|
Mexico to Chile Earlier Information from Latin America Please take note: This page is our archive. Information on this page will no longer be corrected! More information in our periodical "Volta o Trem" Actual issue is No. 14-1 Earlier issues Why not join us as a member? During the last months we have increased our membership by 20% Membership Application Information and Contact Information on:
Trinidad & Tobago (15/08/08) The government of this country has chosen the consortium of Bouygues Construction, Alstom and RATP Development to build a two line suburban railway system of 105 km. The system connects Port of Spain with San Fernando (50 Kilometre) and Port of Spain with Sangre Grande (54 Kilometre). Total length of bridges is 20 Kilometre. After a preparation time of 20 months building time will be four years. Source:
Tramway
& Urban Transit
List of Electric Locomotives, older information, continue >>>>> Mexico City: Metro (25/04/07, 10/12/07, 20/04/08, 15/08/08) The 25 trains of type MP-82 from 1982 which operate on Metro line 8 will be modernised and maintained with a 10 year contract by manufacturer Alstom. The drive system will be replaced by a compact and lightweight electronic system which reduces the current consumption and the maintenance cost. This will happen between August 2007 and February 2008. A new metro line is being planned which is expected to cost USD200 million. The future line 12 in the south eastern part of the city shall have 23 stations and 40 trains of 9 cars each. It is being financed under the PPP system (Public Private Partnership). Work is expected to start in 2008. The Spanish Firm CAF, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A., has received an order for nine trains which will be built with contemporary equipment. The trains will be used on metro line A. Sources: J. Wolinsky,Tramway
& Urban Transit
El
Reporter Ferroviário and Cronica Ferroviário
San Luis (10/12/07) The capital of Potosi province shall receive a suburban rail line similar to Mexico City. 17 stations will be provided. The project exists since 1986. From the railway station a line will be built to the railway tower in the centre of the town and then onwards in north easterly direction Source:
El Reporter Ferroviário
Close to this small town, about 40 km from Monterrey, there is a famous tourist attraction, the caves "Grutas de Garciá". To make them accessible for tourists, a long time ago a funicular was built. Very few facts are known about this funicular. Dr. John A. Kirchner has made some photographs in 1978. During many years the funicular has transported the visitors to the entrance of the caves, in the first photograph high up on the Mountain. Difference of altitude is 750 Meter. The centre track of the line was common for both tracks both above and below the passing loop. The drive was electric. The cars had two axles, with the outer wheel on each axle with a groove and the inner wheel flat (points of system Abt). Photographs can be found under http://www.mexlist.com/photo/funicular/1.htm . In the meantime, the funicular has been replaced by an aerial cableway. Source: Allen Morrison
This province in the centre of Mexico plans the construction of an interurban railway system. The "Tren Rápido Interurbano de Guanajuato" shall connect the most important cities of the Guanajuato industrial corridor. These are León, capital of the Guanajuato province, Silao, Irapuato, Salamanca, Villagran, Cortazar and Celaya. It will be an electrical system with intervals of 10 minutes, 17 stations 20 trains of 4 coaches each with a length of 81 Metre and a capacity of 672 passengers, and a maximum speed of 160 Kilometre/hour. Total length of the line is 149 Kilometre. In the capital a tunnel of 5 Kilometre is planned. The maintenance workshop will be in Irapuato and have a surface of 800 Square Metre. Overhead current is at 25 kV. Three substations are planned. Admittance of passengers is by magnetic ticket. A view of the planned train can be found under http://www.gmatnet.com/web_es/images/train.jpg. Source: Gmat Net
The capital of the province Nueva León will receive 14 high level cars for its Light Rail line. The cars are to be supplied by the firms of Bombardier, Siemens and the Grupo Garza Poce S.A.; the cars will be built in the Sahagún workshops in the second half of 2007. Total price is USD24,4 millions. The new cars will be used for the extension of Light Rail line 2 to San Nicolás de los Garzas and Escobedo. Siemens has received the contract for the line. The extension is expected to open in October 2007. Of the extension 1.5 km are in tunnel and 7 km elevated. Sources: R. Christelier,
M. Olivier/Tramway & Urban Transit
Costa Rica Steam train fund raising effort (27/06/05) Americatravel who operate a tourist steam railway and have a splendid website need desperately help with their permanent way which is in very poor shape. The Swiss Fahrplancenter has promised to co-ordinate the help and support for this railway. If help is not forthcoming shortly, the railway will have to cease service, as otherwise they will have to take the responsibility in case of an accident. Source: Fahrplancenter
News
On the 10th November 2005 a bridge on the river Chirripó near Estrada not far from Limón was destroyed by high water. A goods train with two wagons and Incofer's locomotive 88 fell into the river. The containers and the goods, however, were not damaged which shows the railway does all it can do to resume goods traffic. Source: Fahrplancenter
News
Since the middle of September 2005 the state railway Incofer is operating a suburban line on the 15 km stretch from Pavas in the western part of the city to San Pedro in the east. After five weeks the line was extended by 1,5 km to Pavas Tropigas. The stations are Pavas Tropigas, Pavas Demasa, Pavas, Sabana, Estación al Pacifico, Plaza Gonzalez Viquez, Procuradoria General de la República, Barrio La California, San Pedro Universidad de Costa Rica. In the beginning there was only one train set with a capacity of 350 passengers per day which operated twice daily during the rush hour. Fares are 30% below the bus fares, running time at 10-20 km/h is one hour which however is still faster than the bus. The number of trains has in the meantime increased to three to four plus to short workings, and daily capacity is now at 600 passengers. Whilst in the beginning the train was only used by commuters, it is now also used for pleasure rides and school excursions. In spite of the low fares, receipts cover the cost of three employees and the complete cost for the operation of the locomotive, and this is controlled daily. A time table can be found under http://www.fahrplancenter.com/AIFFLAINCOFER.html . More difficult to solve is the problem to accustom the street users to the train. Therefore safety instructions were sent out via the local radio station. Already requests for additional journeys are being fulfilled. Presently a diesel multiple unit set of type Apollo (formerly from EVE, Spain; it operated local trains between San José and Cartago) is being prepared for service. This will be used for additional trains. In addition, the stops are being improved and equipped with high platforms, good lighting, shelters with benches and timetables as well as kiosques. Source: Fahrplancenter
News
