Tequila Express
Blue Agave (Agave tequilana) in a Jalisco field | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Service type | Regional rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Operating | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | Jalisco, Mexico | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
First service | 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current operator(s) | Ferromex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Start | Guadalajara, Jalisco | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
End | Amatitán, Jalisco | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average journey time | 105–180 minutes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
On-board services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seating arrangements | Reserved coach seat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Observation facilities | Observation car | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rolling stock |
2 × GE U23B locomotives 2–4 × coach cars 1 × observation car (used occasionally) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Tequila Express (or Tequila Train) is a Mexican regional train service that operates from Guadalajara, Jalisco, to the Tequila Herradura distillery at the San José del Refugio Hacienda in the municipality of Amatitán, Jalisco.[1][2][3][4] Amatitán is approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Guadalajara and 32 kilometres (20 mi) southeast of the town of Tequila, Jalisco.[5] The train service is so named because it features tequila tastings and transports its passengers through blue agave fields to the distillery in Amatitán and towards (but not into) the town of Tequila.[6]
The service began operating in 1997,[7] concurrent with the elimination of general passenger rail service by Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México.[8] The service is operated by Ferromex, owner of the Guadalajara train station and the rail line on which the service runs, under contract with the chamber of commerce.[9][10][11] Service operates on weekends, usually from Friday through Sunday with sporadic trips on Mondays.[12][1][13] The excursion includes live mariachi music on board the train, a tour of the hacienda and distillery, as well as a dinner on the hacienda premises.[7][5]
The train is quite popular especially during the Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería festival held in Guadalajara.[14][15]
See also
- Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico
- List of World Heritage Sites in Mexico
- Napa Valley Wine Train is a non-alcoholic beverage based tourist train that operates in the area formerly known as Alta California
References
- 1 2 "Inicio - :: Tequila Express ::Recorrido Turístico" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2011-01-20.
- ↑ "Welcome - :: Tequila Express ::Recorrido Turístico". Retrieved 2011-01-20.
- ↑ "Herradura Tequila, since 1870 : Distillery". Retrieved 2011-01-20.
- ↑ "México: La Ruta Del Tequila - México, ruta del tequila, turístico, Tequila Express, Tequila Adventure" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2011-01-20.
- 1 2 Martinez, Michael (6 October 2006). "Tequila train stops short of excess". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
In fact, it's the tour that draws most visitors to the Tequila Express, an all-day excursion that departs Guadalajara in the morning and returns the same evening.
- ↑ Grillo, Ioan (October 2003). "On the tequila express: a once-humble country liquor brings photo-snapping tourists to town". Latin Trade. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
- 1 2 "All aboard the Tequila Express". The Globe and Mail (Toronto). 18 December 2004. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
- ↑ Minsk, Todd. "Querétaro, Qro.: a chronology of railroad development: part 3". Retrieved 2011-01-21.
- ↑ "¿QUÉ ES? Tequila Express - :: Tequila Express ::Recorrido Turístico" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2011-01-22. C1 control character in
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at position 10 (help) - ↑ Mandich, David (2007). "Tequila Express - Train ride to Amatitan". Retrieved 2011-01-22.
- ↑ Garcia, Lettie. "Tequila Express". Retrieved 2011-01-22.
- ↑ "::Tequila Express:: Compra Boletos / Buy Tickets" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2011-01-22.
- ↑ Wall, Allan. "The Tequila Express". Retrieved 2011-01-21.
- ↑ "TEQUILA EXPRESS - Mariachi Jalisco" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2011-01-21.
- ↑ "Programa - Mariachi Jalisco" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2011-01-21.
External links
- "Tequila Express website". Retrieved 2011-01-21.
- Hawkes, Logan. "All Aboard Mexico's Tequila Express (Mexico Less Travelled review of the Tequila Express)". Retrieved 2011-01-21.
- "Take A Ride on the Tequila Express - CBS News Video". CBS News. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
- The Estación de Guadalajara is at 20°39′23″N 103°21′09″W / 20.6565°N 103.3525°WCoordinates: 20°39′23″N 103°21′09″W / 20.6565°N 103.3525°W