ANOTHER RESURRECTION - ECUADOR RAILWAY REBUILT AT LAST
I never, in my wildest dreams, believed I would be writing the following. A miracle is happening. Ecuador’s main line from Quito to Guayaquil is nearing completion. The line from Ibarra to Salinas is already taking heavy diesels as is Duran to Yaguachi and Alausi to Sibambe. Trains are expected to run the entire line by January 2013, if not sooner. The following is a summary of the current situation.
In general there is a new General Manager Jorge Eduardo Carrera, who is a miracle worker. He will shortly have turned a decrepit partially non-existent remains of a rundown railway into a relatively modern railway with modern trains. The use of modern tracklaying machinery has transformed the track laying process. All the nine Alstom diesels have either been overhauled or will be shortly. New trains have been built. The autoferros have been rebuilt. New trains either have arrived or are arriving. And the lions share of the credit must go to this man and his main backer President Rafael Correa whose dream it is to see the line from Quito to Guayaquil running once again. The dead have truly risen from their graves.
EQUIPMENT
On July 8, 2010 Ecuador Railways General Manager Jorge Eduardo Carrera signed two contracts worth a total of US$30m with FEVE President Ángel Villalba, the Spanish metre-gauge operator.
A US$25m contract covers the supply of equipment and services for rolling stock maintenance and refurbishment, managed by Fenit Rail SA in which FEVE has a 37•5% stake.
Worth US$5m, the second contract covers the supply of an additional four-car tourist train for delivery by December 31 2012 as well as the overhaul of nine Alstom Class 2400 diesel locomotives, three having already been sent to Spain.
The workshops of FEVE in El Berrón(Asturias), are rebuilding the bodywork and updating the engines, the electrical systems and brakes, as well as painting the unit. A group of four mechanics sent by Ecuador railways is also working and training with the Spanish FEVE technicians
Ecuador Railways rolling stock maintenance personnel are to be trained at El Berrón, and FEVE has also provided a five-week driving course for seven staff which has included practical experience on Alstom Class 1600 locomotives hauling freight trains.
On Sunday, 19 February, 2012 the m.v. Aida unloaded diesel electric locos 2403, 2408 and 2409 at Guayaquil just back from overhaul in Spain. They also unloaded two generator vans and three panoramic coaches, The units were loaded at Raos in Santander, Spain on January 21, 2012 for the port of Manzanillo in Panama where the transhipment of the equipment to the m.v. Aida took place.
The panoramic coaches are intended for use on the Devils Nose route and have a capacity for 150 people. These cars offer comfort and convenience to tourists, and have primary and secondary suspension, air conditioning, and an integrated audio system,
Next to come are nine coaches with a bar lounge, café and generator van for the new tourist train. This train which will operate between Quito and Duran is all first class and has air conditioning, panoramic windows, dining car, bar, lounge and toilets.
CURRENT VEHICLE ALLOCATION
Obviously, with so much construction going on, sections being re-opened, new trains being commissioned it is impossible to give an exact list. Of the Alstom diesels 2402 is operational in Ibarra, 2404 in Alausi and 2403, 2408 and 2409 are believed to be split between Riobamba and Quito. 2401 may not go to Spain until last, if at all, as it was the last operational loco. All Alstom diesels should be fully overhauled by September 2012. Many had sat unused for over fifteen years as they could not run on the decrepit track, being too heavy. It was not unknown for a 12 ton autoferro to have five derailments in a day so the 92 ton diesels had no chance.
Where the term operational is used, it does not mean that it is actually being used, or likely to be used, but could be used as until the new services start it has little meaning. It would appear that the Autoferros will take a back seat, with the new trains doing the work being diesel hauled. Where a steam engine is shown as being overhauled and is listed for a location it is entirely possible that it is undergoing part or all of the overhaul at that or at another depot. As to where the engine – or for that matter anything else - will end up when service resumes nobody knows at this time.
Once through running is established and equipment can move freely anywhere on the line It is thought likely that maintenance will revert to three main workshops, Quito, Riobamba and Duran. Bucay has an excellent unused workshop but it may stay that way.
Allocation of vehicles is believed to be currently as follows:
Durán: Steam loco No. 11 operational. Autoferro 3 totally rebuilt and operational. The operating diesel here is thought to be 2403. New passenger train in service.
