Rail transport in Costa Rica: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
rearranging for a more concise and appropriate flow of information
move images from left to right to fix formatting problem squashing References, periods only for complete-sentence image captions (MOS:CAPFRAG), replace dead links with archives, dash style (MOS:DASH), fix misdirected San Jose link
 
(39 intermediate revisions by 22 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Railroad transportation system connecting locations in Costa Rica}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2011}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox rail network
|name = Rail transport in Costa Rica
|image = RedFerroviariaCostaRica.svg
|caption = Rail network [[Right-of-way (transportation)|right-of-way]] of Costa Rica
{{align|left|{{legend|#f3c21e|[[Interurbano Line (Costa Rica)|Tren Interurbano]]}}}}
{{align|left|{{legend|#e60000|Ferrocarril al Pacífico}}}}
{{align|left|{{legend|#000de6|Ferrocarril al Atlántico}}}}
{{align|left|{{legend|#00c1e6|Banana transportation}}}}
{{align|left|{{legend|#d452ff|Ferrocarril del Sur (Quepos)}}}}
{{align|left|{{legend|#009e22|Ferrocarril del Sur (Golfito)}}}}
|majoroperators = Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer)
|gauge = {{RailGauge|1,067 mm|al=on|allk=on}}
|length = {{convert|516.65|km|mi|abbr=on}} <!--116+8+6+167+10+10+9.8+9.1+31.25+21+89+39.5 --><ref>{{cite web |title=Reglamenta Dimensión Derecho Vía Ferrocarriles Nacionales (Art. 42 Ley Nº 7001, Orgánica del INCOFER) |url=http://repositorio.mopt.go.cr:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/3875/D-%2022483.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |access-date=8 February 2021}}</ref>
|}}
{{train topics}}
[[File:Costa Rica Railway Company Ltd. 1888.jpg|thumb|First Mortgage Debenture of the Costa Rica Railway Company Ltd., issued 10 January 1888]]
[[File:TrenLlegaSabanaContraloria-F1600x1200.jpg|thumb|Train arriving into the Sabana-Contraloria station in San Jose.]]
[[File:TrenLlegaSabanaContraloria-F1600x1200.jpg|thumb|Train arriving into the Sabana-Contraloria station in San Jose.]]
[[image:Railroad siding costa Rica mt de ocoa.jpg|thumb|upright=1.20 |Universidad de Costa Rica Station, San Pedro, Montes de Oca.]]
[[image:Railroad siding costa Rica mt de ocoa.jpg|thumb|upright=1.20 |Universidad de Costa Rica station, San Pedro, Montes de Oca]]
[[File:Costa Rica map detail.PNG|thumb|upright=1.20|Map of Costa Rica showing rail lines as of 1987.]]
[[File:Costa Rica map detail.PNG|thumb|upright=1.20|Map of Costa Rica showing rail lines as of 1987]]
[[File:IntApolo2400.jpg|thumb|Interior of an Incofer Apolo 2400 type DMU.]]
[[File:IntApolo2400.jpg|thumb|Interior of an Incofer Apolo 2400 type DMU]]
'''Rail transport in Costa Rica''' is primarily under the stewardship of Incofer (Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles), an autonomous institution of the state. Incofer owns the national railway infrastructure and operates virtually all freight and passenger services, which consist primarily of commuter trains through the highly populated [[Costa Rican Central Valley|Central Valley]]. The whole Incofer network is {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}} [[narrow gauge railway|narrow gauge]], although there are several small tourist railways of other gauges.{{fact|date=April 2019}}
'''Rail transport in Costa Rica''' is primarily under the stewardship of Incofer (Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles), an autonomous institution of the state. Incofer owns the national railway infrastructure and operates virtually all freight and passenger services, which consist primarily of commuter trains through the highly populated [[Costa Rican Central Valley|Central Valley]]. The whole Incofer network is {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}} [[narrow gauge railway|narrow gauge]], although there are several small tourist railways of other gauges.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}


Unfortunately, much of the railway system requires major repairs.<ref>http://www.infrastructure-intelligence.com/article/aug-2016/infrastructure-costa-rica%E2%80%99s-achilles%E2%80%99-heel</ref> An August 2016 [[OECD]] report provided this summary about the infrastructure, including the railways: "The road network is extensive but of poor quality, railways are in disrepair and only slowly being reactivated after having been shut down in the 1990s ... Internal transportation overly relies on private road vehicles as the public transport system, especially railways, is inadequate."<ref>http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/a-bird-eye-view-of-costa-rica-s-transport-infrastructure_5jlswbwvwqjf-en</ref>
Much of the railway system requires major repairs.<ref>http://www.infrastructure-intelligence.com/article/aug-2016/infrastructure-costa-rica%E2%80%99s-achilles%E2%80%99-heel</ref> An August 2016 [[OECD]] report provided this summary about the infrastructure, including the railways: "The road network is extensive but of poor quality, railways are in disrepair and only slowly being reactivated after having been shut down in the 1990s ... Internal transportation overly relies on private road vehicles as the public transport system, especially railways, is inadequate."<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/a-bird-eye-view-of-costa-rica-s-transport-infrastructure_5jlswbwvwqjf-en|doi=10.1787/5jlswbwvwqjf-en|title=A bird-eye view of Costa Rica's transport infrastructure|series=OECD Economics Department Working Papers|year=2016|last1=Pisu|first1=Mauro|last2=Villalobos|first2=Federico|doi-access=free}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==

In 1871, construction was started on a railroad from [[Alajuela]] to Puerto Limón, via San José, on the Caribbean coast; the project was initiated by the government of General [[Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez]] and was surveyed in 1868 by the [[United Kingdom|British]] civil engineer [[Edmund Wragge]]. The railroad from Alajuela to San José was completed by the beginning of 1873 and later continued until [[Cartago, Costa Rica|Cartago]]. Materials and equipment were brought into Alajuela from Puntarenas by oxen-powered carts. Due to a shortage of finances and natural obstacles (especially around [[Río Sucio]]), the construction of the remaining sections was delayed, and the entire line did not become operational until December 7, 1890.
In 1871, construction was started on a railroad from [[Alajuela]] to Puerto Limón, via San José, on the Caribbean coast; the project was initiated by the government of General [[Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez]] and was surveyed in 1868 by the [[United Kingdom|British]] civil engineer [[Edmund Wragge]]. The railroad from Alajuela to San José was completed by the beginning of 1873 and later continued until [[Cartago, Costa Rica|Cartago]]. Materials and equipment were brought into Alajuela from Puntarenas by oxen-powered carts. Due to a shortage of finances and natural obstacles (especially around [[Río Sucio]]), the construction of the remaining sections was delayed, and the entire line did not become operational until December 7, 1890.
[[image:FCalP 1 Maria Cecilia.JPG|thumb|upright=1.20 |Steam locomotive F.C. al P. no 1 Maria Cecilia in San Jose]]
[[image:FCalP 1 Maria Cecilia.JPG|thumb|upright=1.20 |Steam locomotive F.C. al P. no 1 Maria Cecilia in San Jose]]


