Costa Rica Rail Service To Halt During Holy Week

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Published on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The passenger rail service will be suspended during Holy Week, the Railway Institute (INCOFER) announced.

INCOFER said the majority of train routes will be interrupted as the Catholic observance runs from Sunday, March 29, through Sunday, April 5. The holiday commemorates the final days of Jesus Christ’s life, including his passion, death and resurrection.

One key route connecting the provinces of San José and Cartago was suspended earlier, on Wednesday, March 25, and is scheduled to resume on Friday, April 10. Authorities said the closure is necessary to repair eight bridges and a tunnel along the line that pose a risk of accidents.

All remaining routes, including the line connecting the cantons of Curridabat and Pavas in San José province, as well as the service linking the provinces of San José, Heredia and Alajuela, will be suspended from Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3.

The agency said the timing of the service halt coincides with a broader slowdown in activity, as most public and private institutions will be closed for the holiday week.

In Costa Rica, passenger rail service typically operates Monday through Friday, with no service on weekends.

Passengers normally can pay fares using credit or debit cards, or cash, at the railroad's main station in downtown San José.

Costa Rica’s rail system is managed by INCOFER, a state-owned entity responsible for the country’s railway infrastructure and for operating freight and passenger services across the densely populated Central Valley.

Separately, the Holy Week school break for more than 1 million students, including those in public elementary and secondary schools, public universities and public academies, is set to begin next week.

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