Colombia Resumes Passenger Service On Paipa To Sogamoso Line, Promoting Tourism And Local Development

Published on October 13, 2025

Colombia has reintroduced regular rider services connected a 30-kilometer agelong of obstruction successful nan Boyacá region, marking a important milestone for nan country’s obstruction network. On September 28, trains resumed operations connected nan Paipa to Sogamoso conception of nan Bogotá to Belencito line, offering a unsocial recreation acquisition done nan beautiful northeastern portion of nan country.

“Train of Life and Hope” Offers a Blend of Heritage and Modern Comfort

The reactivated rider service, known arsenic nan “Train of Life and Hope,” combines nan charm of vintage obstruction recreation pinch modern amenities. The rolling banal features a restored 60-seat practice coach, alongside 3 refurbished rider cars offering first-class accommodations, for a full of 156 seats. This blend of old-world elegance and modern comfortableness intends to pull some section passengers and visitors looking for a scenic and nostalgic measurement to research nan region.

The journey, which takes astir 2 hours, is being operated by Acerías Paz del Río, a mining and alloy institution based successful Boyacá. Acerías Paz del Río, which already manages freight trains betwixt its business sites successful Nobsa, Corrales, and Paz de Río, has invested astir 2 cardinal pesos (about $518,000 USD) into refurbishing nan rider coaches. The institution sees this work arsenic a stepping chromatic towards processing section rolling banal accumulation and furthering nan maturation of Colombia’s obstruction sector.

A Historical Return for Paipa

Transport Minister María Fernanda Rojas celebrated nan reopening of nan service, noting that nan train antecedently ran only during nan Christmas play betwixt Duitama and Sogamoso. This new, imperishable work represents a important achievement, particularly arsenic it marks nan train’s return to Paipa aft 50 years. While nan soul web retains immoderate overhead electrification, nan revived work is powered by GE U10B diesel-electric locomotives, which are portion of nan fleet operated by Acerías Paz del Río. These locomotives person been a cornerstone of nan company’s operations.

Boosting nan Local Economy and Rail Infrastructure

Acerías Paz del Río presently operates astir 37,800 freight trains and 1,460 rider trains annually. In June 2024, nan institution received certification arsenic some a freight and rider obstruction operator, enabling it to widen its services beyond its business lines and into nan nationalist network. The reopening of nan Paipa to Sogamoso way is portion of a larger authorities effort to revitalize Colombia’s railways.

The Paipa-Sogamoso work is nan first shape of an upgrade to nan full 308-kilometer Bogotá to Belencito line. Construction activity is ongoing connected nan 40-kilometer conception betwixt Tuta and Belencito, which is being funded done 2 authorities contracts. One contract, weighted astatine 180 cardinal pesos, covers nan management, operation, and attraction of nan statement from December 2022 to January 2026. The 2nd contract, worthy 150 cardinal pesos, focuses connected infrastructure renewal and is expected to beryllium completed by February adjacent year.

Colombia Resumes Passenger Service connected Paipa to Sogamoso Line, Promoting Tourism and Local Development

A Vision for nan Future of Colombian Rail

The Bogotá to Belencito statement is 1 of six cardinal routes prioritized nether nan Colombian government’s obstruction betterment plan, which involves a 94 cardinal pesos investment. The revival of nan Paipa-Sogamoso statement and nan ongoing upgrades to nan wider Bogotá-Belencito corridor are portion of a broader strategy to modernize Colombia’s obstruction network, heighten section economies, and supply sustainable recreation options for nan increasing number of visitors and commuters.