Bucay: Nothing believed operational here at moment.
Riobamba: Steam locos Nos. 17 and 53 being overhauled. Autoferros 61, 97, 111 and 112 operational. New five coach train under construction. Returned from Spain 2403, 2408 and 2409 which are fully operational. 2406 is awaiting overhaul.
Alausi : Autoferro 95 operational. Diesel 2404 operational. One other autoferro from Riobamba group believed operational here, possibly 111 or 112. .
Quito: Autoferros 98 and 110 operational, 93 under refurbishment; new five coach passenger train in service. 2401 and 2405 believed operational. Steam locos No. 18 and 58 under repair.
Ibarra: Autoferros 10 and 86 (new) operational, No. 36 under repair; Steam loco No. 14 operational; Alstom diesel locos 2402 (operational) and 2407 (awaiting overhaul); New train in service.
San Lorenzo: 1 Ferrocamión
NEW CONCRETE SLEEPER FACTORY COMMENCES PRODUCTION
A new sleeper factory has been built and commissioned. It will build the concrete sleepers to be used in the rehabilitation of the railway line and is located at the premises of the Chimborazo cement.
It will produce 245,000 sleepers, each weighing approximately 250 Kg, and measuring 2 metres x 0.25 metres. The advantages of using concrete include the preservation of the environment, as well as durability of 50 years.
OTHER PROBLEMS - RAILWAY COMPANY RECOVERS STOLEN RAILS
On Friday, 27 November, 2011, members of the national police carried out a raid on the scrap merchants "Peralmo", located in the sector of Guamaní, where they found a considerable number of stolen rails. They found 24 tracks of nine meters long, as well as cut rails that varied between a meter and a half and two meters. The scrap merchant said he purchased the Rails from different companies and private companies six years ago. "They are scraps and twisted pieces that already serve no purpose", he said..
The raid followed an incident on Tuesday, November 25, when in the province of Chimborazo, at around 01 00, in Cumandá sector, police identified and arrested a truck carrying eighty Rails. The driver said he came from the scrap merchant "Peralmo". The Rails belonged to the company of Ecuadorian railways (EFE).
The large amount of scrap that was stacked on top of the rails made it impossible to remove them and taken back to the railway. Given this fact the Prosecutor of Pichincha, carried out a physical and visual inventory of the stolen rails which were all over different parts of the scrapyard and subsequently removed them .
The railway and the different elements that compose the rail system have been declared a Cultural Heritage of State, and its theft, purchase or sale are punishable by law as a criminal offence.
CAN WE RIDE ON THE ROOF? HEALTH AND SAFETY REACH ECUADOR!
José Antonio Sebastian, responsible for international relations of Ferrocarriles Españoles of via close (FEVE) and Enrique Díaz, owner of the train at the end of the world of Argentina and member of the Latin American Association of railroads, expressed the technical and operational reasons why trains cannot operate in this way.
The representative of FEVE finally added that there is a law issued by the International Union of railways (FIU) which prohibits travelling on the roof of the train. Patrick Costales, President of the Association of hoteliers of Chimborazo, requested a copy of the said laws which prohibited travel on the roof of the train but without success. The end result to date is a ban on roof riding, which is a pity, as it was the essence of Ecuadorian rail travel and attracted many tourists.
THE PERMANENT WAY
QUITO TO LATACUNGA.
This section having been totally rebuilt is fully operational with the following services:
Quito – Latacunga 0800 Thursdays to Sundays & holidays. Return 1430. Arrive Quito 1800.
Quito – Machachi – Boliche 0815 Thursdays to Sundays & holidays. Return 1330. Arrive Quito 1630.
Machachi – Boliche 0915 1145 Saturdays Sundays & holidays. Return 1230. 1430.
The Eloy Alfaro station buildings in Quito have been totally rebuilt. As part of the work the wooden structures were reinforced and both beams and channels have been refurbished. Doors and Windows were also rebuilt.
The Chimbacalle train museum opened its doors on Friday, July 1, 2011. This museum is designed to recreate the history of the railway, its construction and operation since it was built . It also tells the history of the elements that make up the railway. There are samples of the ballast, rails, sleepers and a hand car. In addition there is a scale model showing the entire route of the train from Quito to Durán and what were the North and South branches. They also tell the history of the difficulties of the construction of the railway, and the economic and political problems of the time, but above all, natural and geographical disadvantages that had to be overcome in its building.
