Heredia train ready to roll… almost

Costa Rica´s Administrative Contention Court lifted an injunction on Monday morning that has blocked the much awaited opening of a railway between San José and its northern neighbor, Heredia.

The Costa Rican Railroad Institute (INCOFER) and Comercial El Diez S.A, a private company that had filed suit against INCOFER, agreed to begin the court-facilitated conciliation process.

The agreement does not signify the end of the lawsuit, but it does mean INCOFER may continue with its efforts to begin the inter-city rail service, which were stopped in late May when El Diez filed suit.

According to a communiqué from the court´s press office, El Diez claimed that “the cleaning and repair work of the rails, performed by INCOFER, affects the stability of the (plaintiff´s) property, which endangers not only the land, but the life of those that travel along the site.”

The conditions of the agreement are private and officials could not say when the conciliation process will begin. But Andrea Marín, press officer for the court, said the “the most important part of today´s conclusion is that the train can continue operation.”

Eduardo Brenes, of the Regional and Urban Planning for the Greater Metropolitan Area (PRUGAM), told The Tico Times in early May that the tests and repairs were in the “final phases,” a comment made shortly before El Diez filed suit (TT, May, 8).

Officials from INCOFER were unavailable for comment Monday afternoon.