FVG - Ferrovías Guatemala
In October 1997, a 50-year concession to restore and operate the Guatemalan rail system was awarded to RDC (Railroad Development Company). 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.
