train travel

johna says on May 5, 2006, 15:47:

anyone?

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tobntno says on May 5, 2006, 16:48:

Not really there is a train in Bogotá going north to the salt cathedral (but only twice a week I think). And in some other regions there are still some trains going from the once extensive train system - but only for tourist purposes. You won't be able to use it as a means of transportation...

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Gator says on May 5, 2006, 19:42:

NO

Tourist train to Zipaquirá and one to Nemacon out of Bogotá is about it. Lots of singing and more than a little aguardiente
The train trip from Bogotá to the Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira is not bad. Great scenery and I guess that trip still includes a lunch stop at a little town called Cajica (good shopping for Colombian type articles many hand made). Mrs. Gator bought a wool ruana, the Colombian name for poncho, there that she wears most of the time in the evenings.


"SIC FRIATUR CRUSTUM DULCE. OBESA CANTAVIT."

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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Rubiazo says on May 6, 2006, 01:42:

There's the teleferrico up to Montserrate :P

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Gator says on May 6, 2006, 07:54:

Good Bet... but I would not really classify that as a true "train." It is a teleferico (cable car.)The train is called the funicular runs only on the weekend, I think. Montserrate is very, very crowded on Sundays

"SIC FRIATUR CRUSTUM DULCE. OBESA CANTAVIT."

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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morphus says on May 6, 2006, 10:54:

No more rail travel in Colombia thanks to the guerillas. Imagine that you are taking a train from Bogota to Bucamaranga and hear a BOOM! That woud be the FARC boys blowing you up.

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caslug says on May 6, 2006, 11:05:

it's too bad too.. that COL has no train system. imagine how easy, fast, cheap things would be if people and good can travel by train from city to city! COL's economy/consumer would benefit greatly!

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kernow62 says on May 6, 2006, 12:41:

Well there is also the little problem of the Andes, hence the reason why air travel was developed at a very early stage and trains never developed to the extent it would have had it been a flat country.

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bkcarolina says on May 7, 2006, 10:34:

and the executives of the once extensive train system robbed the system to the point where it couldn't function, and now are fat and happy in Florida...

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caslug says on May 7, 2006, 10:47:

kernow.. Geography definitely plays a huge factor in the lack of development of train system for COL. It's too bad, because without a train system, movement of goods/people in COL will NEVER become inexpensive to the point of allow real economic growth. Because movement of goods in COL will be more costly than movement of goods in other countries that don't have that geographicall problem.

Central Europe is mountainous and still has a train system. US(rockie mountain) is mountainous and still has a train system. Albiet it took bunch of chinese&irish import workers to build it. railroad was play a major factor in the economic growth of US economy. Even today, goods transport on rail, is LOT cheaper than truck or plane, esp with high gas prices. US consumer and business benefit because of cheaper cost.

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Cockney Colombian says on May 7, 2006, 10:57:

I've always found something very poingnant about those abandoned railroads cutting through the dusty villages of the Andes

http://cockneycolombian.yafro.com/photo/10088707

http://cockneycolombian.yafro.com/photo/10278826

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johna says on May 8, 2006, 07:14:

not the answer I wanted but thank you for the information. BK carolina you got my curiosity. What is the story with the railroad executives? When did this happen?

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