Last year ended with a total of 120 train collisions. Everything seems to indicate that 2017 will be worse: 11 collision had been reported in less than two weeks.
The so-called “final solution” to collisions emerged in 2012: putting needles at crosses. The project has undergone changes and delays through the years and although the promise was to place the needles in August 2017, now it will be in November.
We made the requested corrections and we launched the tender poster again. In December there was a change of administrative platform and that also delayed the work. The offers opening was ready for January 20th and we moved it for early February,”
said Cindy Coto, Executive Director of COSEVI.
The tender for the project, at a cost of $7 million, had already been allocated. However, the comptroller annulled it because one of the companies had problems with the Costa Rican Social Security Fund.
The law is clear: the train has priority on the railway lines, so drivers must stop completely, look both ways and only after ensuring that the train is not coming, they can move on. But the crash figures indicate that drivers do not understand it.
What the needles will change is that drivers will have a visual indication to stop. We are investing $7 million that could go to other projects, to remind drivers of the obligation they already have,”
added Coto.
The project will place light signals, needles and signs in the 91 railroad crossings. According to the projection of COSEVI, this will be ready in early 2018.