A contract for the building of the Pacific Railroad was signed in 1897, but again, the enterprise faced natural, financial and political difficulties. The Pacific Railroad was officially launched on July 23, 1910, when the first Pennsylvania-built steam locomotive, {{lang|es|María Cecilia}}, named after the granddaughter of former President Rafael Iglesias, departed from Puntarenas to San José with passengers and cargo.<ref>{{cite news |title=TBT: Costa Rica’s Pacific Railroad in Puntarenas |url=https://ticotimes.net/2019/10/17/tbt-costa-ricas-pacific-railroad-in-puntarenas |accessdate=17 October 2019 |date=17 October 2019}}</ref>
A contract for the building of the Pacific Railroad was signed in 1897, but again, the enterprise faced natural, financial and political difficulties. The Pacific Railroad was officially launched on July 23, 1910, when the first Pennsylvania-built steam locomotive, {{lang|es|María Cecilia}}, named after the granddaughter of former President Rafael Iglesias, departed from Puntarenas to San José with passengers and cargo.<ref>{{cite news |title=TBT: Costa Rica's Pacific Railroad in Puntarenas |url=https://ticotimes.net/2019/10/17/tbt-costa-ricas-pacific-railroad-in-puntarenas |access-date=17 October 2019 |date=17 October 2019}}</ref>


[[File:Italianosferrocarril.jpg|thumb|300px|Italians working in a Costa Rica's railway. A few of them remained to live in Costa Rica and their descendants resettled in the [[San Vito (Costa Rica)|San Vito]] area.]]
The [[transcontinental railway]] from Limon to Puntarenas became operational in 1910 and was central for the connection of the various fertile regions of the country, as well as linking [[Nicaragua]]n and [[Panama]]nian railways.<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Costa Rica#Chief Towns and Communications |display=Costa Rica § Chief Towns and Communications |volume=7 |page=220}}</ref> The route followed the Atlantic coast until the small port of [[Matina (canton)|Matina]], before it passed inland to [[Reventazón River]]. From there, it bifurcated to cross the northern mountains, with one branch going north of [[Irazú]] and the other traversing the Ochomogo Pass. At [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]], these lines reunited and the railway continued onto Alajuela, the small Pacific port of [[Tivives]] and Puntarenas. The railroad was jointly owned by the state and the Costa Rica railway company, with the latter behind the 1904 arrangement to build several branch lines through the banana districts of the Atlantic littoral.
Due to the required hard labor and lack of personnel in the country, several workers from [[Jamaicans of African ancestry|Jamaica]], [[Italian Costa Ricans|Italy]] and [[Chinese people in Costa Rica|China]], [[Immigration to Costa Rica|immigrated to Costa Rica]].

The [[transcontinental railway]] from Limón to Puntarenas became operational in 1910 and was central for the connection of the various fertile regions of the country.<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Costa Rica#Chief Towns and Communications |display=Costa Rica § Chief Towns and Communications |volume=7 |page=220}}</ref> The route followed the Atlantic coast until the small port of [[Matina (canton)|Matina]], before it passed inland to [[Reventazón River]]. From there, it bifurcated to cross the northern mountains, with one branch going north of [[Irazú]] and the other traversing the [[Ochomogo Pass]]. At [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]], these lines reunited and the railway continued onto Alajuela, the small Pacific port of [[Tivives]] and Puntarenas. The railroad was jointly owned by the state and the Costa Rica railway company, with the latter behind the 1904 arrangement to build several branch lines through the banana districts of the Atlantic littoral.


In 1926, a decision was made to electrify the lines, and the first electric train ran from San José to Puntarenas on April 8, 1930.
In 1926, a decision was made to electrify the lines, and the first electric train ran from San José to Puntarenas on April 8, 1930.


The Costa Rican railroad network was damaged during an earthquake in 1991<ref>{{cite web|title=LIQUEFACTION, GROUND FAILURE AND CONSEQUENT DAMAGE DURING THE 22 APRIL 1991 COSTA RICA EARTHQUAKE|url=http://nisee.berkeley.edu/costarica/|work=LIQUEFACTION, GROUND FAILURE AND CONSEQUENT DAMAGE DURING THE 22 APRIL 1991 COSTA RICA EARTHQUAKE|publisher=EERC Library|accessdate=7 May 2012|author=Dr. T. Leslie Youd|authorlink=T. Leslie Youd|year=1993|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224025100/http://nisee.berkeley.edu/costarica/|archivedate=24 February 2012}}</ref> and its operation was suspended in 1995. Since 2000, Incofer has been working to recommence and popularize rail transport again.
The Costa Rican railroad network was damaged during an earthquake in 1991<ref>{{cite web|title=LIQUEFACTION, GROUND FAILURE AND CONSEQUENT DAMAGE DURING THE 22 APRIL 1991 COSTA RICA EARTHQUAKE|url=http://nisee.berkeley.edu/costarica/|publisher=EERC Library|access-date=7 May 2012|author=Dr. T. Leslie Youd|author-link=T. Leslie Youd|year=1993|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224025100/http://nisee.berkeley.edu/costarica/|archive-date=24 February 2012}}</ref> and its operation was suspended in 1995. Since 2000, Incofer has been working to recommence and popularize rail transport again.


===Jamaican Railroad Workers===
=== Accidents ===
On 14 March 1926, the [[El Virilla train accident]] happened on the Atlantic line, in a religious pilgrimage from Heredia to Cartago, out of around a thousand passengers, there were 385 deaths and 93 injured passengers, so far the worst train accident in the country's railroad history.
Henry Meiggs Keith, an American hired by the Costa Rican government, was in charge of railroad construction to the Atlantic Ocean. Keith insisted on utilizing "black" (later known as [[Afro-American peoples of the Americas|Afro-American]]) workers for clearing the forest and building the railroad tracks, and in 1872 the first group of [[Jamaicans of African ancestry|Jamaicans]] entered the country. These Jamaicans and their [[Lineal descendant|descendants]] would become the main inhabitants of the region, thereby establishing a culture that was unique within Costa Rica. Two large Jamaican [[Human migration|migrations]] occurred; firstly, during the railroad construction era, and then in the next century, for the [[banana plantation]]s owned by the United Standard Fruit Company.

===Italian Railroad Workers===
[[File:Italianosferrocarril.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Italians working in a Costa Rica's railway. A few of them remained to live in Costa Rica and their descendants resettled in the [[San Vito (Costa Rica)|San Vito]] area]]
Groups of Italian workers were hired to work in the construction of the Costa Rica's railways in the first years of the 20th century. Some of them remained to live in Costa Rica and a few of their descendants moved to the [[San Vito (Costa Rica)|San Vito]] area in the mid 1950s. These agricultural colonists had to confront many problems, especially due to the isolation of this region. Nevertheless, from 1964 on, the production of [[coffee]] caused the outlook to change for the better: 500 [[Italian Costa Ricans|Italian colonists]] and many Costa Ricans (someone descendants from the Italian rail workers) from different parts of the country were attracted by the economic possibilities that the area offered.