Venezuela Caracas: Metro (25/12/05, 10/08/06, 25/12/2006, 25/04/07) On the 15th October 2006, line 3 was extended by one station from El Valle to La Rinconada. This is the starting point for the new suburban line to Cua which opened on the same day. For the new, independent Metro Los Teques in the continuation of the present line 2 from one of the two terminal stations, Las Adjuntas, to El Tambor in the centre of Los Teques, the FRAMECO consortium under the leadership of Alstom has won a contract of €204 millions. This includes the delivery of six four car trains as well as the electrification and signalling of the line with a length of 9,5 km. There are no intermediate stations, there are seven tunnels and 15 viaducts, and the running time will be 10 minutes, the interval between trains 5 minutes. 15'000 passengers are expected per day. The line opened on the 3rd November 2006, but only one track was ready. In the meantime the vehicles of a series of 42 cars ordered from Alstom are arriving. They form seven trains of six cars each and serve for the reinforcement of the present fleet. A static transformer replaces the former ac transformer which reduces noise and vibrations. The air conditioning uses materials which do not damage the ozone layer, and a new electric door opening system shall be more reliable. One car is equipped with blue seats which are exclusively reserved for handicapped passengers, pregnant women and senior passengers. These cars have a driving cabin and are marked especially. Sources: International
Railway Journal/Tramway & Urban Transit
Caracas: the new suburban railway Caracas - Cua (25/12/06, 25/04/07) On the 15th October 2006 the ceremonial opening of the first section of the new suburban line "Ezequiel Zaomora" took place. It goes from the terminal station of Metro line 3, La Rinconada, with four stations in a southerly direction to the Valle del Tuy. This section has a length of 40 km and is built as double track with a total of 24 tunnels (the longest is 7 km) and 26 bridges and viaducts (the longest is 1,2 km). Track gauge is 1435 mm, the rails are of type UIC60 with 60 kg/m for a maximum load of 22,5 tons per axle. Current is fed by overhead catenary of 25 kV and 60 Hz alternative current and fed in by one substation. In later sections the line shall be extended to 109 km. It is the first of a planned new railway network of 4000 km which shall be built within 20 years. This line and the further extensions of the network prove that Venezuela as only country of the continent has found a useful purpose for its petrodollars, all in the spirit of FLB. Together with Chile it is the only country of Latin America which opens new lines on time. According to a Video (one of several videos!) there was already in earlier times a suburban service on this line with motor coaches. The line constructed by order of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Venezuela and of the iafe, Instituto Autónomo de Ferrocarriles del Estado, was built by the consortium Tuy Medio under the leadership of the Italian Firm Impregilio and consisting of Italian , British, Japanese and Venezuelan firms. The Italian firms Impregilio, Ghella Sogone (the Venezuelan branch of Ghella), Trevi SpA and Trevi Cimentaciones C.A and Astaldi are in charge of the infrastructure including tunnels and bridges, and Ansaldo Signal, respectively their French branch, CSEE Transport, is responsible for signalling and the control centre. Balfour Beatty Rail (Great Britain) is responsible for electrification, the rails and the points. Marubeni (Japan) is constructing together with Kawasaki Plant Systems Ltd. the maintenance workshops. The rolling stock was built by Nippon Sharyo in Japan. A total of 30 trains of four cars each (of which two are motors) were sent to Barquisimeto. Of these a total of 13 trains were transported by low transporter (two at a time per transport) were sent by road to Caracas. The trains take 922 passengers in two trains of four cars and have a rather conventional look. Operating speed is 100 km/h, maximum speed 120 km/h and running time 30 minutes. The Fahrplancenter has already published a timetable. A total of 60'000 passengers can be transported per day. In each end car of a train set there is a driving position. Later it is planned also to operate goods trains and a connexion to be built to the La Encrucijada - Puerto Cabello line. Total investment is USD2,3 billions, of which USD380 millions for the first section. All this was financed, apart from a Venezuelan development fund, by a credit of the Japanese Export bank, the Japan Bank for International Co-operation, and further Japanese banks . For the latter the Nippon Export and Investment Insurance has issued an export guarantee. Since the 6th March 2007, passengers have to pay for the trip. The multiple use card price is 20'000 Bolivares, but during two months a reduction of 30% is granted. The individual ticket is 5'000 Bolivares, and the cards can be recharged with various amounts. Ticket machines are also in use. Caracas: Magnetic Levitation railway as suburban line (10/12/07) Between Caracas and the coastal town La Guaira in the province of Vargas, a magnetic levitation line of a length of 30 km shall be built which should start operation in 2010. The TELMAGV system shall reach a maximum speed of 300 km/hour and shall be built with local means, with supplementing support from China. A prototype has already been built, but at present the finance is missing to build a full scale vehicle. Sources:
Crónica
Ferroviária, El Reporter Ferroviário
Valencia (10/08/06, 25/12/06, 20/04/08) On the 18 November 2006 the advance operation of the first section of line 1 of 6 km of this Light Rail system with the three stations Cedeño, Palotal and Monumental opened. Not yet opened are the four intermediate stations Lara, Michelena, Santa Rosa and Las Ferias which only will be ready in April 2007. The first line will have 7 stations and should transport 150'000 passengers per day. Rolling stock will be Light rail cars of type SD460 from Siemens/USA identical to those operating in many US cities, as e.g. St. Louis, Ill. These are six axle articulated cars with two driving positions. Up to four units can operate in multiple. The technical data: Maximum speed 70 km/h. maximum acceleration 1,4 m/s2, maximum retardation normally 1,34 m/s2, for emergency stops 1,8 m/s2. Total length over couplers is 27,26 meter, width 2,65 meter, height 3,81 Meter, the floor height is 1 Meter, empty weight 42,5 tons, with 262 passengers 59,6 tons of which 56 are seated. Air springs, diameter of the wheels new 710 mm, minimal 660 mm. Overhead dc current at 750 Volt, four asynchronous three-phase motors per car, AC IGBT pulse conrtolled inverters, and microprocessor vehicle control logic of type Sibas-32. Expected number of passengers is 12'000 per day. Travelling time in comparison with buses is halved. The stations are surveyed by closed circuit cameras. During the official opening USD50 millions was liberated for the second section. On the 18th November 2007 full operation started between Cedeño and Monumental. Source: Tramway &
Urban Transit
