Costa Rica Real Estate News

Travel between the two cities of Heredia, Costa Rica and San José, Costa Rica is heavy, so the announcement that the Heredia-San José train route will be completed in 2009 is wonderful news for many Costa Rican citizens and tourists. Train travel is limited in Costa Rica, and the promise of an additional train route, especially one between two large cities, is encouraging for travelers. The greatly anticipated train line is approximately two years behind schedule, making the opening even more welcomed.

The Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Institute of Costa Rican Railways), or Incofer, is in the process of negotiations with the Spanish Narrow Rails Railway Company to purchase four trains from Spain to run on the Heredia-San José train route. Refurbished in 2000, these air-conditioned trains are an improvement over the trains now in use in Costa Rica. The Costa Rican trains, which can carry up to 650 passengers, are referred to as “Apolo” trains. The four auto-propelled Spanish trains, although built in the 1980’s, are up-to-date since being remodeled, and are said to be in top notch condition. The renovated trains are able to travel at a speed of about 40 kilometers, or 25 miles, per hour.

Incofer must first have its requested budget amount granted by the Asamblea Legislativa, or Legislative Assembly, of Costa Rica. The total price of the four trains, including the cost of additional improvements once they arrive in Costa Rice, will be in the neighborhood of US$8 million. The Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transportes (Ministry of Public Works and Transportation), or MOPT, must also agree to transfer a portion of the trains’ cost into Incofer’s account for the purchase of the trains.

Construction of the actual train line for the Heredia-San José route is still in process, but is scheduled to be completed in 2009. A detour around the Virilla River has caused unexpected delays in the project. Incofer’s Executive President, Miguel Carabaguiaz, was asked to comment on the slow progress of the train line and said, “We’re in the process of cleaning, especially after the rise of the Virilla River Bridge toward Santa

Rosa, especially because we’ve found ourselves in a series of waters, aqueducts and municipalities that don’t have the right of way, we’ve had to dig canals, but we keep getting closer to Heredia with the clean up.”

Besides the forecasted popularity of the new Heredia-San José train route with Costa Rican citizens, it can be assumed that a large number of tourists will use the trains for transportation. Both Heredia and San José are favorite destinations for vacationers, and the train line will be a great benefit for both travelers and the tourism trade in these two cities. San José, the capital of Costa Rica, host to thousands of visitors each day, offers numerous tourist attractions, including parks, a theater, and impressive commercial buildings. In Heredia, travelers enjoy visiting the coffee plantations, tropical forests, and volcanic national parks that have made this city famous.