The Chimbacalle train museum also has an interactive space, games and learning areas. as well as essential communications equipment at the beginning of the last century e.g. the telegraph,. The museum is open Monday to Friday, from 08: 00 to 16: 30, and weekends on weekends and holidays during the hours of departure of the train.
LATACUNGA TO URBINA
The 76 Km of track that comprises the section Urbina to Ambato to Latacunga is 75% complete. Urbina to Mocha is fully operational. The restored railway line now extends from the city to the station in Urbina which is the highest in the country at 3,609 metres a.s.l. .
Some 75,000 concrete sleepers, 15,000 wooden sleepers and 48,000 linear feet of rails have been replaced. In Ambato the level crossings in the Av. The Condor, Amable Ortiz and Julio Jaramillo have been refurbished as has the work in Av. Victor Hugo. All work is expected to be complete on this section by July 2012. This was one of the worst sections of the railway and was literally abandoned and had to be rebuilt from scratch. Over one meter depth of rubbish was dumped over the tracks in the town of Ambato alone. The construction company Comsa-Ripconciv worked in the section Riobamba and Ambato ,and is performing the work of rebuilding the track.
URBINA TO RIOBAMBA
There has been a comprehensive rehabilitation of the station of Urbina, the Canton Guano, Chimborazo province. The work was awarded to engineer Raúl Yépez Chacón. The amount of the contract is USD 192.997,91. Urbina is the highest station in the country, being located at 3,609 m.a.s.l. This section has been totally relaid and is now fully operational.
As it has never been able to support a local passenger service, train operation will have to wait the until the through trains start running hopefully in January 2013.
RIOBAMBA TO ALAUSI
The rehabilitation of the station of Riobamba dating from the year 1925 is almost complete. The project has three main locations. First, 18 workers are working in the space where the new building will be built. The second group is clearing vegetation on the site in which the Arts Plaza will be located. The third group of workers is in charge of the preparation of the physical area, where the Arena theater will be built.
The project consists of the rehabilitation of the original structure of the railway station which will not be altered. The architect is César Donoso and EDECONSA-INGERAL is the contractor and the work will cost USD 842,535. The station yard has had its tracks totally rebuilt as is the track up to the depot. It is expected to be ready by June 2012.
The 66 km of railway work between Riobamba and Palmira is now almost complete and services here may start as early as May 2012. The contractor has imported and is using the latest technology in track laying machinery which places the rails and sleepers on the ballast. A progress rate of between 500 and 700 meters per day is being achieved Palmira to Alausi is making good progress but the terrain on the mountainside is very difficult and there have been numerous landslides thus making for considerable work but it is hoped to run through from Riobamba to Alausi by July 2012.
ALAUSI TO SIBAMBE VIA DEVILS NOSE
This has been totally rebuilt and is fully operational. Diesel loco hauled trains leave Alausi at 0800, 1100 and 1500 Tuesdays to Sundays and holidays. . An express autoferro service operates Friday to Sunday and Holidays at 0900.
This is arguably the most spectacular railway journey in the world and now is fully operational in all its glory. The diesel train with three colonial cars, will make special points stops at Chiripungo, Piedra Grande, Zigzag high and the Devil's nose. The final visit will be to the station of Sibambe, place where passengers can enjoy the view and the train "Condor Puñuna" coffee.
SIBAMBE TO HUIGRA
This was easily the worst section and had been totally unusable since 1998 when El Nino destroyed it. It was necessary to construct a tunnel of 840 metres at 124 Km, in the sector of the River Chan Chan, which is now complete. It also entailed the building of a bridge 30m above River Chan Chan and the restoration of an existing 22m tunnel.
The line runs inside the spectacular Chan Chan River gorge where there is no road access. Huigra is the site of the old headquarters of the G&Q and also where John Harman is buried. Ripconciv is the contractor for the project, and the cost of the work, which started in April 2010, amounts to $4,967,836. Completion is planned for July 2012.
Fantastic progress has been made thanks to the machinery used for the drilling of the tunnel from the two portals. Both sides met, in the heart of the mountain on Saturday, 11 June, 2011. The railway will once again reach populations of Ochoa, Naranjapata, Ventura, Bucay and Huigra.
