Funding for this study now comes from a donation of $800 thousand from the Spanish state run company Ferrocarriles de Vía Estrecha (FEVE), which in recent years has worked with railroad equipment currently in use by the Costa Rican Institute of Railways (Incofer).
An article in Elfinancierocr.com reports that "In 2003 the Costa Rican Institute of Railways (Incofer), the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) and the National Power and Light Company produced an alternative option that would link Alajuela, Heredia, San Pedro and Cartago to the capital. At the time the MOPT provided an initial ¢200 million and it arranged a counterpart with the French Government. The feasibility studies were put out to tender, but the process was was halted by the then President Abel Pacheco, for alleged inconsistencies. In 2008 the government of Oscar Arias signed a contract with the Brazilian company Engevix for a study that cost $1,200,000. This report was to include a design for the routes, the legal details of the model to develop the project, as well as the type of tender to be used for the project’s management, operation and construction work valued at $350 million. The proposal was to start just with the San José – Heredia route. The tender was created in 2009 and, despite having companies interested in it, the process stalled and was shelved.
The current study considers linking the towns of Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago and San José.
Source: elfinancierocr.com
More on this topic
November 2011
With a grant from the Government of Spain, the study to determine the costs of the proposed light rail system will begin.
The project involves the construction and operation of an electric train covering a distance of 75 kilometers, linking Cartago, San José, Heredia and Alajuela.
January 2010
In Costa Rica, authorities debate the future of passenger and cargo rail systems.
Opposing interests have arisen between the proposed urban transportation system, which would use a narrow gauge (1.067 mm), and a private cargo train project linking the ports of the Caribbean and the Pacific, which would use a standard gauge (1.435 mm).
March 2009
There are six companies interested in the 35-year concession of the Metropolitan Electric Train (TREM).
The project would involve the construction and operation of an electric train. The first section would be between San Jose and Heredia. The total investment is $345 million of which the state will provide $100 million and the remainder would be the responsibility of the concessionaire which will have 35 years to recover the investment.
October 2009
The proceedings of the concession continue, but President Arias doubts about its convenience.
While the Ministry of Public Infrastructure continues to work in the draft for the 11 interested companies that would conform a cartel, President Arias is searching for finance among local banks in order to avoid the concession of the Metropolitan Electric Train, and use those resources for the "reactivation of the ferroviarian national system".
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