The Railways Institute, INCOFER, purchased the eight trains from the Chinese company CRRC Quingdao Sifang Co. for approximately $32,659,122.
- INCOFER photo -
|
|
| 
Published Tuesday, January 19, 2021
More diesel-powered trains arrive from China
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
On Monday, the second cargo with four diesel-powered trains purchased in China arrived at the Caldera Port in Puntarenas Province.
The very first shipment of four diesel trains arrived in the country in December 2020.
The Railways Institute, INCOFER, purchased the eight trains from the Chinese company CRRC Quingdao Sifang Co. for approximately $32,659,122.
That company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Industry Corporation, CRRC, is located in Qingdao, a coastal city in China.
The government announced the purchase of 8 diesel trains from the Chinese company in 2018. These diesel-powered trains were scheduled to arrive in April 2020, however, according to the government, the pandemic has forced delayed deliveries.
According to Elizabeth Briceño, president of the institute, with the arrival of these diesel trains, rail modernization in the country begins.
Authorities estimate that the trains will operate in the second quarter of this 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, helping improve the “moderately unsafe” Costa Rica air quality.
In addition purchasing 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.
The institute has suspended the train service due to railway construction for improvements.
----------------------
How could the 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
Real Estate For Sale
| BEAUTIFUL HOME FOR SALE
READY FOR MOVE IN
MORAVIA, SAN JOSE PROVINCE
PRICE $750,000
APPOINTMENT ONLY
CALL (506) - 8820-9768
|
Real Estate Related
|
|
