|
| 
Published Wednesday, December 16, 2020
After an 8-month delay, China diesel-
powered trains are about to arrive
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Railways Institute, INCOFER, confirmed that the cargo with four of the eight trains purchased from the Chinese company CRRC Quingdao Sifang Co at approximately $32,659,122, will arrive at Caldera Port in Puntarenas Province today.
CRRC Sifang Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Industry Corporation (CRRC), is located in Qingdao, a coastal city in China.
These four diesel-powered trains were scheduled to arrive in April, however, according to the government, the global emergency with the pandemic has forced delivery dates to be adjusted.
The government announced the purchase of 8 diesel trains from the Chinese company in 2018.
The second shipment with the rest of the trains left China on Monday for which it is estimated that they will arrive in the country in January 2021, the institute said in its statement.
According to Elizabeth Briceño, president of the institute, with the arrival of these diesel-trains, the process of rail modernization in the country begins.
Authorities estimate that the trains will operate next year, touring the Greater Metropolitan Area, GAM, which is the zone made up of cities in the outskirts of San José such as Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago.
Each one of the eight trains has an engine and passenger cars for a total length of 38 meters, a capacity of 372 passengers, air conditioning, preferential seats and space for two wheelchairs per carriage, high technology radio system and a display system with LED screens. They are made from stainless steel and expected to last for up to 30 years. The engines pollute less than the current ones.
In addition to the purchase of the trains, specialized machinery and a stock of spare parts were purchased for the workshops that will maintain the new trains.
The equipment included lathes, bearing pits, precision special forklift equipment, train washing machine, traveling crane gantry, milling machine, hydraulic jacks, gas measurement equipment and a gas test bench.
Right now, the institute has 11 Apollo trains and 4 locomotives with 24 passenger cars to provide transportation between San José and the provinces of Heredia, Cartago and Alajuela.
Concerning the modernization of the public transport service in the country, last week three electric-buses were delivered to the Ministry of Transport donated by the German government.
Martina Nibbeling-Wriessnig, German ambassador to Costa Rica, made the official delivery of the electric-buses, which are part of a pilot program for the development of the electrification of public transportation.
“These electric buses will have a great impact: it is the first step towards decarbonization," Ambassador Nibbeling said. "This makes them a symbol of the joint struggle of Costa Rica and Germany against climate change and for a better life for all people."
The twelve-meter-long buses have a capacity for 80 passengers. In addition to being able to make trips of 250 km for each battery charge.
In a few weeks, the buses will be traveling their routes between the Desamparados Canton to San José Province, a second route from San José Province to La Unión Canton in Cartago Province and the third route between San José Province and Alajuela Province.
"We will soon be able to see these electric buses circulating in the streets, so that both bus companies, institutions and users know the technology," said Claudia Dobles, first lady and promoter of electric transport in the country. "Electric mobility is here to stay and it is our route for the decarbonization of the transport sector and our economy by 2050.”
The National Decarbonization Plan goal is set for the year 2035, meaning 30% of the public transport fleet must have zero emissions, Andrea Meza, Minister of the Environment said.
----------------------
How could these China diesel-powered trains contradict the government's decarbonization plan? We
would like to know your thoughts on this story.
Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
|
