Modern Electric Spanish Trains Transform Costa Rican Transportation
- by crv.staff
- 08.10.09
- 10:00 AM UTC
- Filed in Costa Rica, Costa Rica Lifestyle
By Richard Barone Oliver
7 Oct 2009
Costa Rica’s mule of the masses, the mighty locomotive, will again transform this vibrant Central American country.
The first rail system begun by Minor Keith, a former Texas pig farmer, in 1870, brought coffee from the central mesa to the Caribbean coast.
Thousands of Chinese and later Jamaicans and British citizens worked like slaves for twenty years to build the first lines, accruing over four thousand deaths due to disease and other hazards in the process. Banana plantations, the first in the region, helped pay the debt, immensely transforming the economy of the region.
Covering nearly seven percent of the national territory from coast to coast through dense jungles and mountains, most of the original railroad is inoperable today. Even the metropolitan passenger train ran out of steam leaving beautiful architecture and a museum in its wake and only recently has been seen as a solution to traffic congestion in the region. The Tico Train, however, is still in service from San Jose to the Pacific coast and is a fabulous way to see the country, passing through pretty scenery, picturesque towns and over the oldest and highest rail bridge in Central America.
Local politicians have already begun the process to solve the transportation problems with the rehabilitation of existing rail routes and construction of new ones.
The recent arrival of beautiful used train cars from Spain have been received enthusiastically by locals packing the trains to capacity to and from the metro area.
Eleven bidders from Spain, France , Mexico the USA and Canada are vying for concessions of new electric trains that are expected to be in service by 2012.
Costing $345 million dollars, the new ultra modern high speed electric trains are appropriate for a city in the first Central American country to have electricity, coffee and bananas. Running every six minutes with twenty stops between Heredia and San Jose will be great for locals and visitors alike. The modern Tico Train appears to be here to stay and only getting better.
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For you Information.
I was researching (San Jose’s Biblioteca Natl.) the historic trains of both the Atlantic and Pacifico lines this summer. Where did you get your information concerning a current, functioning Electric train line to the Pacific O.(town of Punta Arenas)?
Thanks,
G.Vail