Guatemala has experienced a fascinating journey in the world of rail transportation: from the earliest colonial railways to today’s ambitious urban rail projects.
Origins of the railway
- In 1877–1880 , the first narrow gauge line (914 mm) was built connecting Puerto San José — Escuintla — and finally Guatemala City in 1884.
- In 1908 the branch line to Puerto Barrios was completed , expanding a system that would eventually reach ~800 km, especially key for transporting bananas.
- The controversy between IRCA and United Fruit marked the rise and then decline of the railway, which was nationalized and operated by FEGUA until its closure in 1996.
Granting and delay
- In 1997 , the Railroad Development Corporation obtained a 50-year concession, giving way to Ferrovías Guatemala (FVG) , which reactivated freight traffic (cement, containers, bananas) until 2007.
- However, legal problems and contractual disputes resulted in FVG’s withdrawal in 2007, and since then the railways have been paralyzed.
Minor railways and museums
- Los Altos Railway : short-lived electric network between Xela and San Felipe (1924–1933), now commemorated in a local museum.
- Verapaz Railway : operated between Panzós and Tucuru until 1965, transporting coffee and passengers.
- Currently only one recreational train remains in Xetulul , a park in Retalhuleu.
- The Railway Museum (FEGUA) in the old Guatemala City station preserves locomotives (steam and diesel), historic wagons, and interactive exhibits.
Metro Riel Project: the rebirth of the tram
- Metro Riel is a proposed urban light rail system for Guatemala City. Originally studied in 2016, it projected a line of approximately 20 km, with 20 stations, and a capacity of 250,000 passengers per day.
- The model includes low-floor trains, coupled units to meet peak demand (~every 3 minutes), with a commercial speed of 27–30 km/h.
- In 2019 , the municipality signed a contract with Ferrovías to reuse an abandoned railway line. The design is being carried out via a public-private concession.
- Although planned to start in 2021, it is progressing with technical, environmental, and complementary infrastructure studies such as bridges and workshops .
Current Mass Transportation
- While the Metro Rail is still in its plans, the city has BRT systems such as Transmetro (Lines 1, 6, 7, 12) and its extension in vans such as TransMIO or TransPinula, although they do not use rails.
- The future Transmetro line 12 will include connections to the Metro Riel, strengthening the urban network.
🧭 Prospects and future challenges
| Aspect | Key details |
|---|---|
| Infrastructure | Rehabilitation of the FEGUA corridor and construction of new workshops, bridges, and garages. |
| Financing | Public-private partnership, cost/benefit studies, potential investment of US$700 million . |
| Urban impact | Congestion relief and urban air, integration with Transmetro, suburban and regional plans. |
| Challenges | Legal procedures, financing, displacement, political resistance. |
Explore the railway heritage
- The Railway Museum is a gem for tourists and locals alike: symbolic entry (~Q2), access to historic locomotives, bilingual exhibits, interactive activities, and an English-speaking guide.
- Also noteworthy are the museums and memorials of the old Los Altos Railway in Quetzaltenango.
In conclusion, Guatemala went from being a key player in regional transportation thanks to its early 20th-century rail network to struggling to revive a modern system with the Metro Riel. Meanwhile, its railway heritage lives on through museums, recreational railways, and community projects. In the coming years, a new era could blossom if the necessary partnerships, investment, and social support are achieved.