Work on the Light Rail line with a total length of 6.3 km, all on surface, was only 18% complete, as 80% of the funds had not yet been liberated. This has happened now, and the first section of the line, going from the workshops at Altos de La Vanega to the city centre with 6 stations should have opened in the first half year of 2007. In the meantime to everyone's surprise a short section of 1,2 km between Altos de La Vanega and the first planned station Varillal was inaugurated on the 25th November 2006. A third station, El Guayabal, should be incorporated in December 2006 in the experimental operation. In the third quarter of 2007 , the experimental service should cover the entire first section. In the meantime three of a total of seven trains have arrived from Siemens, Prague. In the meantime the fourth station, Sabaneta, has started operation. Source: El Reporter Ferroviário The overhead provides direct current at 750 Volt, and there will be four substations, one of them at the maintenance works. Maximum speed is 70 km/h, average operating speed 35 km/h. In the meantime the first train has arrived, and before the end of the year a total of seven three car trains of type M1 should arrive from Siemens at Prague. They are similar to the new trains of line C at Prague/Tchequia and consist of three units. They are built in aluminium and have a total weight of 82,5 tons per unit. They have a capacity of 600 passengers, of which 128 are seated. Thus, 7'200 passengers can be transported per hour and direction. Intervals between trains are five minutes. Running time is 12 minutes, with stops planned at 30 seconds The trains will operate during 16 hors per day. The second section contains the extension to the airport so that the line will then have total length of 14 kilometre. Supplier of the turn-key system is Siemens, with a total order value of €155 Millions. Total investment amounts to USD383 millions. Later three more lines are planned for a total length of 66 km. Sources: Allen Morrison/Tramway & Urban Transit, Stadtverkehr Ecuador Steam trains in 2002, continue >>>>> Quito (25/12/05, 10/12/07) The North-South trolleybus line, equipped with Mercedes-Benz O-405 articulated trolleybuses built in Spain, is a great success and has already secured the mayor a re-election. Now a further increase from 260'000 passengers per day to 400'000 passengers per day is expected by 2010, and it is planned to convert the line to Light Rail. The new line named Traq (Tren rápido de Quito), (a Video) will have a total length of 29,2 km and connect Quitumbe in the north with Carcelen in the south. The Spanish or rather Catalan railway company FGC, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya will function as consultant. 22 Stations are envisaged, of which 2 are terminal stations and 4 interchange stations, also a maintenance shop with a car barn. Capacity will be 11'000 passengers per hour and direction. Average speed will be 40 km/h. This should cover the increase in the number of passengers for the next 30 years. It is expected that part of the finance is covered by private firms. Sources: IRJ/Tramway &
Urban Transit
Since some months back the train does no longer operate on this line. Thereby it is expected that on the line which transports 350 passengers per week, accidents can be avoided. The line has been damaged by strong rain falls and many sleepers must be replaced. Instead, two rail buses with space for 50 passengers operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays between Riobamba and Sibambe. With an axle load of 9 tons there is no danger of damaging sleepers and of derailments. The trains operate as far as Sibambe, Nariz do Diablo (Devil's Nose) as further on an earth slide interrupts the line. Clearing of the line is only possible after the winter period. Source:
Crónica
Ferroviária
Colombia Cartagena de Indias (12/07/04) According to a news item published in IRJ and "Tramway & Urban Transport" is is a copy of the Curitiba and São Paulo/Brasil system with centre of the road loading platforms combined with non-step left hand bus doors. Sources: IRJ/Tramway & Urban Transit Between La Tebaida in the province Quindio (capital: Arménia) and Calí, capital of the province Valle de Cauca, occasionally a passenger train is operated for tourist purposes. The railway is also called "Coffee and Sugar" after the main produce of the region and has a length of 275 km. The train consists of a diesel locomotive and three passenger coaches seating 42 passengers each. In former times the line was the main transport line for the products and the farmers, and witness of this are the numerous remainders of the stations along the line. Along the journey it is planned to make stops of 15 minutes each to savour the delicacies of the area. The first train operated on Sunday, 19th September 2004, and further trips were planned for the christmas period 2004 and the easter period 2005. Facatativá (29/01/06) The firm Téchnica Natural of the founder Daniel Castelblanco is operating under the name of "Tren de la Montaña" a train between Facatativá on the line Bogotá - Santa Maria, 94 km from the Capital, and Cachipay via Cisneros, Zipacón, Sebastopol, Tablanca and La Florida, with a distance of 40 km. It is the northernmost part of the former line Facatativá - Girardot - Neiva. If there are passengers, the train operates once a day, with departure at Facatativá at 09.00 h, and returning at 17.00 h, and a duration of 1 hour 20 minutes per direction. The fares are between Pesos 8'000 and 23'000, depending on distance, and if single or return. Source: Fahrplancenter
Rachdi
Peru wishes to profit from the good economic situation to realise two of four railway projects. The largest project concerns the construction of a transandine tunnel to Brasil whereby the number of passengers would increase to 4000. The tunnel from Rio Blanco to Arapa will have a length of 23,2 km. For the examination of the project an amount of USD10 millions will be provided. The total cost of the tunnel will be USD250 millions and the tunnel can be built within three years from the release of the construction. A further project concerns the modernisation of the line from Huancayo to Huancavelica which would permit the construction of the line Acoria - Huanta - Ayacucho, with an investment of USD35 million. Source:
Revista Ferroviária
Furthermore, commercial interests have proposed the construction of a line which connects the port of Santos in Brasil with Paita and Bayóvar in Peru. Purpose of the line is the transport of soya from Brasil (mainly from the provinces of Mato Grosso, Rondino and Acre) to Peru. In the opposite direction the transportation of phosphoric stones from Bayóvar, necessary for fertilising, is envisaged. The cost of the line with a length of 4544 km (which in Brasil relies on the existing rail network) is USD10 billion. The construction time shall be five years and is to be financed from private sources. The project operates under the name of "Ferrocarril Rey Transcontinental Brasil - Peru". A consortium under the direction of the italian firm Impregilio and consisting of General Electric (locomotive manufacturer) and Kaizen from Korea, and a total of seven firms is preparing the technical part of the project Source: Biceca
The former main station of Lima, Desamparados, is being rebuilt to become a Cultural Centre. The Centre will mainly show ethnical exhibitions. The first such exhibition features the inhabitants of the Peruvian Amazon region. About 13 years after the first public trial runs the electric suburban railway "Tren Urbano" started operation in Lima's suburbson the 18th January 2003. The only stretch used was the 10 km outer section from El Salvador to Atocongo where passengers changed to an express bus for the remainder of the journey. Of the remainder of the line there exists only the intialised part of a viaduct near the suburb of Miraflores. The five six-car trains from Breda operated on weekdays from 07h to 14h , at weekends from 11h to 17 h. After a relatively short period of time, the operation was cancelled. Reason: Operating costs were too high. After a closure lasting six months, the municipal government started on 17th January 2004 a service operating on Saturdays and Sundays from 10.00 to 17.40 hours. Fare is 50 centimes. Three unknown groups are evaluating a 33 year contract to operate and extend the line. A decision is expected on 31st May 2004. In July 2003 operation of the existing line of 10 km and 6 stations ceased after only 6 months due to lack of funds. In January 2004 operation resumed on Saturdays and Sundays between 10 h and 17 h 40. Later, the line operated again from 6 h to 18 h with one train at every ten minutes. The rolling stock (5 six car trains, 2 spare cars, 107 Meter length per train, from AnsaldoBreda) operates under overhead at 1500 Volt direct current on standard gauge track of 1435 mm. Fare is 0.50 Soles for a single ride, if including a bus ride to the city centre 1.40 Soles. Now it is planned to extend the present line from Villa El Salvador to to San Juan in the suburb of Miraflores (Atocongo) by a new line of 11,7 km and 9 stations in the direction of the town centre as far as Hospital 2 de Mayo (Avenida Grau). Average speed shall be 40 km per hour. For this, USD260 million shall be invested by private investors who will be responsible for planning, construction , operation and the partial financing for a period of 40 years. Thereafter, the line will be transferred to the community. Sources: Allen Morrison/Tramway
