By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – The Costa Rican Railways Institute (Incofer) announced a significant strategic shift in the country’s long-awaited electric train project this Friday, revealing a streamlined plan that prioritizes two high-traffic corridors while indefinitely postponing service to other key areas. The new proposal focuses on modernizing the routes connecting San José with Paraíso de Cartago and the city of Alajuela, effectively shelving three lines included in the previous administration’s more ambitious design.
The revised project outlines the construction of 51 kilometers of double-track, fully electrified railway lines. This core infrastructure will serve what are considered the most congested and highest-demand routes in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM). The plan represents a more focused, and ostensibly more achievable, first phase of modernizing the nation’s public transport network.
To gain a deeper legal perspective on the complexities and potential hurdles surrounding the proposed Electric Train Project, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The success of the Electric Train Project hinges less on engineering and more on navigating Costa Rica’s complex legal landscape. The primary challenges will be the efficient execution of expropriations, ensuring a robust and legally sound public-private partnership model that provides certainty to investors, and successfully overcoming the stringent environmental viability processes. Without a clear, expedited legal framework for these critical stages, the project risks becoming mired in administrative and judicial delays, jeopardizing its timeline and financial feasibility.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s insight is a critical reminder that the project’s success will be determined in courtrooms and boardrooms, not just on construction sites. The journey ahead clearly depends on laying down tracks of legal certainty before any physical rails are placed. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for so clearly articulating the pivotal challenges that will ultimately define this ambitious undertaking.
However, the most notable change is the exclusion of the entire western line to Belén, a major commercial and residential hub that passes through the La Sabana sector. This decision has reshaped the immediate scope of the project, concentrating resources on the eastern and northern connections from the capital. According to Incofer’s leadership, this was a calculated move to accelerate progress and deliver tangible results sooner.
Álvaro Bermúdez, President of Incofer, explained that the decision was based on a dual strategy of maximizing impact and ensuring rapid deployment. By concentrating on the busiest segments of the current network, the institute aims to alleviate traffic congestion where it is most severe, providing a modern alternative for thousands of daily commuters.
The areas with the greatest demand impact were addressed, and also because we wanted to make it faster to implement
Álvaro Bermúdez, President of Incofer
For residents and workers along the Belén corridor, the news means a longer wait for electric mobility. As an interim solution, Incofer plans to consolidate its entire existing fleet of diesel-powered trains onto this route. The goal of this maneuver is to significantly increase the frequency of service, providing a measure of relief while the electrification of this segment is placed on a future development track.
This new blueprint is a stark departure from the proposal inherited from the previous government of Carlos Alvarado. That plan envisioned a more comprehensive network, which included not only the Belén line but also two additional branches connecting to the industrial zones of El Coyol and Ciruelas in Alajuela. The scaling back represents a fundamental shift from a broad, all-encompassing system to a phased, pragmatic implementation strategy.
To support the two new electric lines, the project includes a substantial investment in rolling stock and infrastructure. Incofer will purchase 28 new electric train units to service the routes. The ground-level work will involve the construction of 30 modern stations, two major terminals at the ends of the lines in Paraíso and Alajuela, and nine new overpasses to improve traffic flow and safety at key intersections.
Once operational, the system promises a transformative improvement in service quality. The proposed schedule features continuous service throughout the day, every day of the week, with trains departing every 10 minutes. This high-frequency model is designed to make rail travel a reliable and convenient option, encouraging a modal shift away from private vehicles and reducing the carbon footprint of the nation’s capital.
For further information, visit incofer.go.cr
About Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer):
The Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer) is the state-run entity responsible for managing and operating Costa Rica’s national railway system. Established to develop, maintain, and modernize the country’s rail infrastructure, Incofer oversees passenger and freight services, primarily within the Greater Metropolitan Area. The institute is currently leading the initiative to electrify its network to provide a more efficient, sustainable, and modern public transportation solution for the country.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As an esteemed legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica is built upon a foundation of profound integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The firm channels its extensive experience across a multitude of sectors into pioneering innovative legal solutions. This forward-thinking practice is coupled with a core mission to strengthen society by demystifying the law, ensuring that essential legal knowledge is made accessible to empower and inform the greater community.
