Central & South America – Page 3
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In depthInterview: Investing to create an inclusive metro
One of few metros around the world which does not receive a subsidy for day-to-day operations, Metro de Santiago can still allocate around 30% of its farebox revenues for future investment. General Manager Felipe Bravo tells Benjámin Zelki about its expansion plans, signalling upgrades, rolling stock renewal and achieving social inclusion goals.
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In depthColombia: Turning round a dilapidated network
The Colombian government is taking steps to rehabilitate key parts of the national rail network. It also has ambitions to develop an inter-ocean corridor to rival the Panamá Canal. Christian Scasso explains.
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In depthChile: EFE invests to triple ridership by 2030
The Chilean government is investing US$8bn in the country’s railways with the aim of increasing passenger numbers threefold and boosting regional development outside the Santiago conurbation. Chief Executive of national operator EFE José Solorza Estévez explains the strategy to Benjámin Zelki.
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NewsWork restarts on FIOL 1
BRAZIL: Construction of the 537 km first phase of the Ferrovia de Integração Oeste-Leste project between the port of Ilhéus and Caetité was restarted on July 3.
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NewsSantiago suburban EMU order increased
CHILE: National railway group EFE announced on July 21 that it had exercised an option to order three three-car electric multiple-units from CRRC to increase capacity on the Santiago – Rancagua suburban service. EFE ordered six three-car EMUs from CRRC for the route in September 2019 ...
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NewsVitória a Minas branch planned
BRAZIL: Construction of an 80 km branch off the 1 000 mm gauge Estrado de Ferro Vitória a Minas to serve Anchieta is expected to start within two years. Detailed plans for the R$6bn project were unveiled by the state government of Espírito Santo and mining ...
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NewsSolar tourist train to operate in the Andes
ARGENTINA: CRRC Tangshan has unveiled the first of two articulated battery railcars to operate solar-powered tourist trains through the Quebrada de Humahuaca World Heritage site in northwest Argentina. Backed by the province of Jujuy, the Tren Turístico de La Quebrada project involves the reactivation of passenger ...
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NewsVale to study ammonia fuel and orders battery locos
BRAZIL: Mining company Vale has ordered three Wabtec FLXdrive battery locomotives to replace diesel traction and is to collaborate with the supplier to investigate the use of ammonia as a potential replacement for diesel fuel. Wabtec will build the FLXdrive battery locomotives at its plant in ...
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NewsColombian rail corridor maintenance contract awarded
COLOMBIA: National infrastructure agency ANI has awarded a contract for the maintenance and modernisation of the La Dorada – Chiriguaná line to the San Felipe Férreo consortium of Spanish company Comsa and local partner Castro Tcherassi. The 522 km corridor connects the interior of the country ...
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NewsFirst stage of Retiro terminus modernisation completed
ARGENTINA: The first stage of a complex rebuilding of the Mitre suburban railway’s Retiro terminus in Buenos Aires has been completed with a ceremony attended by Minister of Transport, Diego Giuliano. Services on the Mitre Railway’s JL Suárez and Tigre branches resumed running into Retiro on ...
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NewsPresident Lula ‘very happy’ that Ferrovia Norte-Sul is finally completed
BRAZIL: At 10.30 on June 16 President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was due to have taken part in ceremonies marking completion of Ferrovia Norte-Sul at Rumo’s Rio Verde rail terminal in the state of Goiás. Also scheduled to be at the event were Minister for ...
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Metro Report InternationalMontevideo light rail proposal to be developed
URUGUAY: The government has authorised the further development of a private sector proposal for a 35 km light rail line serving the urban area along the coast between central Montevideo and El Pinar to the east. The line would start in the capital’s historic centre and ...
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NewsTrenes Argentinos restores Palmira service after 30-year hiatus
ARGENTINA: On June 2 Trenes Argentinos restarted long-distance passenger services on the Justo Daract – Palmira section of the 1 676 mm gauge San Martín main line following a 30-year hiatus. Services running west from Buenos Aires to Mendoza ended in 1993, but were reinstated as ...
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NewsEFE to launch more regional passenger services
CHILE: President Gabriel Boric announced on June 1 that regional train services are to be introduced in three regions under the Trenes de Cercanía 30/30 programme.
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NewsShort line to carry petrochemicals
BRAZIL: The National Land Transport Agency has authorised plans to build a 35 km line linking Rio Bonito to Maricá. The project was announced in the Official Gazette on May 10, after which the promoter had 30 days to confirm final details. Located to the east ...
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Metro Report InternationalBuild Brazil’s missing metros to combat urban sprawl, study recommends
BRAZIL: A report from the National Confederation of Industry suggests that the country’s 15 principal cities need to invest heavily in rail-based public transport to improve productivity, competitiveness and the environment. The Confederação Nacional da Indústria document entitled Urban Mobility in Brazil: Institutional Framework & Proposals ...
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NewsTax exemptions help fund Brazilian rail projects
BRAZIL: The Federal Ministry of Transport has announced that a number of privately-funded rail projects will qualify for tax exemptions under the REIDI programme intended to encourage infrastructure investment. Details of the qualifying projects were published in the Official Gazette towards the end of April. Three ...
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NewsRumo-Inpasa partnership keeps ethanol flowing
BRAZIL: Rumo Logística has signed a 10-year agreement with ethanol producer Inpasa Group to operate a ‘rail pipeline’ from Rondonópolis in Mato Grosso state to serve markets in the São Paulo area. Inpasa has invested around R$100m in the project, acquiring a dedicated fleet of 50 ...
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NewsSuburban signalling enhancement to support automated reversals
BRAZIL: Alstom has signed a contract with operating concessionaire ViaMobilidade to modify signalling equipment on São Paulo suburban Line 9, the supplier announced on May 2. The project covers enhancement of traffic supervision and control systems on Line 9 to support automatic train operation at Osasco ...
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Metro Report InternationalRevenue services finally begin on the Quito metro
ECUADOR: Limited revenue services have begun on the first metro line in Quito, after ticketing problems delayed the launch date. Line 1 runs 22 km underground from Quitumbe in the south to the city centre and El Labrador in the north. An ...