& Urban Transit,Urbanrail
Barranco (Lima) (23/04/05) The "Museo de la Electricidad" with accompanying streetcar on a section of the former interurban line Lima - Chorrillos had been closed eight months ago due to lack of funds, and the streetcar stopped. On 14th February 2005, the museum was re- opened and the streetcar service was resumed. Car 97 from Breda (1924) operates again tuesday to sunday from 9 to 17h. Sources: Allen Morrison/Tramway
& Urban Transit
Lima - Huancayo (05/09/04) After some bad business on scheduled train trips on the Peruvian Central Railway from Lima to Huancayo some trips have been cancelled. This caused again a lower demand for seats on the next departures, a situation which must be reversed as soon as possible to avoid complete cancellation of scheduled train trips. If this will occur affordable regular trips over the highest standard gauge railway of the world may only continue by expensive charter trains. A huge loss for many people. Unfortunately the current administration of the railway does not see the value of scheduled train trips. The new and innovative company Incas del Peru, leaded by Lucho Hurtado wants to reverse the situation and it acquired 100 tickets for the next departure on July 28 from Lima and back from Huancayo on 31 July 2004. If these 100 tickets will be sold to travellers the train will run! Do you plan a trip to Peru or up to the Andes? Then write us to get a ticket for this unforgettable trip! The tickets are sold at the normal fare of US$ 30.00 per round-trip, Incas del Peru does not get a Cent for this service! You have the following possibilities: Write to Fahrplancenter (in German, Dutch, English, en Français, in Italiano) and we will forward your order or contact directly Incas del Peru or Mr Lucho Hurtado in English or Spanish. If this initiative will be a success Incas del Peru will offer its own train with more regular trips to increase the offer. This initiative is supported by Fahrplancenter and Ferrolatino/AIFFLA. One more train has be operated on 28th August 2004. Final possible train for this year was planned for the end of October 2004. Today's news from Lima are good. We just learned that the FCCA train Lima-Huancayo will run July 28 from Lima and July 31 back from Huancayo! Tourism office Incas del Peru could secure enough tickets that FCCA will operate the train. Enjoy the trip over the highest railway of the world! The only public trip for 2005! The train operates on the 28/07/2005 at 07.00 am from Lima and on the 31/07/2005 at 07.00 am from Huancayo. Travelling time will be 12 hours. The price for a single journey will be US$25, the return journey will cost US$35. More information, booking under: http://www.fahrplancenter.com/TicketFCCA.html The Hiram-Bingham Express train (22/12/04) The Hiram-Bingham Express which runs between Cuzco and Machu Picchu, and equipped a year ago with new luxurious coaches, and named after a famous explorer who by accident discovered the Machu Picchu historic ruins, has now its own web page. From there, there are links to other important trains in Peru. Bolivia Nationalisation of the railways (10/12/07, 15/08/08) The president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, has announced the renationalisation of the railways of Bolivia. In 1996 the then state railway, ENFE, Empresa Nacional de Ferrocarriles, was privatised. The Chilean operator of the Andean network have, however, not carried out the promised investments, this in contrast of the US-American operators of the eastern network Source: El Repórter Ferroviário and Fahrplancenter Rachdi Santa Cruz (07/05/05) The Ferroviária Oriental operates with the Expresso Oriental a railway line from the Brasilian frontier at Puerto Quijaro to Santa Cruz. For reasons unknown this train is also referred to as Trem da Morte" (death train), but in fact it is absolutely not dangerous. From the link you will be informed that the timetable is rather theoretic. The ticket for the 20 hour ride is at USD20 rather cheap. It is thought that the surname dates from former times when yellow fever was brought in by this route. In this connexion please note that a yellow fever inoculation (documented by an international valid attest) is essential if you want to enter Brasil after a stay in Bolivia, Peru or Venezuela. This applies also to air transport. Otherwise you will be refused entry into Brasil. The information about the world's highest funicular has moved. In addition, there are many new actualised photographs. Unfortunately the service was stopped, as the hill is sliding and the pillars were bent. The operators are now looking for a new location nearby. Continue:>>>>> La Paz: Light Rail line (25/12/05, 10/12/07) A call for offers for an elevated Light Rail line with a length of 10,6 km has been published. The line will connect the southern part of the city with the city centre. The project is based on a study by the Italian-Bolivian consortium Astaldi-Consa of 2002. The elevated line will be placed over the river Choqueyapu and have ten stops. The cars should take about 250 passengers each and be able to run in multiple. The project shall be BOO (Build Operate Own). A fare to cover costs of USD 0.40 is envisaged, and the total cost of the project should be USD73 millions. The concession shall have a running time of 35 years. The winner shall be fixed by next summer. The mayor plans to realise the project against the resistance of the taxi and bus operators. Astaldi will participate as investor, but is looking for further partners. Sources: IRJ/Tramway &
Urban Transit
The vehicles of this electric railway which closed in 1990, part of the railway line of the FCG from La Paz via El Alto to Guaqui on lake Titicaca, are mostly still around. Two motor cars still around, the Brill vehicles No. 10 and No. 12 (formerly No. 100 and No. 102) were transferred for the film "Los Andes no creen en Dios" to Guaqui depot. For the purposes of the film they were painted blue and used as trailers, together with other trailers of the FCG line. Brill locomotive No. 22, however, is the only vehicle on the premises of the former Pura-Pura depot at La Paz. At another shed at Estación Central at La Paz (on Allen Morrison's map station No. 2) are still Brill locomotives No. 20 and 21, General Electric locomotives No. 30 and 31, and English Electric locomotive No. 32, all in a reasonable state, being under a protective roof. Further information can be found on Allen Morrison's web page http://www.tramz.com/bo/lp/lp.html .
