Tuesday's News

Costa Rica's Rail System Continues To Move Full Steam Ahead

From: www.insidecostarica.com

Following the inauguration of the commuter train service between San José and Heredia two years ago, today this service exceeds expectations that the Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (INCOFER) set out and is moving full speed ahead with its plans to bring train service to more communities.

It all started more than five years ago when the tracks between San Pedro and Pavas were put back into service, taking commuters daily from the east side to the west side and back.

After several stalled years, the Heredia train began on August 10, 2009 and since makes daily trips during rush hours on weekdays, on average every 30 minutes carrying more than 100.000 people a month.

Although it was no surprise to the INCOFER, Costa Ricans have embraced this form of commuting, seeing the train as a fast, reliable, comfortable and affordable means of transport.

And for that the INCOFER expects to see within a few years the train gathering even wider acceptance.

If plans are not derailed the INCOFER expects to inaugurate train service to Cartago by the end of next year. The cost of restoring the service is estimated at US$6 million dollars which is being spent on cleaning and repair of the existing track, with the coordination of the municipalities of Curridabat, La Union and Cartago.

The reason for the choice of first Cartago ahead of Alajuela is to keep a promise made by President Laura Chinchilla in April of this year when the San José - Belen service was inaugurated.

Today, commuters from places like downtown Heredia, Belén, Pavas, Curridabat can commute to San José and points in between.

The INCOFER says that it was natural to bring the locomotive to the city of Cartago.

Word of the Day

Derail
de·rail: \di-ˈrāl, dē-\
Origin: French dérailler to throw off the track, from dé- de- + rail, from English First Known Use: 1850
Verb
1: to cause to run off the rails
2 a: to obstruct the progress of: frustrate <security problems derailed the tour>; b: to upset the stability or composure of <divorce … can seriously derail an employee — Joanne Gordon>

More Vocabulary

Acceptance: n. an agreeing either expressly or by conduct to the act or offer of another so that a contract is concluded and the parties become legally bound
Inaugurate: v. to dedicate ceremoniously
Locomotive: n. a self-propelled vehicle that runs on rails and is used for moving railroad cars
Stall: v. to bring to a standstill

Idioms & Phrases

Full steam ahead: with all possible energy and enthusiasm

• The real estate market has heated up, and building is going full steam ahead.