=== Current status ===
=== Current status ===
Although it once connected the Caribbean ports of Limon and Moin with the Pacific port of Caldera, traversing the Central Valley area and Costa Rica's largest cities along the route, the system fell into disrepair towards the end of the 20th century following a financial crisis that saw the President of Costa Rica, [[José María Figueres]], order the cessation of Incofer's commercial activity, resulting in the redundancies of most of its workforce except for a select few who were charged with preserving railway assets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.incofer.go.cr/media/posts/historia_del_incofer.pdf |title=INCOFER: Historia de la institución |publisher=Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles |accessdate=12 May 2014 |format=PDF |language=Spanish |trans-title=INCOFER: History of the institution |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513071031/http://www.incofer.go.cr/media/posts/historia_del_incofer.pdf |archivedate=13 May 2014 }}</ref>
Although it once connected the Caribbean ports of Limón and Moín with the Pacific port of Caldera, traversing the Central Valley area and Costa Rica's largest cities along the route, the system fell into disrepair towards the end of the 20th century following a financial crisis that saw the President of Costa Rica, [[José María Figueres]], order the cessation of Incofer's commercial activity, resulting in the redundancies of most of its workforce except for a select few who were charged with preserving railway assets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.incofer.go.cr/media/posts/historia_del_incofer.pdf |title=INCOFER: Historia de la institución |publisher=Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles |access-date=12 May 2014 |language=es |trans-title=INCOFER: History of the institution |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513071031/http://www.incofer.go.cr/media/posts/historia_del_incofer.pdf |archive-date=13 May 2014 }}</ref>


However, operations were never fully suspended, and there was always at least the occasional freight and maintenance traffic along certain parts of the network. Some other parts, on the other hand, were essentially abandoned until 2005 when urban passenger services were reintroduced along a corridor between the suburbs of Pavas, to the west of San José, and San Pedro, to the east. Since then, services have been greatly increased following investment in second-hand [[DMUs]] imported from Spain and the rehabilitation of dozens of kilometres of previously inoperative track. {{As of|2014|May}}, the bulk of railway operations occur in the Central Valley area and consist of passenger services between the San José suburbs of Pavas, Curridabat and Belen, and between San José and the cities of Heredia and Cartago. Work is now{{When|date=February 2017}} under way to rehabilitate further sections beyond these main termini, such as between Heredia and Alajuela, and from Cartago to Paraiso, in order to extend the existing services.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacion.com/nacional/servicios-publicos/Uso-transporte-Paraiso-Alajuela-Incofer_0_1410059111.html |title=Jerarca de Incofer afirma que uso del tren para transporte de carga y llegada a Paraíso y Alajuela son tareas pendientes |publisher=Grupo La Nacion |date=22 April 2014 |website=La Nacion |accessdate=12 May 2014 |language=Spanish |trans-title=Chief of Incofer confirms operation of freight train and reaching Paraíso y Alajuela remain unfinished jobs}}</ref>
However, operations were never fully suspended, and there was always at least the occasional freight and maintenance traffic along certain parts of the network. Some other parts, on the other hand, were essentially abandoned until 2005 when urban passenger services were reintroduced along a corridor between the suburbs of Pavas, to the west of San José, and San Pedro, to the east. Since then, services have been greatly increased following investment in second-hand [[Diesel multiple unit|DMUs]] imported from Spain and the rehabilitation of dozens of kilometres of previously inoperative track. {{As of|2014|May}}, the bulk of railway operations occur in the Central Valley area and consist of passenger services between:


* The San José suburbs of Pavas, Curridabat and Belen.
Trains (particularly freight trains, as well as a privately operated tour train) ran between San José and the port of Caldera until 2011, when a short section of the line was compromised following the construction of [[National Route 27 (Costa Rica)|Route 27]]. This prompted a dispute between Incofer and the highway developer, Autopistas del Sol. This dispute has not yet{{As of?|date=February 2017}} been resolved and Incofer officials have been quoted as saying that while they are technically able to run trains over the damaged section, it is dangerous to do so. Unfortunately, the resulting lack of regular traffic on this line has facilitated the theft of rails.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.semanariouniversidad.ucr.cr/component/content/article/1217-Pa%C3%ADs/3919-incofer-incumplio-con-restauracion-del-tren-san-jose-caldera.html |title=INCOFER incumplió con restauración del tren San José-Caldera |publisher=Universidad de Costa Rica |date=8 June 2011 |website=Semanario Universidad |accessdate=12 May 2014 |language=Spanish |trans-title=INCOFER did not fulfill promise to restore San José-Caldera train}}</ref>
* San José and the cities of Heredia and Cartago.


As shown in the current (2024) INCOFER schedules, further sections, between Heredia and Alajuela and from Cartago to Paraiso, extended the services existing in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacion.com/nacional/servicios-publicos/Uso-transporte-Paraiso-Alajuela-Incofer_0_1410059111.html |title=Jerarca de Incofer afirma que uso del tren para transporte de carga y llegada a Paraíso y Alajuela son tareas pendientes |publisher=Grupo La Nacion |date=22 April 2014 |website=La Nacion |access-date=12 May 2014 |language=es |trans-title=Chief of Incofer confirms operation of freight train and reaching Paraíso y Alajuela remain unfinished jobs}}</ref>
Visitors to Costa Rica may perceive the railway as being somewhat limited compared to other forms of transport, due to the current lack of anything except a basic commuter service.<ref>{{cite web|title=Costa Rica Transportation|url=http://www.destination360.com/central-america/costa-rica/costa-rica-transportation|work=Destination360|publisher=Destination360|accessdate=7 May 2012|year=2012}}</ref>


Trains (particularly freight trains, as well as a privately operated tour train) ran between San José and the port of Caldera until 2011, when a short section of the line was compromised following the construction of [[National Route 27 (Costa Rica)|Route 27]]. This prompted a dispute between Incofer and the highway developer, Autopistas del Sol. This dispute has not yet{{As of?|date=February 2017}} been resolved and Incofer officials have been quoted as saying that while they are technically able to run trains over the damaged section, it is dangerous to do so. The resulting lack of regular traffic on this line has facilitated the theft of rails.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.semanariouniversidad.ucr.cr/component/content/article/1217-Pa%C3%ADs/3919-incofer-incumplio-con-restauracion-del-tren-san-jose-caldera.html |title=INCOFER incumplió con restauración del tren San José-Caldera |publisher=Universidad de Costa Rica |date=8 June 2011 |website=Semanario Universidad |access-date=12 May 2014 |language=es |trans-title=INCOFER did not fulfill promise to restore San José-Caldera train |archive-date=13 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513115752/http://www.semanariouniversidad.ucr.cr/component/content/article/1217-Pa%C3%ADs/3919-incofer-incumplio-con-restauracion-del-tren-san-jose-caldera.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Suburban rail ==
{{As of|2013}}, Incofer operates suburban [[commuter train]]s
* from San José to [[Freses, Costa Rica|Curridabat]], running via [[San Pedro, Costa Rica|San Pedro]] ({{Convert|4|km|abbr=on}} east) and reaching [[Belen, Costa Rica|Belen]] ({{Convert|12|km|abbr=on}} west),
* trains to [[Heredia, Costa Rica|Heredia]] and [[Cartago, Costa Rica|Cartago]], and
* from [[Alajuela]] to the Atlantico station in San José via [[Heredia, Costa Rica|Heredia]].
Freight trains run near the port of [[Caldera, Costa Rica|Caldera]] in [[Puntarenas]], as well as within the Limon Province.


