The wait continues. The purchase of eight new trains to increase the fleet of the Costa Rican Railways Institute (INCOFER) is advancing, but not to the pace that the users expect.
According to Elizabeth Briceño, executive president of INCOFER, who took office four months ago, in the best of scenarios, “ by the end of 2018 we would expect to have the new units.”
However, if for some reason, the purchase is delayed or complicated, the trains would enter the country in December 2019.
In order to make the decision on this purchase, the executive management of the institution carried out a market study, which was carried out by Óscar Briceño, Incofer’s railway engineer.
Seven companies were identified, from China, Japan, Brazil and Europe,”
said the board said, adding that it is a comprehensive package.
We have already presented – three sessions ago – to the Board of Directors the special regulations of the contracting regime and, once these regulations have been approved by the members, we can proceed with the purchase.”
The contract will include, in addition to the units, spare parts, tools, training and maintenance.
There will be eight diesel trains, Apollo type – self-propelled – and will have a capacity for 400 passengers. Currently, each train carries 180 passengers.
According to the schedule by INCOFER, these are the following steps:
October 2018: Approval of regulations and poster publication
November and December 2018: Reception of offers
December 2018: Award of contract
Delivery time will be a priority issue in the award, stressed the administrator.
As for the investment, the purchase will be made with a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (CABEI) for an amount of $ 52 million and 40% of the institution’s budget for 2018 will be used to pay this debt.
According to the Public Service Regulatory Authority (ARESEP), 60% of train users are university students and factory workers.