Guaqui touristic area (10/09/07, 15/08/08) In Guaquí at Lake Titicaca and in Tiwanaku touristic installations have been constructed. The sights include the old harbour installations at Guaquí and the pre-Columbian ruins of Tiwanaku as well as some museums. To connect these places with El Alto near La Paz a touristic railway concept was developed, and on the 23rd December 2007 the inauguration journey took place in the presence of president Morales. Unfortunately, this was up to now the only journey. The train consisted of four first class passenger coaches of 60 seats each and four second class passenger coaches of 90 seats each and was drawn by a diesel electric locomotive of series 900 with 1800 HP. Source:
El Repórter Ferroviário and Fahrplancenter
Rachdi
Bolivia/Chile Arica - La Paz, continue: >>>>> Brasil Orders for the diesel locomotive factory of General Electric Transportation (25/12/06) So far, the Brasilian factory of General Electric at Contagem had mainly produced locomotives of 2000 HP for the South American market. Locomotives of 3000 HP were mainly purchased used in the USA by the local operators, as this was cheaper. For this reason the existing factory at Campinas was closed in 1999. As at present the mother company at Erie was overcharged (in 2006 900 locomotives were built, for next year a production of 950 locomotives is expected) new production facilities were required. The South African railways will receive 20 locomotives of type C-30-EMP, the actual version of Dash-7, with electronic injection, the first such locomotives for Cape gauge of 1067 mm, with 3000 HP and a total weight of 113 tons, and with two three axle bogies which permit an axle pressure of 20 tons. For this, a new assembly line was installed at Contagem, as also in the future an active purchasing market is expected. Source: Revista
Ferroviária
More powerful locomotives from General Electric Transportation (20/04/08, 15/08/08) The existing factory at Contagem in the local state of Minas Gerais, the expansion plans for which we have already earlier referred to, will now start with the construction of locomotives with 6000 HP. The new machines will be mainly used for the transport of iron ore and agricultural products. An important customer of the present production is Colombia which bought last year eight machines. Further locomotives went to South Africa and Jordan. As a new development, at Contagem the assembly of locomotives with alternative current motors has started, which provide 20% more power. First customer of these machines of type AC-44 I is MRS Logística, the first machine of 65 will be delivered in October. With this improvement trains of up to 132 wagons can be propelledfor which three instead of four locomotives (with direct power motors) are required. Source:
Revista Ferroviária
Newsletter 04, November/December 2002: continue >>>>>
Madeira-Mamoré Railway Society 112 Aketon Road, Castleford, WF10 5DU, England (tel) +44 (0)1977 515973 (e-mail) mmrs@efmm.net Madeira - Mamoré (10/08/06) The section of line between Porto Velho and Santo Antônio, in the state of Rondõnia, has been declared a national monument. This line of 7 km shall be repaired. The cross ties will be replaced, the signals reestablished. In addition, the station area at the river Madeira in Porto Velho, at present a rather dangerous area, shall be restored and become a kind of entertainment centre. Source: Revista Ferroviária
Bahia: Cachoeira - São Felix, Gargalo do Paraguaçú (15/08/08) The famous "Gargalo do Paraguaçú", visited by the FLB in 2003 and documented, will be the first priority of the transport program of the local state of Bahia. The new redirection, visualised schematically on the web page mentioned, has a length of 17,8 km and a new bridge of a length of 600 Meter over the river Paraguaçú, and will reduce the inclination from 38%o to 12%o. The total cost of the project of BRR70 million will be financed by the Ministry of Transport, with money put back in earlier years and new funds of BRR10 Millions. Construction is to start immediately after the signing of the contracts. Up to today, BRR29 Millions have been liberated. In 2007 BRR85 Millions will be liberated and in 2008 BRR25 Millions. The line should be ready by 2008. Source: Revista Ferroviária
Construction of the new avoiding line which
we have optimistically anticipated, still is being delayed. The IPHAN,
Instituto de Patromonio Histórico e Artístico which
concerns itself with patrimonial protection, has demanded that the new
bridge is similar to the existing hundred year old bridge which was built
during the 2nd Imperium. Of the planned 21 avoiding lines only two are
under construction. For the others, funds are missing.
Source: Revista Ferroviária
From October 2006, the new start of this tourism train was expected, but this has not taken place. The first section will go 88 km from Corumbá to Porto Esperança. The train consists of five coaches, of which three for passengers, a restaurant car and a panoramic car, all elder vehicles but of recent covered by foils in strong colours which should represent the nature of the region. Of the 15 stations to start with in the beginning four will be prepared for service, of which two in Corumbá (Aquidana and Piraputanga), Albuquerque and Porto Esperança. Source: Revista Ferroviária
Between these two historical cities with a rich history and wonderful works of art in the state of Minas Gerais a new steam train is operating. Operator is CVRD, Companhia do Vale do Rio Doce, and it is also called "Trem do Vale" which is also being used for the trains of this company from Belo Horizonte to Vitória and from São Luis to Carajás. The timetable is as follows: Friday to Sunday:
There are possibly trains on Wednesdays and Thursdays, Phone 031/3557-3844 has information. Ticket Counter at Mariana, Phone 031/3557-3844, open Wednesday to Sunday from 08h00 to 17h00 Ticket Counter Ouro Preto, Phone 031/3551-6211, open Wednesday to Sunday from 08h00 to 17h00 Journey time is one hour. Length of line is 18 km. . Fares: One Way (complete) BRR18.00, reduced BRR9.00 Return (complete) BRR30.00, reduced BRR15.00 Children below 5 years of age travel free. Children between 5 and 12 years, adults above 60 years and students pay the reduced fare. For groups of more than 10 persons, reservation is obligatory and must been arranged via Fax 031/3557-3888, or by e-mail renata.maia@cvrd.com.br . Tickets must then be picked up at the latest 30 minutes before departure, indicating how many people are over 65 years and how many children are between 6 and 10 years old. For each 20 persons there is one free ticket. The engine: It is a Skoda steam engine 2-10-2 "Santa Fé" (or 1E1, classification "White") from 1949, manufacturing No. 1977, formerly No. 1347 of the Ferrocarriles General Belgrano (Argentina); formerly No. 401 Estrada da Ferro Teresa Cristina, later RFFSA. It comes from the collection of ANPF, Associação Nacional de Preservação Ferroviária, and has been restored by ANPF at Tubarão, and been transported by road to the new railway. The following web site has more information and pictures of the rolling stock: http://www.estacoesferroviarias.com.br/trens_mg2/ouropreto-mariana.htm - Railway stations Recommended is e.g. a journey from Ouro Preto (reached by bus from Belo Horizonte in 2 hours) at 11h to Mariana; there, you have two hours to visit the local sights; then back to Ouro Preto at 14h, there (or earlier in the morning) visit to the museum of the Inconfidência Mineira (rising of the Mineiros, the inhabitants of Minas Gerais, of 1788 against the Portuguese Crown), of the nearby wonderful church Nossa Senhora de Carmo with wood carvings of the famous sculptor Aleijadinho (pictures of his work) and of the old town with coloured houses, for which two hours are barely enough. Ouro Preto - "black gold", because the gold found there was slightly black, was earlier called Vila Rica. This name was, however, only the designation for a small part of today's town. Rio de Janeiro - Petrópolis (10/12/07) Of this line , the mountain section of which was built as a Swiss rack railway of Riggenbach type, there can still be found some traces in Petrópolis. The former railway station was situated where today the long distance buses have their terminal. Close by can be seen the former signal tower which is today being used as an office. Also the track beds leading in and out can be observed, on the track bed of the line leading in and today a walking track rail parts can be seen. The line opened in 1883 and closed in 1965. Now the economist Antoni Passori of the Candido-Mendes university in Rio de Janeiro has written his final study work as a thesis for the reintroduction of the railway. About 89 per cent of the track bed are still in situ. Actually only the six kilometres of the incline at 15 per cent between the Alto da Serra in Petrópolis and Vila Inhorim at the foot of the Serra dos Orgãos with a height difference of 800 Meter have to be newly constructed. From there to Rio de Janeiro the track system still exists and is being used by goods trains. As a new feature, adhesion/rack trains for 130 passengers are envisaged. Total cost of BRR20 million for the infrastructure and BRR12 million for three trains are required. Source: Revista Ferroviária
