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Train from Puerto Berrio to Barrancabermeja

After all this talk about about politics and the liberation of Ingrid, I thought I'd post something a bit lighter to give us all a break... phew...

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Many years ago, Peter described the trip from Medellin to Barracabermeja by train in this post

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/the-last-train/

Although the train no longer runs from Medellin, I found out that there is still a train which runs from Puerto Berrio every day to Barrancabermeja.

We arrived from Medellin by bus at the parque principal, and although we had some time to kill, we thought that we should find the location of the railway station first. Asking an old lady selling lottery tickets, she gave me a blank look: "En Pto Berrio hay dos estaciones, pero hace muchos años que por aqui no pasa el tren". We asked more people, and received several surprised looks wondering what these crazy gringos are up to, and for a while we felt like we had been plunged into a episode of magical realism -- i had phoned the station the day before to confirm the departure time -- fortunately, after some persistence we finally found the correct station.

The train left spot-on-time -- something very important, as most of the route is single track, and there is an oncoming train to be met halfway, in Carare. Although a bit of a minature train (3 carriages for passengers, 1 for cargo), it's an enjoyable ride (even if a bit hot and dusty) and you can just watch the landscapes of the Magdalena Medio slowly pass by, and the locals are, as most Colombians, very friendly. One of them thought we worked for Ecopetrol, an idea we were keen to dismiss! We were surpised that we passed two freshly painted stations in what was seemingly the middle of nowhere -- with station guards with very smart new uniforms -- so the ferrocarril in Colombia isn't dying just yet, some investiment is going on here.

As most buses in rural areas, the train stopped just about anywhere to pick up and drop off passengers, logs, and other merchandise. It even reversed to pick up some passengers which were left behind!

Practical information
The train leaves Barranca at 5am every day, and Puerto Berrio at 2pm, and takes 3 hours. The telephone number for Barranca station is (7) 6027684. A single ticket costs 15,000 pesos. Finding the station in Barranca should be easy (just ask any taxi driver); in Puerto Berrio, the "station" is near the Magdalena bridge on the main road to Barranca. For accommodation in Barranca, Peter recommended the residencias ferroviario (7) 224 524 which is located opposite the station; It is still there and costs 18000 pesos for twin room.

By ixent on Jul 11, 2008, 16:00 in Friendly Talkzone.

ixent (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 11, 2008, 16:10:

Loading the train at Pto Berrio station

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ixent (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 11, 2008, 16:18:

Trains being repaired at Barrancabermeja station:

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ixent (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 11, 2008, 16:34:

View from the train

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 11, 2008, 16:36:

Well well, you learn something new everyday, i didn't know this exist!

nice pictures ixent

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lanegrapaisa says on Jul 11, 2008, 21:30:

My dad always told me about the trains, now the old train station in La Apujarra is restored and serves as a kind of museum. Worth visiting.

oh that cement is just, it's there for the weight, dear

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 12, 2008, 05:11:

That *is* a nice break!

Poor but snappy

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sanandressi says on Jul 12, 2008, 08:06:

If Colombia can ever seriously end the insurgency then rail transportation could could expand tremendously. I have heard it said that Colombia had a decent rail system until the FARC, ELN and other subversives decided to blow up the tracks. Surprised?

A modern nation uses rail extensively. Here in the United States we have foolishly never tried the high speed rail that the Japanese and the French use for passengers. But our freight rail system is good and in the area of freight transportation Colombia could save a lot of money by putting it on the railroad and getting it off the roads.

Think of it then. A rail system from Buenaaventura on the Pacific to Cartagena on the Atlantic. There are actually proposals for a new Canal in Colombia like Panama's. Puttting a rail line along side of it would be tremendous.

It will probably never happen.

BTW Bogota's tourist train on saturdays and maybe sundays is a good way to spend a day.

"This train will stop in Tucumcari"

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el flaco says on Jul 14, 2008, 02:09:

There is a substancial freight network in existance in Colombia, they just don't run passenger services.

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