Re: Ecuador on schedule for December re-opening

Guamote, Ecuador also had the same problem with market days. Not sure how they will deal with these trains when service levels increase. Some of the steam rebuilding is being done off site by a North American Steam consulting company.

They have announced the new Cruise train will commence in June 2013 with a 4 car train that has space for about 50-60 passengers. Four days and three nights from Duran to Quito or reverse. Not clear if there will be two train sets. Steam will be used on this train on certain select areas.

Still the big issue is getting some complete train service over the route from Quito south to Alausi before the Huigra to Yaguachi section is reopened. Again as I said before this is still a work in progress and they are still tying up the loose ends of what the final business plan and service levels need to be. A lot of the staff is young, enthusiastic, recent graduates of the travel schools in Ecuador.

A lot of progress in ground up rebuild of a struggling narrow gauge railroad. Let's hope that this all pays off with increased service and more visitors to make the costs have some return?

Dale Brown
www.wingsandrails.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/01/2012 01:24AM by DWBrown.