ALL has received 15 new locomotives of type GE C-38 from the USA, with a total value of USD35 millions. They will be adapted at the workshop of Barrai do Piraí. 75 more locomotives will follow this year. Since the year 2000 ALL has purchased 255 locomotives, of which 55 of the same type that have arrived now. In total, ALL owns 517 locomotives. Source: Revista Ferroviária The line between Barra Mansa in the local state of Rio de Janeiro and the harbour of Sepetiba shall be equipped with double track. This small town built by Englishmen, earlier at the end of an electric suburban line from São Paulo, was at the same time the beginning of a steep railway line to the harbour city of Santos. São Paulo lies on a height of 600 Meter above sea level, and to manage this inclination a railway operated by cables was built, the Serra incline. The steam engines, so-called Locobreques which pushed the goods and passenger coaches (uphill) or braked them downhill hat a grip mechanism similar to the cable cars of San Francisco. As the cables for technical reasons could not be very long there were several intermediate stations at which a new locomotive took over for the next section. The first line, to distinguish it called Old Serra incline was later replaced by a new line, the New Serra Incline, also cable operated. In the 20th century the Old Serra Inclined was transformed to (Japanese) rack operation and electrified. Today, goods trains, and occasionally passenger trains are operated. The New Serra Incline was closed. The uppermost section of this still has operable cables, and the old machine house was renovated and can still operate the cables. In earlier times there were occasional diesel excursion trains from São Paulo, and then the cables were operated. However, this remaining section is threatened by a conveyor belt which the railway operator MRS Logística wants to install under the designation TCLD (Transportador de Correia de Longa Distância), on the track of the New Serra Incline. As at present iron ore is in strong demand, nearby a new extraction site was opened. The trains of the Old Serra Incline can only take four goods coaches, and this is insufficient. There are efforts under way to retain the remainder of this cultural heritage. In the meantime, the project for the conveyor belt has been approved, whereby "Consideration of protected installations" is envisaged. Work should have started at the end or 2007. The entire coffee crop of the local state of São Paulo, its most important export goods, thus was transported to the harbour. In the opposite direction mostly immigrants were transported. The line which connected Jundiaí via São Paulo to Santos, by the São Paulo Railway. Successor to this was the Estrada de Ferro Santos a Jundiaí, the name of which could still be read on the sides of the older electric suburban trains right up the the eighties of the last century. A steam engine (from another railway) with some genuine old coaches of the São Paulo Railway railway operates on Sundays behind the Memorial dos Imigrantes, today a museum in São Paulo, earlier the quarantine hospital for the immigrants. Now it was planned to revitalise the tourism and has rebuilt a further steam engine, this time from the São Paulo Railway, dating from 1867 and sent to Paranapiacaba, together with a coach. There the train operates on weekends on a line of 1 km length, as far as the start of the incline, a view point from where one can look out over the Serra. The price is BRR7.--. At the same time and the same place a railway museum has been opened by the same people, the Abpfsp, Associação Brasileira de Preservação Ferroviária in São Paulo. It is hoped later to extend the line which at present is operated by the MRS Logística over the 11 km to Santos. The Webmaster had on an earlier visit the chance to use the (on the incline electrically operated) train to Santos and back as far as São Paulo, and the ride over the uninhabited, and not by any roads interrupted area covered by forests was very impressive. In Santos the terminal was at the old railway station which can be seen on our Web page São Paulo/Santos, and which is under reconstruction, and by which the museum streetcar line passes. Paranapiacaba can still be reached by the electrical suburban line D of the CPTM which however only operates as far as Rio Grande da Serra. From there you have to take a bus. Further information (with photographs) of the Serra Incline can be found under http://www.pell.portland.or.us/~efbrazil/efsj_road.html . EF Campos de Jordão (15/08/08) This year the vehicles A1, A2 and A4 will be thoroughly renewed. A1 should be ready by July, for the season's opening, the other vehicles follow during the year. Also Capivari station, at Campos de Jordão, is being renewed. It is also planned to replace the wooden sleepers in the course of time by recyclable plastic sleepers with a life time of f 30 years. On the trains there will be a train attendant who can stop the train in an emergency. Source:
Revista Ferroviária
São Paulo: Ferroanel (Avoiding line of São Paulo) (25/03/07, 15/08/08) The planned railway circle Ferroanel around the city which mainly will serve goods traffic is slowly starting life. The northern half circle goes from Campo Limpo Paulista to Engenheiro Manuel Feio in the community of Itaquaquecetuba and has a length of 65 km of double track with mixed track gauge. Maximum inclinations is 13,3%o, minimal radius 300 Meter. The southern half circle goes from Evangelista de Souza to Vila Califórnia, has a length of 47 km of double track with mixed track gauge, a maximum inclination of 10%o and a minimal radius of 315 Meter. As the goods trains up to now operated on the tracks of the CPTM they could only operate between midnight and 4 o'clock (AM) in the morning. For this, in 2008 BRR198 Million, in 2009 BRR250 Million and in 2010 BRR187 Million, in total BRR624 Million, have been allocated. All of it should be ready by 2011. Instead of the southern avoiding line of São Paulo for goods trains, there are plans to build a tunnel under the existing lines in São Paulo. The new line should operate in a tunnel under Luz station. On the further lines new track is laid in parallel of the existing tracks for suburban trains, so that the suburban trains can operate undisturbed. Reasons for this are the high cost of the previously planned avoiding line with a length of 66 Kilometre. Also possession of grounds can be avoided. Cost reduction is USD170 Million. MRS Logística as operator of the lines agrees with this. Source:
Revista Ferroviária
The existing touristic steam line shall be extended from Anhumas station, near the bus terminal Dom Pedro I, as far as Praça Auratos do Paz, in the district of Taquaral. The length of the new section is 3 km, construction is due to start in 2008. For this, the tracks and sleepers of the Light Rail line, built many years ago and also closed after a short period, will be used so that this experiment has been useful for something. Source: Revista Ferroviária
On the line of this well known express train with its spectacular landscape a luxury version similar to the famous Orient Express in Europe shall be installed. The new train with the name "The Great Brazil Express" shall be established by rebuilding two of the existing diesel motor coaches with 44 seats, a bar and a bistro. For the tourists, the trip from Rio de Janeiro (by air) and to Foz de Iguaçu (by bus) will be organised which will have a duration of eight days, and which should start in September 2007. The trip can also be taken in the opposite direction. At the international Touristic Fair at Utrecht/Netherlands the train has received the Brasil Award of the Brasilian embassy for the furthering of touristic projects. Now the train has been inaugurated and shall start operation on the 23rd April 2008. From August 2008 and up to and including January 2009 the train is already fully booked. The concession of this spectacular line to Morretes and Paranaguá has now been extended for a further 10 years. At present, 135'000 passengers are transported per year of which 19 per cent are foreign tourists. In the first year after privatisation 1997 there were about 50'000 passengers. A close co-operation with national and international touristic firms is being maintained. Opening took place in early June 2008. Source: Revista Ferroviária
