Train Travel Increases
Sharply, Passing To
100.000 Passengers A
Month
One of the ways to beat
the high cost of
gasoline and the
vehicular restrictions
of San José is by using
the train to get to and
from work.
The use of the commuter
train between Pavas and
Lourder ede Monte Oca
(San Pedro) only costs
¢300 colones each way
and has seen a sharp
increase in use in the
past year.
Figures released by the
Instituto Costarricense
de Ferrocarriles (Incofer)
- state railway - shows
that in the first half
of 2007, the train
carried 374.733
passengers, while during
the same period this
year, the number of
passengers has been
571.907 or almost
100.000 passengers a
month.
Incofer figures show
that in April, for the
first time, more than
100.000 passengers a
month started using the
train, just when the
cost of gasoline began
to spiral.
In April 2008, the train
carried 105.000
passengers, following
the a jump in gasoline
prices of ¢35 colones
for a litre of super and
an increase in the cost
of bus fares of between
¢5 and ¢280 colones.
The train offers a
direct route between the
east and the west side
of San José and without
the need for a transfer
as is the case with
buses.
Miguel Carabaguíaz,
president of Incofer,
said he is pleased at
the numbers and shows
that Cost Ricans are
supporting the train
service, seeing a
"maturity" among Costa
Ricans in accepting the
train as a viable form
of transportation.
Carabaguíaz added that
with the current
figures, the high cost
of gasoline and expanded
vehicular restrictions
of San José, the
government is placing
more emphasis on mass
travel, like the train,
and in announcing the
revival of the San José
- Heredia train.
The San José - Heredia
is expected to be
operating within six
months, however,
financial problems mean
that the route may take
longer than expected to
be in service. The rail
system along the route
needs an overhaul and
money is required to
restore the locomotives,
which for the most part
have been idle for the
last 13 years.
Carabaguíaz said assures
that the Heredia train
will be running in six
months starting from the
time they have the
financing in place,
which is being estimated
at ¢2 billion colones. |