Visitors to Costa Rica may perceive the railway as being somewhat limited compared to other forms of transport, due to the current lack of anything except a basic commuter service.<ref>{{cite web|title=Costa Rica Transportation|url=http://www.destination360.com/central-america/costa-rica/costa-rica-transportation|work=Destination360|access-date=7 May 2012|year=2012}}</ref>
Currently the service operates from two main terminals which are the old Atlantic and Pacific stations located in San José Downtown, around {{Convert|3|km|4=0}} from each other. Incofer has bought many Apolo 2400 series railcars from the former [[narrow gauge]] operator in Spain, [[FEVE]]. Those cars are used in the commuter train service with complementary operations of so-called "conventional trains" (old General Electric diesel locomotives pulling old passenger cars built in Costa Rica).{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}


=== Passenger transport reactivation timeline ===
====Passenger services====
While mainly freight lines, there were passenger services to the Pacific since 1910 and to the Caribbean since 1890<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Peraldo Huertas |first1=Giovanni |title=La Deslizable Historia del Ferrocarril al Caribe de Costa Rica |journal=Anuario de Estudios Centroamericanos |year=1998 |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=97–128 |jstor=25661304 }}</ref> from [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]], but these were abandoned and under maintained. Only the remnants of the urban areas remain.
[[File:Mapa del Trén Urbano de San José (Costa Rica).jpg|thumb|Map of the current status of the commuter train service of Costa Rica.]]{{Prose|section|date=February 2017}}


====Freight services====
In 2006, the following trains ran in Costa Rica:
* Freight trains San José - Caldera (Incofer)
* Tico Train Tour San José - Caldera ({{Convert|91|km|abbr=on}}), weekend tourist trains, privately managed using infrastructure of Incofer
* Freight trains from Puerto Limón to Fortuna and towards Guápiles, mainly for banana transportation, as from 2007 on steel and construction materials have been added to the freight transported
* Commuter trains San José - [[San Pedro, Costa Rica|San Pedro]], [[Universidad Latina de Costa Rica|Universidad Latina]] ({{Convert|4|km|abbr=on}}, Incofer)
* Commuter trains San José - [[Pavas District|Pavas]] ({{Convert|6|km|abbr=on}} along the same line as [[Tico Train Tour]], Incofer)


== Lines ==
{{As of|2008|August}}
===Pacific Railroad===
* The commuter trains are no longer running.
The currently abandoned {{lang|es|Ferrocarril al Pacífico}} first started in 1857 by implementing a mule-drawn railroad, between Puntarenas and Barranca, the construction of the current right-of-way occurred from 1895 to 1903, which was halted due to lack of foreign funds and then proceeded with national funds until 1910. From 1926 to 1930, the railroad was converted to electrical, which then changed its name to ''Pacific Electric Railroad'' ({{lang|es|Ferrocarril Electrico al Pacífico}}, F.E. al P.). It was in use until 1995. The railroad of this line in the [[Greater Metropolitan Area (Costa Rica)|Greater Metropolitan Area]] was re-purposed to create the [[Interurbano Line (Costa Rica)|Interurbano Line]].
* The Tico Train Tour is not running to Caldera due to track issues but plans to be operational in November.
* The Tico Train Tour runs an abridged trip to Atenas on irregular weekends.


===Atlantic Railroad===
{{As of|2008|October}}
Works started in 1871 for the {{lang|es|Ferrocarril al Atlántico}}, and ended in 1890, currently the railroad between Cartago and the Caribbean plains is abandoned, but there are steel freight operations on the Caribbean ocean side.
* A commuter train is going to operate from Heredia to San José, and the rail line is being cleaned and prepared. It was a trial run and it derailed during a trip with government officials. The locomotives have been slowly approaching Heredia center city in the last weeks of the month.
* It is expected that this service will start its operation in December.


The railroad of this line in the [[Greater Metropolitan Area (Costa Rica)|Greater Metropolitan Area]] was re-purposed to create the [[Interurbano Line (Costa Rica)|Interurbano Line]], which covers the East of the Central Valley up to Cartago.
{{As of|2008|December}}
* Apolo 2400 [[Diesel Multiple Units]] introduced.


=== Interurbano Line ===
{{As of|2009|March}}
{{Main|Interurbano Line (Costa Rica)}}
* Commuter trains Pavas - San José - San Pedro Universidad Latina have been running during morning and evening peak hours, some services are operating with a long train of locomotive and coaches, others are operating with an Apolo railcar, refurbished by Incofer.
By reconditioning and restoring the railway tracks in the [[Greater Metropolitan Area (Costa Rica)|Greater Metropolitan Area]], Incofer, the Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Costa Rican Railway Institute in English) was able to put into work a commuter line, the [[Interurbano Line (Costa Rica)|Tren Interurbano]], which connects the provinces of [[Alajuela province|Alajuela]], [[Heredia province|Heredia]], [[San José province|San José]] and [[Cartago province|Cartago]]. There are street running trains in several places.
* The Tico Train Tour is running every Saturday and Sunday as usually, transporting more than 350 people per trip


Incofer runs the following routes (San Jose is the nation's capital):
{{As of|2009|August}}
* The commuter train between Heredia and San José is now operating at peak hours in both the morning and night shifts, many accidents and non related public protests have made it difficult for a fluid service.
* Both the Spanish railcars and the other locomotives are used in the [[Heredia, Costa Rica|Heredia]] - San José service.
* Commuter trains Pavas - San José - San Pedro Universidad Latina have been running during morning and evening peak hours, some services are operating with a long train of locomotive and coaches, others are operating with an Apolo railcar
* Many other communities have expressed interest in enabling the train passenger service, like Cartago, [[Ciruelas, Costa Rica|Ciruelas]] and [[Alajuela]].
* The Tico Train Tour is running every Saturday and Sunday as usually, transporting more than 350 people per trip
* There are plans to run a suburban service between [[Limón|Puerto Limón]] and [[Moín, Costa Rica|Moin]] on the Atlantic coast


*[[San José, Costa Rica|San Jose]]–[[Cartago, Costa Rica|Cartago]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ruta San José- Cartago |url=https://incofer.go.cr/transporte-de-personas/ruta-san-jose-cartago/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=INCOFER |language=es}}</ref>
{{As of|2011|April}}


*[[Curridabat]]–[[Pavas]]–[[Belen (canton)|Belén]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ruta Curridabat - Pavas - Belén |url=https://incofer.go.cr/transporte-de-personas/ruta-curridabat-pavas-belen/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=INCOFER |language=es}}</ref>
* The commuter train is running every 30 minutes between Heredia and San José (Estación del Atlántico) at peak hours in the morning (6am to 9am) and evening (3:30pm-8pm). Journey time: 30 minutes, Price: 380 colones.
* Commuter trains Pavas - San José - San Pedro, was extended to reach [[Curridabat]]. Services are hourly in the morning and evening. Price: 200 colones.
* The train between San José (Estación del Pacífico) and [[Belén (canton)|Belen]] was officially inaugurated on April 1. The journey takes half an hour.
* Special Services to National Stadium: Due to the opening of the national stadium, special services have been operating at weekends between Curridabat, Heredia and the [[Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica (2011)|National Stadium]] in [[La Sabana]].