Teresina (21/01/05, 14/04/06, 25/12/06, 25/04/07, 10/12/07, 15/08/08) In the capital of the northern province of Piauí exists a simple suburban metrô line named CMTP, Companhia Metropolitana de Transportes Públicos, which shows that also with limited means rational urban transport on rails is possible, and this on a goods line through the centre of the capital which because of the many collisions has been placed in a cutting (goods traffic ends now at the city limit in Timon). The cutting was built for double track, but only on a section of 20% of the whole length of the line there is double track. The train sets are the last diesel trains from Ganz-Mávag of Hungary which originally operated on the RFFSA in Porto Alegre in the south of Brasil in high class long distance traffic, and which after the closure of this covered the enormous distance of 4400 Kilometre on rails. The federal railway RFFSA opened in 1990 the Metrô which after the original plans should have gone as far as Timón in the local state of Maranhão. This railway was never part of the CBTU; already in 1995 it was handed over by the Federal Railway to the local state of Piauí which still operates it today. There are plans to extend this line in the east as far as Altamira and Altos, but the money for renewal of the existing goods line is not available, this in order to increase the speed of today's 25 to 35 km/hour to 60 km/hour. For the first time since the line opened, this metrô has now been modernised. The rolling stock receives new frontal sections (from Brasil), new diesel engines from Caterpillar (USA) and new interiors (from Brasil). The suspensions and trucks are rebuilt, and new wheels (from Brasil) installed. Damaged side panels are replaced, the trains are repainted and receive new cabling, and the internal current supply is improved. The couplers are overhauled, and the trains should be ready for another 20 to 25 years of service. All work is being carried out in Teresina and requires 4.5 months per train set, at a cost of BRR250'000 per set. The first set has been modernised, the other two will follow until the end of this year. The inner urban section is being overhauled at present. Sleepers are replaced, the track leveled out, new ballast built in, drainage renewed, level crossings receive new signalling (two of them with flash lights and one with mechanical barriers, at the other crossings there is a man with a flag), several stops renewed, supporting walls in the cutting repaired and a further overpasses constructed. All this is paid with funds from Brasilia, the government of Piauí, the CBTU, the CFN and the BNDES bank. One train set with the new frontal design can be seen under http://www.piaui.pi.gov.br/materia.php?id=10352#. According to the latest reports, work has started on the branch line to Praça Bandeira. Inauguration is planned for September 2007. For this extension, the existing three Ganz diesel sets are sufficient, as on the already modernised section the number of passengers is modest, and one train is sufficient for this part. A description of the project can be found under http://www.florianonet.com.br/metro-pi/expansao.htm. In February 2007 the new line which in the meantime has been finished shall be tested. The line between the stations of the Matinha district and Praça Bandeira has a length of 1 km. With the available means a further Ganz train can be modernised, and in addition a new train will be purchased. Before the opening can take place, the missing rolling stairs at the Cidadão Shopping centre have to be built for which the funds have not yet been liberated. Sources: Revista Ferroviária and Fahrplancenter Rachdi Manaus (29/06/2006) A replica open tram car numbered 51 of the "Manaus Railway Company" has been discovered on a short section of track near the famous, 110 year old Opera House.
The car was discovered on the 24th February 2006, on the day after a local festival for which it had been specially decorated and used as a public stand. Against earlier opninions of an original tram from Manaus, the vehicle was only built some years ago as a replica after photographies of various trams, especially one built by Stephenson, and does correspond to cars built in 1910 at Preston/Great Britain. The replica vehicle should serve the promotion of a planned museum tramway. The tramway system, with left-hand traffic far into the 30's and the famous Flores line which up to the end of the system went to uninhabited virgin forest was closed in 1957. Sources: John Cormack/S.J.Morgan/Tramway
& Urban Transit
Belém (22/07/04, 22/12/04, 26/01/05 and 03/10/05) The city of Belém in the Amazonas area has started the construction of a museum tramway. Twenty tons of rail were discharged, and the first section of track should be installed next week. A further eighty tons will be discharged within the next months. The tram which can take up to thirty passengers and will circulate at an average speed of 15 km per hour, so that passengers can enjoy the sights, has also been purchased. The rails will be posed in the Via dos Mercadores which is being rebuilt completely, and the tram should circulate in the restored historical centre of Belém. This will be a circular route, visiting the most beautiful parts of the Old Town. Operation should start in October. Everything having progressed well, the election of a new mayor had the (for Brasil usual result) that all projects of his predecessor were stopped. Thus, in spite of all the investments, the start of the new tram line cannot be expected. As a consolation, visit Allen Morrison's web page on the subject which shows the history of the trams of Belém and part of the new project. The web page of the Prefeitura de Belém has also been cancelled. In the meantime, the signals requested for this operation are still not installed. Following a request of the Archbishop who did not wish any overhead wires in front of his cathedral, the car from Campinas has been fitted with a diesel generator and the overhead removed. As such the car has been operating since October 2007. Photographs can be found under http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=533565. Sources: Allen Morrison/Tramway
& Urban Transit
and Prefeitura de Belém Because of lack of funds work is progressing slowly. Of the first section of the totally 24 km long line which goes over 3,9 km and which should have been in service by 2002, only 45% are ready. Alstom should have delivered 10 four car trains. In the meantime it has been found that for the continuation of tunnel building no more money will arrive before the end of 2007. It has therefore been decided to repair the existing surface line and to continue using the existing diesel trains after a thorough overhaul without giving up the target of finishing the tunnels, electrification and purchase of rolling stock. In the meantime - and also because of the steadily rising number of passengers - Metrofor has come back on this decision and will build the original project with an underground track of 3,9 km and electric service for which 10 trains will be purchased. The whole of the project shall be realised by 2008 Sources: Allen Morrison/Tramway & Urban Transit, Revista Ferroviária Fortaleza: Mini Funicular (25/12/05) Enterprising beach administrators have installed a mini funicular on one of the beautiful beaches. It consists of a traction engine, a rope, two rails and a small vehicle for about four passengers. Source: Allen Morrison
A new line on on a shorter part of the line from Natal to Ceará Mirim, from Ribeira to the Nordelândia station in the Zona Norte near Extremoz has started operation on the 18th January 2007. Running time is 35 minutes. For the operation three coaches have been rebuilt, four more are to follow. Maceió: CBTU (25/03/2007) A metrô shall operate starting in 2009. The railway system of 32 km shall be modernised, three more Kilometre from the Estação Central to Mangabeiros, near a shopping centre, shall be newly built and possibly a VLT line (Vehículo Leve Sobre Trilhos, LRT) be realised. The branch line of the suburban railway "Metrô de Superfície" was finally extended from the former terminal of one of the lines, Rodoviário, by one station to Camaragibe (originally named Tipi). Between Rodoviário and Camagaribe is a separate single track operation, as signalling is not yet operating. The rebuilding of the southern line which up to now started from the port of Recife and was diesel operated, has made good progress. The line goes now to the centre of Recife (near the terminal of the Metrô) and will be electrified as far as Cajueiro Seco. The first trains started tests in February 2004. Since early March, school groups were allowed free rides. Normal electric service as far as the fourth station, Imbirabeira, started on the 28th February 2005. Train sets from the existing lines are used which have been modernised by Siemens and equipped with air conditioning and a new paint scheme. For the section just opened three train set s are used, but a total of 40 sets are marked for modernisation. A photograph of the trains can be found under http://www.siemens.com.br/templates/coluna1.aspx?channel=5081 . The entire line of 14,3 km should open by the end of 2006. Sources: Allen Morrison/Tramway
