Central & South America – Page 2
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NewsFreight railways revived in northern Argentina
ARGENTINA: Trenes Argentinos Cargas has restarted freight services on a 158 km section of the Belgrano Cargas metre-gauge network in the north of the country after a 10-year hiatus. The railway connecting Pichanal with Río Del Valle has reopened following extensive reconstruction. The inaugural train on ...
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NewsBelgrano Sur network reaches Lozano
ARGENTINA: Trenes Argentinos has extended the González Catán – Villars suburban service by one station to Lozano. The suburban service is part of the metre-gauge Belgrano Sur network, serving the areas southwest of Buenos Aires. Since September 29, a single return trip has been operating on ...
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NewsLegislators overturn obstacles to new line projects
BRAZIL: On October 16 changes to planned legislation intended to facilitate investment in the rail sector by private entrepreneurs were published in the Official Gazette. This followed a vote by National Congress on October 4 and signature by President Luiz Inácio da Silva on October 11. ...
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NewsSão Paulo – Campinas inter-city bids due in February
BRAZIL: São Paulo state governor Tarcísio de Freitas confirmed on October 7 that the bidding auction for ‘Expreso TIC’ services over the 101 km route between São Paulo and Campinas will be held on February 29 2024. This follows agreement by the National Bank for Economic ...
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Metro Report InternationalSantiago metro Line 3 reaches Plaza Quilicura
CHILE: A 3·8 km northwestern extension of Santiago metro Line 3 has opened from Los Libertadores to Plaza Quilicura. The ceremony on September 25 was attended by President Gabriel Boric, Minister of Transportation & Telecommunications Juan Carlos Muñoz, and other dignities. The extension serves two intermediate ...
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Metro Report InternationalAlstom to automate Belo Horizonte metro
BRAZIL: Belo Horizonte metro operating concessionaire Metrô BH has awarded Alstom a contract to automate the existing Line 1 and the future Line 2. Alstom is to supply new signalling to enable automatic train operation on the 28·1 km Line 1 between Eldorado and Vilarinho and ...
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NewsRumo takes delivery of battery-diesel hybrid locomotives
BRAZIL: Freight operator Rumo has taken delivery of two Progress Rail EMD GT38H battery-diesel hybrid locomotives, which will store energy generated during dynamic braking rather than dissipate it as heat. Rumo expects the locos to use up to 45% less fuel and to be produce ...
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NewsVale invests in 4G on Carajás Railroad
BRAZIL: Mining group Vale SA is equipping the Estrada de Ferro Carajás with 4G internet in partnership with telecommunications specialist Vivo. Due to be completed by 2025, the installation is expected to improve safety and efficiency at a cost of R$240m. Forming the core of a ...
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NewsEFE extends Chillán – San Carlos service to Parral
CHILE: National railway EFE has extended its Chillán – San Carlos regional passenger service north to Parral, using part of the electrified main line that connects Chillán with Santiago. EFE launched the Chillán – San Carlos trains at the end of last year, and the four ...
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NewsSão Paulo airport express extended to Palmeiras-Barra Funda
BRAZIL: São Paulo suburban rail operator CPTM has extended its Expresso Aeroporto service from Luz to Palmeiras-Barra Funda with effect from September 1. This has been facilitated by a R$158m project to modernise the 2 km cross-city connection between Luz and Palmeiras-Barra Funda. This was previously ...
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NewsBrazilian government to back passenger train revival
BRAZIL: Plans to launch regional passenger services over seven short or medium-distance routes are likely to be included in a National Railway Plan due to be published by the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva in October. A Passenger Rail Transport Policy establishing guidelines, principles ...
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Metro Report InternationalSantiago de los Caballeros monorail contract awarded
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Public transport development agency SITRAM has selected the SIF consortium of Alstom and Sofratesa to supply railway systems and rolling stock for the elevated monorail under construction in Santiago de los Caballeros. The 13·2 km line between Cienfuegos in the northwest of the country’s ...
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Metro Report InternationalSantiago’s planned metro Line 9 gets longer
Like Line 3, Line 9 is to be fully automated and will be fully accessible from street to train CHILE: President Gabriel Boric presented updated plans for the proposed metro Line 9 in Santiago on August 9. Line 9 will be the city’s ...
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NewsRail projects tax exemption will be ‘gigantic incentive’
BRAZIL: The National Council for Finance Policy has approved a proposal to exempt rail investment projects from a tax on the circulation of goods and transport and communication services, known as ICMS. The transport ministry expects the decision on August 9 to foster demand for rolling ...
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Metro Report InternationalTeresina suburban rail investment package approved
BRAZIL: Piauí state Governor Rafael Fonteles has given the go-ahead for the renovation and expansion of the 1 000 mm gauge suburban network in Teresina, which currently comprises a single 13·5 km route shared with freight traffic. The governor approved the R$11m investment package on August ...
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NewsMajor rail schemes in Brazil’s Growth Acceleration Programme
BRAZIL: Rail projects are to receive funds worth a total of R$94∙2bn in the country’s latest Growth Acceleration Programme unveiled by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on August 11. The Programme allocates R$55∙1bn for the period from 2023 to 2026, with the remaining R$39∙1bn due ...
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NewsEFE orders 32 EMUs for Santiago suburban routes
CHILE: National railway EFE has awarded a consortium of CRRC Sifang and local partner Temoinsa a US$171·4m contract to supply 32 three-car electric multiple-units for Santiago suburban services. Announcing the contract on August 11, EFE said it was the largest single rolling stock order in the ...
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In depthArgentina: Passenger restoration drive continues
Trenes Argentinos has restarted long-distance passenger trains on two key routes, while work is underway to expand suburban services in Córdoba, but much-needed rolling stock procurements are still being delayed. Benjámin Zelki investigates.
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NewsTMH Argentina sells its main production site
ARGENTINA: TMH Argentina has sold the Mechita repair plant to Motora Argentina, which belongs to Argentine investment holding Cale Group, parent company TMH International has confirmed to Railway Gazette International. The deal is in a transition period as of August 3. The Mechita plant had been ...
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In depthColombia: Bogotá’s Regiotram schemes face mounting hurdles
Completion of the first line in the planned Regiotram tram-train network in the Colombian capital has been delayed following intervention by the National Authority for Environmental Licences, reports Christian Scasso.