Rail transport in Guatemala

The first train under RDC management went from Guatemala City to El Chile cement plant on April 15, 1999, and the rest of the line to Puerto Barrios was put into operation in December of that year.

It transported containers, steel, cement, paper and bananas between the Caribbean coast and the capital over a network of 320 kilometres (200 mi) as of 2006[update], but quit in September 2007.

[9][10] Other lines previously existing in Guatemala (such as to Ciudad Tecún Umán on the border with Mexico, to Anguiatú in El Salvador and to Puerto San José) have not been repaired since 1996.

[11] In August 2006, the government of Guatemala declared a 2003 contract for the usufruct of rolling stock and other equipment as contrary to public interest (es:Declaración de lesividad), invalidating it.

[12] The result of the governmental action was a decline of shipments and operational difficulties, such as inability to obtain credit or take additional revenues from the leasing of station buildings or right of way.

[16] As of 2011[update], most of the bridges have been dismantled and sold for scrap by thieves, making a potential revival of railways in Guatemala difficult, as it would cost millions of dollars to rebuild.

[17] The following table shows the main rail network and linked plantation railways (mostly United Fruit Company) at its historic extent and is based on the source work[1][18] with additional original research.

[23] Charter passenger trains with steam engines, mainly for European and U.S. tourists, were organized usually once a year by UK based Ffestiniog Travel or other operators.