The Railway Institute (Incofer) has announced that a new route between San José City and Paraíso Canton in Cartago Province will be introduced to the public rail service beginning Monday, Sept. 18.

According to the institute, the new two-way path is part of a pilot initiative to determine how many people use that route during the week.

There will be two excursions from San José to Paraíso. The first train departs at 5 p.m. from downtown San José's Central Station, also known as the "Antigua aduana al Atlantico" (old train station towards the Caribbean Coast in English) and arrives at the Plaza Paraíso station at 6 p.m. The second trip will depart from San José station at 5:30 p.m. and arrive at the Paraíso station at 6:30 p.m.

The opposing route, from Paraíso to San José City, has three trips available. The first one departs from Paraíso station at 6 a.m. and arrives in San José at 7 a.m. The second train departs Paraíso at 6 p.m. and arrives in San José at 7 p.m. The third train departs Paraíso at 6:30 p.m. and arrives in San José at 7:30 p.m.

The route will be operational for six months. Following the collection of passenger information, authorities will announce whether the train service will continue on its current schedule or if alterations will be made.

"Once this time has passed and the demand has been assessed," the institution said, "the definitive times when the service will be provided will be defined."

A one-way train fare is $705 (about $1.30).

The public train service connects San José with the provinces of Cartago, Heredia, and Alajuela.

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