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May 09Back on the Heredia Train
However delayed, the train route destined to relieve the over-congested and wanting Heredia-San Jose access line will begin operation during the second half of May –thus having changed the preset date of which we had informed of before. The discordance now appears to root in the lack of proper agreement between Incofer –the Costa Rican Railway Agency- and the Bus Companies that also provide transportation between the capital city and “city of flowers”.
The precise point of divergence being that of the pricing for the new train service, which would come to directly compete with the tolls applies to the existent bus lines. While the price set for the Heredia-San Jose train ticket would be of 355 colones, the majority of companies dealing in the bus service charge an approximate of $320, and if one is to consider the time efficiency offered by the train service´s premise –running to a maximum speed of 25 kph yet spared of traffic disturbances- the threat posed to the financial position of the pre-established services is more than evident.
The ARESEP (literally: Regulating Authority of Public Services) is now evaluating the setting of the starting ticket price for the train service while considering some aspects that were somewhat neglected in the current 355 C. calculation. The offered pricing for example does not consider the investment made in the purchase of the spanish train cars nor other financial technicalities. With the likeness of and adjustment performed to the Heredia Train line the ARESEP is actively attempting to prevent an en economic war between the parties involved in the daily movement of over 50,000 peoples between two of Costa Rica´s largest urbanized zones.
Without further adieu, and in view of the general readiness of our new transportation means we hope to find the service available soon enough, and if any further issues appear we´ll surely inform on them.