*San Jose–[[Heredia, Costa Rica|Heredia]]–[[Alajuela Province|Alejuela]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ruta San José- Heredia- Alajuela |url=https://incofer.go.cr/transporte-de-personas/ruta-san-jose-heredia-alajuela/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=INCOFER |language=es}}</ref>
{{As of|2013|May}}


===Quepos Railroad===
* The commuter train is running about every 30 minutes between Cartago and San José (Estación del Atlántico) at peak hours in the morning (5am to 8:40am) and evening (3:30pm–7:30pm) from Monday to Friday. Journey time: 43 minutes to one hour, Price: 550 colones.
Currently abandoned and dismantled, the {{lang|es|Ferrocarril de Quepos}} was an essential part of the banana production in the Central Pacific coast of the country, it was {{convert|39.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} long, between Coto Junction (Unión) and Puerto González. Right-of-way is now owned by Incofer.<ref name=derechovia>{{cite web|title=Decreto N° 22483-MOPT Reglamenta Dimensión Derecho Vía Ferrocarriles Nacionales (Art. 42 Ley Nº 7001, Orgánica del INCOFER)|url=http://repositorio.mopt.go.cr:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/3875/D-%2022483.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|access-date=31 December 2020|date=1 September 1993}}</ref>
* New stations were built in Curridabat, [[Tres Ríos, Cartago|Tres Rios]] and the Cartago station was reopened with two platforms.
* Tourist trips (Cartago-San José-Cartago) take place on Saturdays and Sundays.


===Electric passenger line===
===Golfito Railroad===
Now abandoned, the {{lang|es|Ferrocarril de Golfito}} was used for banana freight transportation and had a connection to [[Puerto Armuelles]] in [[Rail transport in Panama|Panama]], it was {{convert|89|km|mi|abbr=on}} long, covered the hamlets of [[Palmar District|Palmar Sur]], [[Piedras Blancas District|Piedras Blancas]], Coto 47, [[Laurel District|Laurel]] and [[Golfito]]. Right-of-way is now owned by Incofer. Several locomotives were cosmetically restored and can be seen in [[Golfito]].
New plans to electrify the passenger lines are in place, beginning with a "Stage Zero" which means to start with new more efficient diesel powered rolling stock. These eight new units were ordered to the company [[CRRC Qingdao Sifang]] from China, they will have more space and the seats are arranged along the walls of the units, a first in the country. <ref>{{cite news |last1=Córdoba |first1=Juan Diego |title=Así serán los nuevos trenes del Incofer |url=https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/servicios/asi-seran-los-nuevos-trenes-del-incofer/HWXISUFIXNABZGKR2FE2GO2FMU/story/ |accessdate=17 October 2019 |date=6 May 2019}}</ref>


== International connections ==
With the new units it will be possible to extend and provide the service to [[Paraíso (canton)|Paraíso]], Cartago and [[San Rafael District, Alajuela|San Rafael]], Alajuela.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Recio |first1=Patricia |title=Incofer compra ocho trenes con aire acondicionado y capacidad para 372 pasajeros |url=https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/infraestructura/incofer-compra-ocho-trenes-con-aire-acondicionado/IL4CPQE2C5GX3CJHIZYDXI4JEY/story/ |accessdate=17 October 2019 |date=6 December 2018}}</ref>
There was a railway connection in the Caribbean over the [[Sixaola River]] between Panama and Costa Rica. The bridge collapsed in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vásquez |first1=Johana |title=Construcción de Puente sobre río Sixaola no ha iniciado pese a promesas |url=https://www.crhoy.com/nacionales/transportes/construccion-de-puente-sobre-rio-sixaola-no-ha-iniciado-pese-a-promesas/ |access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref> In 2018, China donated to Panama a factibility plan to open a high speed train between Panama and Costa Rica, but by 2019, the plan was rejected.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tren de alta velocidad unirá a Panamá y Costa Rica |url=http://www.laprensalibre.cr/Noticias/detalle/143706/tren-de-alta-velocidad-unira-a-panama-y-costa-rica |access-date=8 May 2020 |work=laprensalibre.cr |agency=EFE |date=29 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Panamá descarta tren chino que hubiera llegado a la frontera con Costa Rica |url=https://www.nacion.com/el-mundo/politica/panama-descarta-tren-chino-que-hubiera-llegado-a/ZUCA5RAQFBEKPE6JJBGRERP5FI/story/ |access-date=8 May 2020 |work=La Nación |agency=AP |date=12 September 2019}}</ref>


The Golfito Railroad had a freight connection to [[Puerto Armuelles]] in Panama. There were no connections to [[Rail transport in Nicaragua|Nicaragua]].
===Passenger transport routes===

==== Heredia - San José ====
{{Heredia–San José Railway}}

The [[Heredia, Costa Rica]] to [[San José, Costa Rica]] service runs only on weekdays in the morning (06:30-08:30) and in the evening (15:30-20:00) with trains leaving every half hour.

This service is operated at street level, which makes it difficult to achieve an optimum speed due to frequent encounters with busy streets, at average the speed is at about {{Convert|20|km/h}}. The service has three stops at stations without staff, in Miraflores (Heredia), Santa Rosa (Santo Domingo) and Colima (Tibás). Still, it's a lot faster than the bus which can take more than an hour at these times.

==== Pavas - Curridabat ====
{{Pavas-Curridabat Railway}}
This line runs from Pavas (a slum to the west of San José) through the south of the city to Estación Pacífico and then on to Estación Atlántico and from there east to the UCR, U Latina and Curridabat. Service is hourly in the early morning and evening (weekdays only).

==== San José - Belen ====

Trains leave from Estación del Pacífico and take 30 minutes to reach Belen (which is a little city just south of San José international airport).

[[File:Pacific Railroad Station, Costa Rica..JPG|thumbnail|right|Pacific Railroad Station.]]

==== San José - Cartago ====
[[file:Estacion de Tren INCOFER, Cartago, Costa Rica.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Cartago Station]]
This new route opened in May 2013, the journey time is expected to be 43 minutes between San José (Estación Atlántico) and Cartago with 5 stops (UCR in San Pedro, Universidad Latina, Curridabat, UACA in [[Cipreces]] and Tres Rios). Price will be 550 colones.

==== San José - Alajuela ====

In January 2017 the train operation began between the provinces of San José and Alajuela by the way of Heredia. The total reconstruction of the track was carried out with welded rails. After Heredia Centro, the train stops at the station behind Walmart, San Joaquín de Flores, Río Segundo de Alajuela and Alajuela station near San Rafael Hospital. An ut 2400 apollo train is used. Monday thru Friday. Saturday run in the morning.

===Noise and accidents===
A critical issue is that there are no barriers or lights at level crossings, only a warning sign at every one of the many grade crossings. Train airhorns are used to warn pedestrians and cars at every grade crossing of an incoming train. This is in order to prevent accidents, which have been registered, but due to the train's low speeds, they result in non-fatal accidents. There have been, as well, registered complaints about the train's loud horns (same air horns used in freight trains in other countries), but they have been overruled due to the necessity to warn traffic and pedestrians. Also many Costa Ricans feel identified with the train horns since they have been used ever since the railroad started operations.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}

It is also noted, that the train horn is a necessity. Recent studies show, that when the train horn is not in operation, accidents tend to double, even at railroad crossings with proper drop needles, lights and warning signs.<ref>{{cite web|title=NATIONWIDE STUDY OF TRAIN WHISTLE BANS|url=http://www.nonoise.org/resource/trans/rail/nationwide.htm|work=U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration|publisher=Noise Pollution Clearinghouse|accessdate=7 May 2012|author=Office of Safety|date=April 1995}}</ref>

[[image:INCOFER_Trabajando_con_antorcha_de_acetileno_prendida.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Workmen fixing track in San José. Note acetylene torch has been lit]]
Other problems include single-track running, out-of-shape sleepers, joints with gaps, lack of flange oilers in tight turns, track bed out of shape, sunken in several places, bent rail tracks, and worn rail track heads. Also, there is a lack of information at stations about timetables and prices.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}


== Freight transport ==
* Freight trains San José - Caldera (Incofer)
* Freight trains from Puerto Limón to Fortuna and towards Guápiles, mainly for banana transportation, as from 2007 on steel and construction materials have been added to the freight transported


As of 2020 there are no current or planned connections to [[Transportation in Panama|Panama]] or Nicaragua.
== FERISTSA ==
{{Expand section|date=January 2012}}
The proposed [[FERISTSA]] Railway would connect Mexico with Panama, passing through Costa Rica.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bnamericas.com/news/infrastructure/Shaw_Group_in_talks_with_US_railroad_cos_for_Feristsa_project
|accessdate=2010-10-16
|title=Shaw Group in talks with US railroad cos for Feristsa project, Central America, Infrastructure, news
}}</ref>


== Inter-oceanic Dry Canal ==
There are no connections to [[Transportation in Panama|Panama]] or Nicaragua.


