Central & South America – Page 23
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Metro Report InternationalRio de Janeiro tram extension opens
BRAZIL: A 1·9 km extension of the VLT Carioca tram network in Rio de Janeiro opened on October 21 between Gamboa/Pereira Reis junction and Saara. The extension includes a 350 m tunnel and takes Line 2 to 9·7 km with 12 stops. A two-stop extension is planned from Praia ...
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Metro Report InternationalCities pledge to buy zero-emission buses
INTERNATIONAL: The mayors of 12 cities pledged to procure only zero-emission buses from 2025 when they signed the C40 Fossil-Fuel-Free Streets Declaration on October 23. The leaders of London, Paris, København, Barcelona, Milano, Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, Mexico City, Quito, Auckland and Cape Town ‘envision a future where walking, ...
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NewsRoca electrified to La Plata
ARGENTINA: Electric services began operating between City Bell and La Plata on the Roca commuter network in Buenos Aires on October 18, marking completion of an electrification project undertaken as part of a US$250m upgrade of the 1 676 mm gauge commuter routes running south from the capital. With the ...
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NewsRail connection to Vaca Muerta proposed
ARGENTINA: State-owned oil company YPF has presented the Ministry of Transport with a US$500m project to build a rail connection to the Vaca Muerta field in the province of Neuquén, requiring new construction and the upgrading of existing infrastructure over a total of 700 km. In addition to materials required ...
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News1 500 EMU cars for Buenos Aires
ARGENTINA: The federal government announced on September 26 the start of tendering for what it describes as the largest rolling stock order ever to be placed for the Buenos Aires commuter network, covering the supply of 1 500 EMU cars or 169 trainsets plus maintenance over 10 years in five ...
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NewsLoan funds more Incofer rolling stock
COSTA RICA: President Luis Guillermo Solís has announced that state railway Incofer is to purchase an additional eight trainsets for 52m colones towards the end of this year, using a loan from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. Modernising the railway network would, according to Solís, enable Costa Rica ...
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NewsCuba and RZD agree railway modernisation
CUBA: An agreement for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the rail network was signed by national railway Unión Ferrocarriles de Cuba and Russian Railways subsidiary RZD International on September 21, during a meeting in Moscow of the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Commercial, Scientific & Technological Co-operation. The document ...
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Metro Report InternationalSalvador metro Line 2 extends east
BRAZIL: Bahia Governor Rui Costa opened the latest phase of the Salvador metro on September 11. The 7·5 km extension of Line 2 takes the route east from Pituaçu to Mussurunga, adding four stations. Line 2 opened in December 2016 and was extended May 2017. The east-west line is ...
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Metro Report InternationalCRRC to supply commuter EMUs to São Paulo
BRAZIL: São Paulo suburban operator CPTM signed a contract on September 1 for CRRC Sifang to supply eight eight-car electric multiple-units for use on the future Line 13. Deliveries are due to begin in 2019. To be based on CRRC’s Type A metro train design, each 1 600 mm ...
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NewsMitre viaduct works underway
ARGENTINA: On September 5 President Mauricio Macri joined Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, head of the Bueno Aires city government, and Transport Minister Guillermo Dietrich to mark the start of work on a 3∙9 km elevated alignment for the Mitre commuter route. Running between Avenida Dorrego and Avenida Congreso, the new viaduct ...
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NewsIDB funds San Martín electrification
ARGENTINA: The Inter-American Development Bank announced on August 24 that it had approved a U$400m loan to fund electrification of the San Martín commuter route in Buenos Aires, running for 76∙3 km from the Retiro terminus to Pilar. As well as electrification at 25 kV AC, the programme will include ...
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NewsAlstom signs first main line signalling contract in Argentina
ARGENTINA: Alstom announced on August 22 that it had signed its first contract to supply main line signalling equipment in Argentina, a €10m deal to renew electro-mechanical interlockings at Marcos Paz, General Las Heras, Empalme Lobos and Lobos on the Sarmiento commuter route in Buenos Aires. As subcontractor to Constructora ...
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NewsFerrocarril Central PPP project launched
URUGUAY: President Tabaré Vázquez joined Minister of Transport & Public Works Victor Rossi on August 15 to officially launch the Ferrocarril Central project, a public-private partnership to upgrade the 273 km Montevideo — Paso de los Toros route. To be tendered in September, the contract will also include maintenance over ...
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NewsPacific concession could revert to state
COLOMBIA: During the course of a public hearing held on August 3, national infrastructure agency ANI declared the concession held by Ferrocarril del Pacífico SAS to have lapsed. The concession covers the upgrading, maintenance and operation of freight services on the Buenaventura — Cali, Cali — La Felisa and Zarzal ...
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Metro Report InternationalMexico City studies airport rail link
MEXICO: Metro operator STC has begun tendering for studies of an express rail link to Mexico City’s new airport, which will include defining route options to make the best use of existing rights-of-way and minimise disruption to the urban fabric. The preferred bidder will also consider the civil engineering and ...
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NewsBelgrano upgrade completes first 100 km
ARGENTINA: Transport Minister Guillermo Dietrich announced on July 26 the completion of the first 100 km of track renewals under the programme to upgrade the 1 000 mm gauge Belgrano network for freight traffic. Under the first phase of the programme, track renewals are being undertaken on 535 km. The ...
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NewsBelgrano Sur heads for Constitución
ARGENTINA: On July 6 the Ministry of Transport announced the start of work on a new elevated alignment for the 1 000 mm gauge Belgrano Sur commuter route in Buenos Aires. Running for 5∙6 km, it will enable Belgrano services to run into the Plaza Constitución terminus of the 1 ...
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NewsBelgrano upgrade enters third phase
ARGENTINA: Transport Minister Guillermo Dietrich has announced the start of tendering for the third phase of the programme to upgrade the 1 000 mm gauge Belgrano network. Bids are being invited to undertake track renewals on 558 km in the provinces of Tucumán, Salta and Jujuy, including route C8 from ...
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NewsBuenos Aires ATS funding agreed
ARGENTINA: Agreements to fund the purchase of Nippon Signal Automatic Train Stop equipment for the Buenos Aires commuter network were signed during a recent official visit to Japan by President Mauricio Macri. A US$49∙5m loan agreed by Japan Bank for International Co-operation, Deutsche Bank and the government of Argentina is ...
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NewsSão Paulo suburban EMU on test
BRAZIL: São Paulo suburban operator CPTM has started testing the first Class 9500 electric multiple-units that Hyundai Rotem is supplying. CPTM awarded Hyundai Rotem a R$788m contract in 2013 to supply 30 eight-car EMUs. A contract was awarded to CAF at the same time for a further 35 sets. ...