HUIGRA TO BUCAY
This needed relatively little work as it had been in use fairly recently and is now operational but has no service.
BUCAY TO YAGUACHI
This has been a major headache as a lot of the track, particularly through Milagro had been torn up. However, work is progressing well and expected to be complete by October 2012.
YAGUACHI TO GUAYAQUIL (DURAN)
This 20.6 km stretch took 11,500 wood sleepers, of a total of 45,000. Autoferro 3 was completely rebuilt in the workshops in Duran. The autoferro which has a capacity of 40 people got new wheels, axles and a central lubrication system The engine and body were also overhauled. It is now fully operational. It is unusual in that it is the only autoferro with a Detroit Diesel “Greyhound” engine bringing back the wonderful sound of those engines. The others are either Cummins or Mercedes engined with 63, 110, 111 and 112, in particular, being Mercedes.
Scheduled Service commenced on August 13, 2011 with the following timetable:
Duran – Yaguachi Thursday to Sunday and Holidays.
Depart Duran 0900 1315
Depart Yaguachi 1145 1615
The new station of Yaguachi has an area of 350 square meters and is located where the previous station was, which was built some 100 years ago. The building retains its original design and the work cost USD 180,000. The number of units used on the Durán - Yaguachi route will depend on the flow of passengers who travel this route. At the moment a diesel train and an autoferro operate the service.
IBARRA TO SALINAS
This 30 km route, which runs along the landscape linking the cities of Ibarra and Salinas, in the province of Imbabura, was opened by the President of the Republic, Rafael Correa on January 18, 2012 with Alstom 2402 on the first train. It is arguably just as scenic as the Devils Nose but not very well known.
The construction of the Northern Railway began in 1917 and became essential to the economy of the region. The railway first came to Salinas station as late as 1945 and is gauged to carry container traffic. Quito-Ibarra was inaugurated in July 1929. From Ibarra, at an altitude of 2,202 metres, the train crosses bridges and waterfalls, seven tunnels, one of them called the baptism by water and which liberally washes roof train passengers with water from the tunnel roof.
Trains operated in this section until 2010, with an autoferro service and carried between 8,000 and 10,000 tourists a year. With the restoration of the service, it is projected this will rise to 30,000 tourists per year. Since 2000 there has been no locomotive down this route. The investment exceeds two million dollars and the work includes cleaning, reballasting and total relaying of the track to take the heavier Alstom locomotives, which weight 92 tons.
The loco hauled freedom train commenced on January 18, 2012 and leaves Ibarra at 10: 30, Wednesday to Sunday arriving at 1200. The return leaves at 1630 arriving back at 1800 and the train carries first and second class coaches. The trip will depart the station of Ibarra and crosses the famous bridge over the River Ambi and the tunnel of the christening. Arriving at Salinas travellers can make a tour of the community, visit the Museo de la Sal, and learn about the Ethnographic Centre and enjoy the presentation of the dance group Afro-Ecuatoriana of Salinas. These attractions are included in the price of the ticket.
The autoferro or community express ride will operate Friday through Sunday at 0900 and 0730 on Wednesdays returning at 1230 on Wednesday and 1300 Fridays through Sundays. .50% Discount for older adults, disabled people and persons under 18 years applies . Ana Villarreal has been appointed as the new Chief of the Northern region in Ibarra.
SALINAS TO SAN LORENZO
No work will commence until all the line from Quito to Guayaquil is fully operational. The line exists from Salinas to Primer Paso which had service until last year and is passable from Lita to El Progresso and operates from El Progresso to San Lorenzo once a day leaving San Lorenzo at 0630 returning from El Progresso at 1000. The trip takes two hours.
EL TAMBO – COYOCTOR.
In conclusion, a tourist train operates Wednesday, Thursday and Friday over 3.5 km of the old Sibambe to Cuenca branch with 1 morning and 1 afternoon departure with extra services on Saturday and Sunday as required by demand, generally from El Tambo at 09:30 / 11:00 / 12:30 / 14:30 / 16:00. The trip takes 20minutes.
NOTE TO TOUR OPERATORS: You can plan again for 2013.
USUAL : In a report of this length inaccuracies are bound to arise. If any errors are detected I would appreciate knowing by e-mail at
michael.grimes@hotmail.com or call me at 00353-86-0444-017
Dr. Michael Grimes
