GUATEMALA:
Ferrovías Guatemala



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Traffic moving through industrial Zone 12 in Guatemala City

moving containers and steel at Zone 12

TUT operating railroad tour in Guatemala

 
         
 
About FVG    |    Case Study    |    Statistics    |    System Map

Photo Gallery    |    Rail Tours    |    Links    |    News & Press Clips    |    Contact
 
  NOTE:  Service Update:  Effective 1 October 2007, freight movements are suspended between Guatemala City and the Atlantic pending the outcome of an arbitration claim filed by RDC under the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). For details, see the "News/Press Clips" section below.  


Background

In October 1997, a 50-year concession to restore and operate the Guatemalan rail system was awarded to RDC. The concession also includes port facilities and the right to develop alternative uses for the right of way, such as pipelines and fiber optics.

Ferrovías Guatemala ("FVG") is a 497-mile (narrow gauge) (800 km) railroad connecting Guatemala City with Mexico, El Salvador, and ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. After years of little maintenance, loss of traffic, invasion by squatters, the abandonment of operations in 1996, and the destruction caused by Hurricane Mitch in late 1998, commercial service was resumed on April 15, 1999 with a short-haul (60 km.) cement movement to El Chile.

In December of 1999 commercial service was restored to the Atlantic ports of Puerto Barrios and Puerto Santo Tomas. Subsequent phases of the rehabilitation project will see restoration of service to Mexico and El Salvador.

Ferrovías Guatemala is the concessionaire company formed by RDC and Guatemalan investors.


click here to view a Case Study of Ferrovias Guatemala
Case Study
Review as a Case Study how the abandoned national railway system had commercial service restored between Guatemala City and the Atlantic.


Operating Statistics
Statistics as of December 31, 2007
Major Traffic Flows
Length
in Km.
Length
in Miles
Annual Tonnage Locomotives Wagons Containers
Steel
Cement
Paper
Bananas
 
322
 
200 (a) 39,604 6 130

(a) An additional 350 miles (563 km) of the system will be reopened as market conditions warrant.

System Map

printer-friendly map  (631k PDF)

click to view system map of Ferrovias Guatemala
 

Click on thumbnail to view larger image of the Guatemala railroad system.

(Map design provided by Bill Metzger)


Photo Gallery
More photos of Ferrovias Guatemala's operations can be found in our Photo Gallery.


Rail Tours
Ferrovias Guatemala has two working steam locomotives that operate rail tour charters on the Guatemala City-Atlantic corridor. View our photo gallery from previous steam charters.

At this time, all rail tours are suspended pending the outcome of the arbitration claim filed by RDC. For more information, please submit inquiries to Henry Posner III, Chairman.

Recommended Links

  "Latin Tracks" Magazine
  The only English language magazine providing coverage of Latin-America's railways.
  DVDs by Revelation Video
 
  • "Ferrovias Guatemala: A Farewell Look" (92 minutes)
  • "Central Doubles: Guatemala & El Salvador" (108 minutes)
  • "Ferrovias Guatemala: A Second Look" (60-minute freight ride)
  • "Guatemala: Winter Journey" (120 minutes)
  DVD: "Estrellas de La Línea" (The Railroad All-Stars)
  A 93-minute Spanish documentary (with English subtitles) about a group of Guatemalan prostitutes from the railway ghetto La Línea who form a soccer team to champion women's rights. FILM TRAILER>>  |  FILM REVIEW IN ENGLISH>>

 

Rob Dickinson's International Steam Page

 

 

Guatemala's Last Railway

  Heinz Buehler's Guatemala railroad photo album

 

News and Press Clips
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(clicking on the Titles will open a New Window in your browser)

 

 

 
     
Contact Information

Ferrovias Guatemala
24 Avenida 35-91, Zona 12
01012 Guatemala City
GUATEMALA, C.A.

Telephone:
Fax:
Contact:
E-Mail:

 

+502 2412 7200
+502 2412 7205
William J. Duggan, President
info@ferroviasgt.com

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All photographs are the property of RDC.  Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.