There are plans and studies regarding the construction of an inter-oceanic dry canal ({{lang-es|Canal Seco Interoceánico}}) across the country, from the Caribbean sea to the Pacific Ocean, through the northern plains of the country, in a similar and parallel route to the [[National Route 4 (Costa Rica)|Route 4]] road. The main way of merchandise transportation would be using railroad to transport container, with plans to build ten road lanes alongside the railroad tracks, two new ports on each coast terminus.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chinchilla |first1=Sofía |title=Estudios para determinar factibilidad de canal seco estarían en un año |url=https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/infraestructura/estudios-para-determinar-factibilidad-de-canal-seco-estarian-en-un-ano/VJ3WES3VLJF6RAFWKZ2KG6HET4/story/ |access-date=17 October 2019 |work=La Nación |date=14 November 2016}}</ref>
== Dry canal ==


In April 2020 the National Concessions Council ({{lang-es|Consejo Nacional de Concesiones, CNC}}) rejected and archived the plans for the dry canal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Santamaría |first1=Tania |title=Fernando Zamora asegura que rechazo al proyecto del Canal Seco Interoceánico es gravísimo |url=https://www.elmundo.cr/costa-rica/fernando-zamora-asegura-que-rechazo-al-proyecto-del-canal-seco-interoceanico-es-gravisimo/ |access-date=1 May 2020 |work=elmundo.cr |date=27 April 2020}}</ref>
There are plans and studies regarding the construction of a dry canal across the country, from the Caribbean sea to the Pacific ocean, through the northern plains of the country, in a similar route to the [[National Route 4 (Costa Rica)|Route 4]] road. The main way of merchandise transportation would be using railroad to transport container, but there are plans to build ten road lanes alongside the railroad tracks. <ref>{{cite news |last1=Chinchilla |first1=Sofía |title=Estudios para determinar factibilidad de canal seco estarían en un año |url=https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/infraestructura/estudios-para-determinar-factibilidad-de-canal-seco-estarian-en-un-ano/VJ3WES3VLJF6RAFWKZ2KG6HET4/story/ |accessdate=17 October 2019 |publisher=La Nación |date=14 November 2016}}</ref>


== Private railways ==
== Private railways ==


There are very few private railways, in small loops.
There are very few private railways, in small loops.


=== Swiss railroad ===
=== Swiss railroad ===
[[File:Tren Turistico Arenal 01.jpg|thumb|left|Tren Turistico Arenal]]
[[File:Tren Turistico Arenal 01.jpg|thumb|Tren Turistico Arenal]]
At the Hotel Los Héroes in [[Nuevo Arenal]], [[Tilarán Canton]] ([[Guanacaste Province]]), a Swiss hotelier has built a mountain railway for the guests of his panorama restaurant, Pequeña Helvecia (little Switzerland). The rolling stock had been originally used by a Swiss farmer from [[Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne|Chéseaux]], who built a {{RailGauge|600mm|lk=on}} [[field railway]] but never got a permission to run it. The hotelier bought it in 1999 and put in operation in 2000 as a tourist attraction under the name "Tren Turistico Arenal". {{As of|2017|alt=As of 2004 and 2017}}, it is {{Convert|3.5|km|abbr=on}} long, with an elevation of {{Convert|200|m|abbr=on}} and two tunnels.<ref>[http://www.ferrolatino.ch/FLBCostaRHeroesEng.htm Info at Ferrolatino.ch]</ref>{{circular reference|date=August 2017}}
At the Hotel Los Héroes in [[Nuevo Arenal]], [[Tilarán Canton]] ([[Guanacaste Province]]), a Swiss hotelier has built a mountain railway for the guests of his panorama restaurant, Pequeña Helvecia (little Switzerland). The rolling stock had been originally used by a Swiss farmer from [[Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne|Chéseaux]], who built a {{RailGauge|600mm|lk=on}} [[field railway]] but never got a permission to run it. The hotelier bought it in 1999 and put in operation in 2000 as a tourist attraction under the name "Tren Turistico Arenal". {{As of|2017|alt=As of 2004 and 2017}}, it is {{Convert|3.5|km|abbr=on}} long, with an elevation of {{Convert|200|m|abbr=on}} and two tunnels.<ref>[http://www.ferrolatino.ch/FLBCostaRHeroesEng.htm Info at Ferrolatino.ch]</ref>{{circular reference|date=August 2017}}


=== Castillo Country Club ===
=== Castillo Country Club ===


Built in the 1970s, this is a small 1.2 kilometer loop railroad with a diesel engine and three passenger cars for family entertainment purposes inside the club. It was built by engineers that previously worked on the rail to the Pacific.<ref>{{cite web |title=El Trencito del Castillo, una maquinita cargada de alegrías y de historia |url=http://www.castillo.cr/contenido/el-trencito-del-castillo-una-maquinita-cargada-de-alegrias-y-de-historia/ |accessdate=17 October 2019}}</ref>
Built in the 1970s, this is a small 1.2 kilometer loop railroad with a diesel engine and three passenger cars for family entertainment purposes inside the club. It was built by engineers that previously worked on the rail to the Pacific.<ref>{{cite web |title=El Trencito del Castillo, una maquinita cargada de alegrías y de historia |url=http://www.castillo.cr/contenido/el-trencito-del-castillo-una-maquinita-cargada-de-alegrias-y-de-historia/ |access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Costa Rica]]
* [[Costa Rica]]
* [[FERISTSA]]
* [[Transportation in Costa Rica]]
* [[Transportation in Costa Rica]]
* [[Rail transport in Central America]]
* [[Rail transport in Central America]]
Line 173: Line 127:


