Commuter Train A
Success, Planning
Additional Runs To Meet
Demand
The Instituto
Costarricense de
Ferrocarriles (Incofer)
- the train authority -
says that its "tren
urbano" (commuter train)
has become so popular
with Costa Ricans that
it needs to add an
additional trip during
the afternoon hours.
The commuter train began
operating in October
2005, carrying
passengers between Pavas
and San Pedro during
morning and afternoon
rush hours.
Incofer says that in May
the number of people
buying tickers on the
commuter train reached
70.000, representing a
huge increase if
compared to the period
of October to December
2005 when the train
carried 6.000 passengers
each month.
When the service began
operating, the
locomotive pulled three
coaches carrying 50
seated and 15 standing
passengers. Today, the
lomotives are pulling
eight coaches during
each trip, moving an
average of 3.200
passengers daily,
compared to 270 back in
October 2005.
The commuter train makes
13 trips daily, eight of
which are complete
between Metrópolis III,
in Rincón Grande de
Pavas, on the west side
and the Universidad
Latina, un Lourdes de
Montes de Oca, on the
east side.
The other trips are to
and from the station
Ferrocarril al Pacífico,
on the south side of
downtown San José, to
the Metrópolis III and
to and from the U
Latina.
The cost of each
complete trip is ¢300
colones (us$0.58).
Miguel Carabaguíaz,
president of Incofer,
says that the train has
become so popular that
in the afternoon they
some passengers are
riding on the steps of
the coaches.
The trip between Pavas
and the downtown station
is only 17 minutes. The
same trip, at 4:30pm, by
bus would take more than
an hour requiring two
buses and a walk from
the Coca Cola (the Pavas
bus terminal) and to
Parque Central (5
blocks) to the south
side buses.
However, before the
additional service can
be added, the Incofer is
waiting for the
concretion of a donation
of two passenger trains
by the Spanish train
utility Ferrocarriles de
Vía Estrecha (FEVE).
The donated trains are
rebuilt and are similar
to the Apolo train that
are currently in service
in Costa Rica.
The Incofer is also
receiving a boost from
the Ministerio de Obras
Públicas y Transportes (MOPT),
following the
announcement by MOPT
minister, Karla González,
of an injection of ¢700
million colones (us$1.35
million dollars) for the
improvement and
maintenance of the
railway. |
|
