Train travel in Honduras in recent years was limited to passenger motor draisine serving Parque Nacional Cuero y Salado. The 9 km long railway line starts in La Unión near La Ceiba – it’s used to transport of passengers to national park and coconuts to a processing plant. Due to Covid-19 pandemic this service was suspended. The passenger train in San Pedro Sula was ceased. Probably all property of the Ferrocarril Nacional de Honduras was sold but I can’t verify it.
Last updated: 29.08.2024
In 2013 railway enthusiasts set up a railway museum in El Progreso town. The museum occupied a relatively large area. Visitors could see a diesel locomotive and freight wagons that were formerly in operation in Tela area and passenger carriages. Additionally, the museum has a numerous exhibits items such photos, documents, uniforms, connected with the railway. The museum has no website.
History of the railway
On June 23, 1853 the first contract for the construction of a railway that would cross Honduras from North to South was signed. After coup d’état perpetrated by General Juan López Aguirre the plan was abandoned.
In January 1870 the short section of Interoceanic Railway was completed (11 km). By December 1870 trains were running from Puerto Cortés to Villa Medina through San Pedro Sula. There were plans to build a railway from San Pedro Sula to Tegucigapla but money ran out.
In the first half of the 20th century the 785 km of railways were originally built by the banana companies and consist of two separate systems with different gauges.
In 2004 all passenger trains were canceled, except for urban train in La Ceiba (3 km).
In 2013 it was announced that the Honduran government in cooperation with China Harbour Engineering Company plans to build transoceanic railway from port of Puerto Castilla on the Carribean Sea with Amapala on Tiger Island. The plan refers to a concept to build a similar railway line from 1850. Construction was to be completed in 2028. For ten years there was no information about the start of work.
Passenger train in San Pedro Sula – one of my favorite train videos (YouTube)
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