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{commonscat|Rail transport in Costa Rica}}
{{commons category|Rail transport in Costa Rica}}
* [http://www.americatravelcr.com/ AmericaTravel], operator of Tico Train Tour (history, stations, pictures)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020829170634/http://www.americatravelcr.com/ AmericaTravel], operator of Tico Train Tour (history, stations, pictures)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060518193203/http://www.mideplan.go.cr/Modernizacion/instituciones/incofer.htm Incofer] (basic info, contact)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060518193203/http://www.mideplan.go.cr/Modernizacion/instituciones/incofer.htm Incofer] (basic info, contact)
* [http://www.fahrplancenter.com/AIFFLACentroamerica03.html Unofficial timetables of Central American railroads]
* [http://www.fahrplancenter.com/AIFFLACentroamerica03.html Unofficial timetables of Central American railroads]
* [http://costaricarailroad.blogspot.com/ Chronology of the Railroad in Costa Rica] (history, pictures)
* [http://costaricarailroad.blogspot.com/ Chronology of the Railroad in Costa Rica] (history, pictures)
* [http://www.tramz.com/cr/cr.html The Tramways of Costa Rica]
* [http://www.tramz.com/cr/cr.html The Tramways of Costa Rica]
* [http://www.trenurbano.co.cr Unofficial site with time table, history and more]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101006234151/http://www.trenurbano.co.cr/Horario_Tren_Urbano.aspx Unofficial site with time table, history and more]
* [http://audiovisuales.uned.ac.cr/mediateca/videos/122/banana-express Banana-Expres] animadoc about interactions between the railroad construction and Costa Rica's development
* [http://audiovisuales.uned.ac.cr/mediateca/videos/122/banana-express Banana-Expres] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613105111/http://audiovisuales.uned.ac.cr/mediateca/videos/122/banana-express |date=2011-06-13 }} animadoc about interactions between the railroad construction and Costa Rica's development
* {{PM20|FID=co/065520|TEXT=Documents and clippings about|NAME=The Costa Rica Railway}}
* {{PM20|FID=co/065520|TEXT=Documents and clippings about|NAME=The Costa Rica Railway}}


Latest revision as of 22:24, 26 March 2024

Rail transport in Costa Rica
Rail network right-of-way of Costa Rica
  Tren Interurbano
  Ferrocarril al Pacífico
  Ferrocarril al Atlántico
  Banana transportation
  Ferrocarril del Sur (Quepos)
  Ferrocarril del Sur (Golfito)
Operation
Major operatorsInstituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer)
System length
Total516.65 km (321.03 mi) [1]
Track gauge
Main1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Part of a series on
Rail transport
Infrastructure
Service and rolling stock
Special systems
Miscellanea
icon Transport portal
First Mortgage Debenture of the Costa Rica Railway Company Ltd., issued 10 January 1888
Train arriving into the Sabana-Contraloria station in San Jose.
Universidad de Costa Rica station, San Pedro, Montes de Oca
Map of Costa Rica showing rail lines as of 1987
Interior of an Incofer Apolo 2400 type DMU

Rail transport in Costa Rica is primarily under the stewardship of Incofer (Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles), an autonomous institution of the state. Incofer owns the national railway infrastructure and operates virtually all freight and passenger services, which consist primarily of commuter trains through the highly populated Central Valley. The whole Incofer network is 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge, although there are several small tourist railways of other gauges.[citation needed]

Much of the railway system requires major repairs.[2] An August 2016 OECD report provided this summary about the infrastructure, including the railways: "The road network is extensive but of poor quality, railways are in disrepair and only slowly being reactivated after having been shut down in the 1990s ... Internal transportation overly relies on private road vehicles as the public transport system, especially railways, is inadequate."[3]

History[edit]

In 1871, construction was started on a railroad from Alajuela to Puerto Limón, via San José, on the Caribbean coast; the project was initiated by the government of General Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez and was surveyed in 1868 by the British civil engineer Edmund Wragge. The railroad from Alajuela to San José was completed by the beginning of 1873 and later continued until Cartago. Materials and equipment were brought into Alajuela from Puntarenas by oxen-powered carts. Due to a shortage of finances and natural obstacles (especially around Río Sucio), the construction of the remaining sections was delayed, and the entire line did not become operational until December 7, 1890.

Steam locomotive F.C. al P. no 1 Maria Cecilia in San Jose

A contract for the building of the Pacific Railroad was signed in 1897, but again, the enterprise faced natural, financial and political difficulties. The Pacific Railroad was officially launched on July 23, 1910, when the first Pennsylvania-built steam locomotive, María Cecilia, named after the granddaughter of former President Rafael Iglesias, departed from Puntarenas to San José with passengers and cargo.[4]

Italians working in a Costa Rica's railway. A few of them remained to live in Costa Rica and their descendants resettled in the San Vito area.

Due to the required hard labor and lack of personnel in the country, several workers from Jamaica, Italy and China, immigrated to Costa Rica.

The transcontinental railway from Limón to Puntarenas became operational in 1910 and was central for the connection of the various fertile regions of the country.[5] The route followed the Atlantic coast until the small port of Matina, before it passed inland to Reventazón River. From there, it bifurcated to cross the northern mountains, with one branch going north of Irazú and the other traversing the Ochomogo Pass. At San José, these lines reunited and the railway continued onto Alajuela, the small Pacific port of Tivives and Puntarenas. The railroad was jointly owned by the state and the Costa Rica railway company, with the latter behind the 1904 arrangement to build several branch lines through the banana districts of the Atlantic littoral.

In 1926, a decision was made to electrify the lines, and the first electric train ran from San José to Puntarenas on April 8, 1930.

The Costa Rican railroad network was damaged during an earthquake in 1991[6] and its operation was suspended in 1995. Since 2000, Incofer has been working to recommence and popularize rail transport again.

Accidents[edit]

On 14 March 1926, the El Virilla train accident happened on the Atlantic line, in a religious pilgrimage from Heredia to Cartago, out of around a thousand passengers, there were 385 deaths and 93 injured passengers, so far the worst train accident in the country's railroad history.

Current status[edit]

Although it once connected the Caribbean ports of Limón and Moín with the Pacific port of Caldera, traversing the Central Valley area and Costa Rica's largest cities along the route, the system fell into disrepair towards the end of the 20th century following a financial crisis that saw the President of Costa Rica, José María Figueres, order the cessation of Incofer's commercial activity, resulting in the redundancies of most of its workforce except for a select few who were charged with preserving railway assets.[7]

However, operations were never fully suspended, and there was always at least the occasional freight and maintenance traffic along certain parts of the network. Some other parts, on the other hand, were essentially abandoned until 2005 when urban passenger services were reintroduced along a corridor between the suburbs of Pavas, to the west of San José, and San Pedro, to the east. Since then, services have been greatly increased following investment in second-hand DMUs imported from Spain and the rehabilitation of dozens of kilometres of previously inoperative track. As of May 2014, the bulk of railway operations occur in the Central Valley area and consist of passenger services between:

  • The San José suburbs of Pavas, Curridabat and Belen.
  • San José and the cities of Heredia and Cartago.

As shown in the current (2024) INCOFER schedules, further sections, between Heredia and Alajuela and from Cartago to Paraiso, extended the services existing in 2014.[8]

Trains (particularly freight trains, as well as a privately operated tour train) ran between San José and the port of Caldera until 2011, when a short section of the line was compromised following the construction of Route 27. This prompted a dispute between Incofer and the highway developer, Autopistas del Sol. This dispute has not yet[as of?] been resolved and Incofer officials have been quoted as saying that while they are technically able to run trains over the damaged section, it is dangerous to do so. The resulting lack of regular traffic on this line has facilitated the theft of rails.[9]

Visitors to Costa Rica may perceive the railway as being somewhat limited compared to other forms of transport, due to the current lack of anything except a basic commuter service.[10]

Passenger services[edit]

While mainly freight lines, there were passenger services to the Pacific since 1910 and to the Caribbean since 1890[11] from San José, but these were abandoned and under maintained. Only the remnants of the urban areas remain.

