Central & South America – Page 5
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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 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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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.
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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 ...