Although the funds are not yet available, nor is there legislative authority to borrow, the Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer) – the Costa Rica’s railway – has announced that it intends to purcahse 8 trains.
The purchase would be made within Europe or North America, says the Incofer, to increase operational capacity and number of passengers.
Currently, the “tren urbano” (commuter train) that operates lines from Heredia to Cartago and San Jose to Belen, carries on average 7,000 people daily.
Guillermo Santana, CEO of Incofer, said the new units will have to comply with national railway infrastructure conditions, for which reason the rolling stock must be modified by the manufacturer and will take longer to arrive. ”
Santana indicated that the estimated cost of the railway equipment will be about USD 30 million.
A bill is currently in the legislative process for authorizing the Incofer to borrow money to develop an electric train service, in order to improve transport infrastructure in the Greater Metropolitan Area of San Jose or the GAM.
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