The Costa Rican Railroad Institute (Incofer) bought eight new trains, the first two of which will arrive in July 2020 and ideally be in use just five weeks later pending initial tests.
The units are 38-meters long and have a capacity for 372 passengers. They are already being manufactured. The engines are from Germany and they are assembled in China. Each will have a 30-year lifespan.
The investment amount was $32.7 million. These trains will be used to extend the intercity train service to Coyol de Alajuela and Paraíso de Cartago.
The new trains have air conditioning, preferential seating, space for two wheelchairs per unit, an LED passenger information system, intercom equipment for announcements, an emergency alarm system, and reduced internal noise.
This is the first time in 40 years that such an investment has been made by Incofer. 28 railway maintenance teams arrived to the Incofer workshop to preserve and repair trains. 13 containers of equipment were brought there from Puerto Caldera. The equipment includes a test bench for brake valves, forklifts, a stationary lift crane, and equipment to measure exhaust gas emission.
