Rail Transport in Costa Rica - Current Situation

Current Situation

In 2006, the following trains ran in Costa Rica:

• Tico Train Tour San José - Caldera (91 km), weekend tourist trains, privately managed using infrastructure of Incofer
• Commuter trains San José - San Pedro, Universidad Latina (4 km, Incofer)
• Commuter trains San José - Pavas (6 km along the same line as Tico Train Tour, Incofer)
• 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
• No connections to Panama or Nicaragua.

As of August 2008:

• The commuter trains are no longer running.
• 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.

As of October, 2008:

• 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.

As of December 2008

• The Costa Rican Institute of Railroads (Incofer) signed a 2 million euro agreement with FEVE, the Spanish narrow gauge operator, to buy four used diesel-electric passenger trains of the "Apolo" 2400 series (images, ) that had been operating in Cantabria. The agreement includes technical assistance, spare parts and conversion of the trains from meter gauge to 1,067 millimeters. The trains have undergone major upgrades in recent years, affecting both technology and their interiors.

As of March 2009

• 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.
• The Tico Train Tour is running every Saturday and Sunday as usually, transporting more than 350 people per trip

As of August 2009:

• 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 - 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 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 Puerto Limón and Moin on the Atlantic coast

As of April 2011:

• The commuter train is running every 30 minutes between Heredia and San José (Estación del Atlantico) at peak hours in the morning (6am to 9am) and evening (3:30pm-8pm). Journey time: 30m, 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 Pacifico) and Belen was officially inaugurated on 1 April. 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 National Stadium in La Sábana.