In an effort to reduce train accidents at train crossing, both of pedestrians an vehicles, the state railway, INCOFER, announced it will be installing flashing lights at various points where accidents happen frequently, between Pavas and Heredia.
Most train crossings today have only rusted, corroded and washed out signs, in only a few intersections are there real working train crossing signs, where drivers and vehicles have to rely only on the sound of the oncoming train.
In the first stage, before the end of this year, the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), is expected to install flashing lights at key intersections.
The next stage, by the INCOFER, is to install level crossing barriers.
Most of the accidents involving the train are due to the imprudence of drivers and pedestrians, one for the lack of culture when dealing with a train and the other, the train does not run constantly – mainly during morning and afternoon on weekdays.
The fine for not respecting a train crossing is ¢180.000 colones. aa