Freight services[edit]

  • Freight trains San José - Caldera (Incofer)
  • Freight trains from Puerto Limón to Fortuna and towards Guápiles, mainly for banana transportation, as from 2007 on steel and construction materials have been added to the freight transported

Lines[edit]

Pacific Railroad[edit]

The currently abandoned Ferrocarril al Pacífico first started in 1857 by implementing a mule-drawn railroad, between Puntarenas and Barranca, the construction of the current right-of-way occurred from 1895 to 1903, which was halted due to lack of foreign funds and then proceeded with national funds until 1910. From 1926 to 1930, the railroad was converted to electrical, which then changed its name to Pacific Electric Railroad (Ferrocarril Electrico al Pacífico, F.E. al P.). It was in use until 1995. The railroad of this line in the Greater Metropolitan Area was re-purposed to create the Interurbano Line.

Atlantic Railroad[edit]

Works started in 1871 for the Ferrocarril al Atlántico, and ended in 1890, currently the railroad between Cartago and the Caribbean plains is abandoned, but there are steel freight operations on the Caribbean ocean side.

The railroad of this line in the Greater Metropolitan Area was re-purposed to create the Interurbano Line, which covers the East of the Central Valley up to Cartago.

Interurbano Line[edit]

Main article: Interurbano Line (Costa Rica)

By reconditioning and restoring the railway tracks in the Greater Metropolitan Area, Incofer, the Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Costa Rican Railway Institute in English) was able to put into work a commuter line, the Tren Interurbano, which connects the provinces of Alajuela, Heredia, San José and Cartago. There are street running trains in several places.

Incofer runs the following routes (San Jose is the nation's capital):

Quepos Railroad[edit]

Currently abandoned and dismantled, the Ferrocarril de Quepos was an essential part of the banana production in the Central Pacific coast of the country, it was 39.5 km (24.5 mi) long, between Coto Junction (Unión) and Puerto González. Right-of-way is now owned by Incofer.[15]

Golfito Railroad[edit]

Now abandoned, the Ferrocarril de Golfito was used for banana freight transportation and had a connection to Puerto Armuelles in Panama, it was 89 km (55 mi) long, covered the hamlets of Palmar Sur, Piedras Blancas, Coto 47, Laurel and Golfito. Right-of-way is now owned by Incofer. Several locomotives were cosmetically restored and can be seen in Golfito.

International connections[edit]

There was a railway connection in the Caribbean over the Sixaola River between Panama and Costa Rica. The bridge collapsed in 2017.[16] In 2018, China donated to Panama a factibility plan to open a high speed train between Panama and Costa Rica, but by 2019, the plan was rejected.[17][18]

The Golfito Railroad had a freight connection to Puerto Armuelles in Panama. There were no connections to Nicaragua.

As of 2020 there are no current or planned connections to Panama or Nicaragua.

Inter-oceanic Dry Canal[edit]

There are plans and studies regarding the construction of an inter-oceanic dry canal (Spanish: Canal Seco Interoceánico) across the country, from the Caribbean sea to the Pacific Ocean, through the northern plains of the country, in a similar and parallel route to the Route 4 road. The main way of merchandise transportation would be using railroad to transport container, with plans to build ten road lanes alongside the railroad tracks, two new ports on each coast terminus.[19]

In April 2020 the National Concessions Council (Spanish: Consejo Nacional de Concesiones, CNC) rejected and archived the plans for the dry canal.[20]

Private railways[edit]

There are very few private railways, in small loops.

Swiss railroad[edit]

Tren Turistico Arenal

At the Hotel Los Héroes in Nuevo Arenal, Tilarán Canton (Guanacaste Province), a Swiss hotelier has built a mountain railway for the guests of his panorama restaurant, Pequeña Helvecia (little Switzerland). The rolling stock had been originally used by a Swiss farmer from Chéseaux, who built a 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) field railway but never got a permission to run it. The hotelier bought it in 1999 and put in operation in 2000 as a tourist attraction under the name "Tren Turistico Arenal". As of 2004 and 2017, it is 3.5 km (2.2 mi) long, with an elevation of 200 m (660 ft) and two tunnels.[21][circular reference]

Castillo Country Club[edit]

Built in the 1970s, this is a small 1.2 kilometer loop railroad with a diesel engine and three passenger cars for family entertainment purposes inside the club. It was built by engineers that previously worked on the rail to the Pacific.[22]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Reglamenta Dimensión Derecho Vía Ferrocarriles Nacionales (Art. 42 Ley Nº 7001, Orgánica del INCOFER)" (PDF). Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  2. ^ http://www.infrastructure-intelligence.com/article/aug-2016/infrastructure-costa-rica%E2%80%99s-achilles%E2%80%99-heel
  3. ^ Pisu, Mauro; Villalobos, Federico (2016). "A bird-eye view of Costa Rica's transport infrastructure". OECD Economics Department Working Papers. doi:10.1787/5jlswbwvwqjf-en. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ "TBT: Costa Rica's Pacific Railroad in Puntarenas". 17 October 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  5. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Costa Rica § Chief Towns and Communications" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 220.
  6. ^ Dr. T. Leslie Youd (1993). "LIQUEFACTION, GROUND FAILURE AND CONSEQUENT DAMAGE DURING THE 22 APRIL 1991 COSTA RICA EARTHQUAKE". EERC Library. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  7. ^ "INCOFER: Historia de la institución" [INCOFER: History of the institution] (PDF) (in Spanish). Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  8. ^ "Jerarca de Incofer afirma que uso del tren para transporte de carga y llegada a Paraíso y Alajuela son tareas pendientes" [Chief of Incofer confirms operation of freight train and reaching Paraíso y Alajuela remain unfinished jobs]. La Nacion (in Spanish). Grupo La Nacion. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  9. ^ "INCOFER incumplió con restauración del tren San José-Caldera" [INCOFER did not fulfill promise to restore San José-Caldera train]. Semanario Universidad (in Spanish). Universidad de Costa Rica. 8 June 2011. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Costa Rica Transportation". Destination360. 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  11. ^ Peraldo Huertas, Giovanni (1998). "La Deslizable Historia del Ferrocarril al Caribe de Costa Rica". Anuario de Estudios Centroamericanos. 24 (1): 97–128. JSTOR 25661304.
  12. ^ "Ruta San José- Cartago". INCOFER (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  13. ^ "Ruta Curridabat - Pavas - Belén". INCOFER (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  14. ^ "Ruta San José- Heredia- Alajuela". INCOFER (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  15. ^ "Decreto N° 22483-MOPT Reglamenta Dimensión Derecho Vía Ferrocarriles Nacionales (Art. 42 Ley Nº 7001, Orgánica del INCOFER)" (PDF). 1 September 1993. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  16. ^ Vásquez, Johana. "Construcción de Puente sobre río Sixaola no ha iniciado pese a promesas". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Tren de alta velocidad unirá a Panamá y Costa Rica". laprensalibre.cr. EFE. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Panamá descarta tren chino que hubiera llegado a la frontera con Costa Rica". La Nación. AP. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  19. ^ Chinchilla, Sofía (14 November 2016). "Estudios para determinar factibilidad de canal seco estarían en un año". La Nación. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  20. ^ Santamaría, Tania (27 April 2020). "Fernando Zamora asegura que rechazo al proyecto del Canal Seco Interoceánico es gravísimo". elmundo.cr. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  21. ^ Info at Ferrolatino.ch
  22. ^ "El Trencito del Castillo, una maquinita cargada de alegrías y de historia". Retrieved 17 October 2019.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rail transport in Costa Rica.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rail_transport_in_Costa_Rica&oldid=1215752193"