Nicaragua’s first train tracks were laid in 1878 and, by 1940, the rail system had grown to over 380 km (236 miles) of track. Throughout the second half of the 20th century both passenger numbers and freight transportation declined. As falling demand met skyrocketing costs – natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods caused constant (and expensive) damage to the tracks – the national rail company, Ferrocarril del Pacifico, became increasingly reliant on government subsidies in order to survive. In 1993, the Nicaraguan government made the decision to close most lines and sell the track for scrap. Since 2001 no trains have operated in Nicaragua. There are no domestic rail services in Nicaragua and no international train services into the country.