the modernization of his country's railway system with Chinese help and technology, and the efforts of the workers and the government.
The railway system has two parts, linking Puerto Cabello to Barquisimeto and Yaritagua to Acarigua, with a total length of some 240 km.
Low speed and lack of care had forced the aged railway system to stop operation. After the modernization process, the system will be put into use again and can ferry 70,000 people daily.
The Venezuelan government said the rejuvenated railway will contribute to the economic and social development of the region and improve the people's quality of life.
