Train Expanded,
Free Days Offered
By Rebecca Kimitch
Tico Times Staff
rkimitch@ticotimes.net

Commuters frustrated by the latest increases in taxi and bus prices are being offered a much more affordable option: a free seat on the recently resuscitated train between east and west San José.

The Costa Rican Railroad Institute (INCOFER) announced yesterday that Tuesdays and Thursdays will be free starting today, courtesy of a donation from the companies Demasa, Repretel and Banco Nacional.

The promotion is planned for the next two months, but could be extended or expanded to other days, if other businesses choose to participate, explained INCOFER Executive President Miguel Carabaguíaz.

However, the idea is not to offer free fare forever, but rather to “strengthen the presence of people on the train… so that passengers start seeing this as an alternative for their transport,” Carabaguíaz said.

The sponsoring companies are paying as if the train were completely full, which will help INCOFER to continue expansion plans, he added.

The train is already being expanded from its initial capacity and route when it was launched last month. Next Tuesday it will nearly double in capacity, from 400 to 700 seats, with the addition next Tuesday of an “Apollo” train.

Now, only one conventional train runs the route between Pavas, west of San José, and San Pedro, east of San José. The additional Apollo train, in which the engine is part of the passenger cars, will allow two routes to be run simultaneously, Carabaguíaz said.

The INCOFER head said that more and more Costa Ricans have started to use the train. When the train was first resurrected in October, after nearly a decade out of use, it ran at about 30% capacity. Today it averages closer to 70%.

In addition, earlier this month, the train's route was expanded 1.5 kilometers to include La Carpio, Metrópolis 4 and Lomas de Pavas, all west of San José. San Antonio de Belen could be added in early next year, Carabaguíaz said.

Furthermore, train stops, including boarding ramps, are in their final stages of construction.

The fare for Monday, Wednesday and Friday will continue to be ¢300 ($0.61) for the full route ¢150 ($0.31) for halfway and ¢100 ($0.20) for less than halfway.

Transport Minister Randall Quirós said the Ministry of Public Works and Transport is investing more in security every day to avoid accidents such as the one that occurred last Friday in which 27 people were injured when the train collided with a bus.

Carabaguíaz said train safety is contingent on drivers obeying signs and double yellow lines.

“What happened Friday is a clear show of disrespect (on the part of the bus driver) to the sign at the crossing,” he said.