Inca Rail a division of Grupo Crosland of Lima, Peru has put into service two of three rebuilt Portuguese DMU sets on the Ollantaytambo to Aquas Caliente run. The former Yugoslavian built 750 mm rail car sets have been rebuilt for a third time from meter gauge to 3 ft gauge. The cars have nearly new Volvo engines and have been extensively rebuilt On t he interior. The company has set a goal of capturing 25% of the MP traffic.
The company has had to obtain operating licences from both the Ministry of Transportation and Communications as well the track maintenance company Ferrocarril Transandina S.A. The company has worked hard to overcome the many obstacles put in there path to operate. Service started in October of 2009. They also suffered like Perurail from the loss of service during the period that the tracks were out of service due to the floods. The single track mainline is shared with Perurail which has held a virtual monopoly on the route. The Government has always maintained that open track access would be granted to qualified operators that provided technical expertise and equipment that meet the standards of operation.
Next month another company will start using new replica Edwards Rail cars as Andean Railways. This service will start with a limited service from Ollantaytambo to Aquas Caliente route.
I had the opportunity to view the rebuilding of the Portuguese DMU's at the Crosland shops in Lima. Two remaining cars of the last three car set is being completed. The cars were being stripped inside and rebuilt with new vista dome like windows in the roof, improved seats, Air Conditioning, toilets as well as a small Galley for on-board food and snack service. The trucks are being modified in Lima and the power plants are having all seals, hoses and valves rebuilt. The result in photos are a much nicer and roomier car than the Perurail Ferrostaal Vista Dome rail cars.
The Yugoslavian rail cars were constructed between 1963 and 1969. They were sold to Portugal in 1980 and modified to meter gauge by the rail shops in Yugoslavia before shipment to Portugal. They were re-motored with Volvo engines in 1992-93. The reconstructed cars have seating for First Class of 30 seats with tables and extra wide seats. The Executive class seating has 48 seats. Service trains are three times a day each way. One early morning at 6:40 am, then 11:35 and 16:36 from Ollantaytambo. Return service is from MP at 8:30 AM, 14:02 and 19:00. Fares are less than Perurail and other options are available. The Inca Rail company has some other projects for the future. They have had nearly 16,000 passengers for June. They are now at about 12% of the market share so far.
Check out www.incarail.com.pe for more photos.
I was not able to take any photos at the shop this trip since I was not expecting the hospitality of the owner Senor Forsyth Rivarola to take me to the company shops in Lima to see the remaining cars.
Dale Brown
www.wingsandrails.com