& Urban Transit
On the remainder trial operation over four stations to Porta Larga (Jabotão) started in October 2006. It should open for operation in April 2007. For the remaining section with three stations to Cabo Seco further funds of BRR260 million are required. This money is needed for the finishing of the stations, the overhaul of two more train sets (presently four sets are operating) and the signalling installations. As there are no funds for the relevant signalling, the trains will operate at 20 minute intervals and with a speed below 40 km/hour. In the meantime, the project for the construction of the terminal at Cajueiro Seco, the first of five integration terminals for transfer to buses, was published which however only will be finished by the end of April 2007. So the other planned terminals at Largo da Paz, Tancredo Neves, Aeroporto and Prazeres are still missing without which the passenger potential will not be reached. Originally it was envisaged to double the number of passengers to 400'000 per day. For the above mentioned reason this will hardly be reached. A new project has seen the light of the day. This is for the conversion of the line from Cajueiro Seco to Cabo Santa Augustino of 13 km to Light Rail. In the meantime, offers have been requested for seven diesel rail cars which should operate a fifteen minutes service. Cost for these are estimated at BRR48 million. A further branch line to Suape of 11 km, at present used by occasional goods trains, might follow. For this branch line, a further three vehicles will be required at an additional cost of BRR50 million. Light Rail Transit is called in Brasil VLT, Vehículo Leve Sobre Trilhos, or light vehicle on rails. Earlier projects in Rio de Janeiro in the reserved central section of the urban motorway Linha Vermelha as a peripheral line from the Ilha do Fundão (University) to Barra de Tijuca were never built. There, the vehicles designed by the British designer Jasper Morrison for the Hannover Light Rail system should have been used. The project designed by businessmen from Barra failed because of the opposition of the bus companies owners. The light rail in Campinas stopped after a short period due to the absence of passengers and because of a local bus operator who was elected mayor of Campinas. The vehicles, identical with the Belgian articulated light rail cars on line 2 of the Metrô at Rio de Janeiro except for the electric equipment by Siemens, were transferred there and continued service on line 2. Line 2, the only long lasting light rail line in Brasil, has in the meantime been rebuilt to full Metrô standards. Source: Revista Ferroviária
Salvador, Bahia: Suburban line and Light Rail line (22/10/05, 25/12/05, 10/08/06, 25/12/06) On the existing suburban line to Paripe, of 18 original forty-four year old units four are still operable. Although repainted in brilliant colours, they urgently need an overhaul. Now it is planned to overhaul them and to rebuild a further three units. Also the stations and the track should be overhauled, and all this until January 2007. The construction of the Light Rail line has commenced, but has not come very far, and the opening date is far away. Recently, new funds arrived, and this should enable the work to continue. For the first section of line 1 of only 6 km, in 1993 six trains at a total cost of USD42 millions were ordered from the Japanese firm MItsui. This firm is responsible for the delivery whilst the mechanical part comes from Rotem (Korea), the electrical part from Toshiba (Japan). The first section with five stations from Lapa at the centre of Salvador to the Acesso Norte shall be inaugurated in December 2007. Source: Revista Ferroviária
Salvador, Bahia: Elevators and Funiculars (12/10/05, 25/12/05 and 11/06/06) The Pilar funicular, out of service since 1984, has been rebuilt. New cars with a capacity of 20 passengers were built on site, and the line and the stations were reconstructed. The opening took place on the 29th March 2006. According to an older report, the elevator Taboão will also be rebuilt: A report can be found under: http://www.jornaldamidia.com.br/noticias//2005/05/13/Bahia/Elevador_do_Taboao_e_Plano_Inclin.shtml . Allen Morrison has created a new web site on the new Pilar line with many photographs. It can be found at http://www.tramz.com/br/sv/p/p.html. Many new facts have come to light about these urban transport services, and the technical data could be clarified. In addition, a further line has come to light in the suburb of Barra. With this, we have in supplement to Allen Morrison's page created a new page. An interesting document part of which has been published in a book about Swiss mountain railway pioneers, concerning the Gonçalves funicular, has been unearthed at the Swiss Museum of Transport in the original version and made usable for this web site. The report was written in 1890 and sent, together with a letter of thanks for an excellent achievement, to the Swiss engineer Niklaus Riggenbach. With this it can be confirmed that an English firm built in 1888 a funicular which, however, had to be closed for safety reasons that same year, whereafter it was the turn of Riggenbach. The document, together with a translation into English, can be found on a separate page and is worth a visit. In contrast to Riggenbach who wrote his letters in a n illegible handwriting, it is typewriter written. A Portuguese translation has also been provided on a separate page. Allen Morrison has created a new web page which shows with many splendid photographs the earlier tramways. It can be found under http://www.tramz.com/br/sv/sv.html . Foz de Iguaçu, funicular (10/08/05), continue: >>>>> Belo Horizonte The extension of the Suburban Railway to Vilarinho/Venda Nova is now operating. The section from São Gabriel to Vilarinhois a separate single track operation, as signalling is not yet operating. Only missing line is now the branch to Barreiro which has been announced long ago. The arrival of new funds permits the conclusion of the line to Vilarinho (signalling, terminal with bus interchange) and preparatory work on the new line 2 between Barreiros and Calafate. The planned line 3 between Pampulha and Savassi will have to wait further. According to more recent news, part of the funds shall be used for improvements in the track fan at Vilharino, in order to decrease the distance between trains. With regards to line 2, there is an old contract with the construction firm Constructora Mendés Junior, which insists on carrying out the work according to this considerably more expensive contract. In Vilarinho a transfer terminal to the buses was inaugurated. Later a shopping centre shall follow. Central and Eldorado stations will be refreshed. Included is a subway from Central to Rua Sapucai which was built in the twenties and is a national monument. Source: Revista Ferroviária
Rio de Janeiro: Funiculars (22/10/05, 01/0706, 25/12/06, 25/04/07, 10/12/07) The Glória funicular was completely rebuilt in 1993 .An accident in 1994 killed an employee when he tried to close the door. But today the line is operating again. - The new parallel funicular in Penha was also inaugurated in 1993. More details.. In Botafogo a new funicular to the favela Dona Marta is under construction. Of this line three uppermost stations were opened and service started. The two lowermost stations will follow later, as the houses on the path of the line have to be demolished first. The first photographs of the new line are on a new page. Rio de Janeiro: Santa Teresa Tramway (22/12/04) The World Bank has granted the "Bonde" a credit of BRR17 million (USD 6 million). This will be used for the maintenance of the 14 cars, the reconstruction of the workshop (in an earlier attempt the machines were painted in green), them maintenance of the relatively new substation and the finalising work to the branch line in Rua Francisco Muratori at the lower end. Sources: Allen Morrison/Tramway
& Urban Transit
Rio de Janeiro: Rare views from former times, Tramway and Mêtro In order to protect passengers from rain, the Bonde de Santa Teresa featured an experimental closed car, but this was not appreciated by the passengers, and the car was withdrawn. A similar car was built for the line from Usina to Alto do Boa Vista, and a picture of this can be found on page 109 in Allen Morrison's famous book "The Tramways of Brazil"(1989 Bonde Press, New York, out of print), still the best book on the subject. The view below shows the enclosed car en route to Dois Irmãos, just above Alto de Guimarães which is the junction of the lines to Deus Irmãos and Paula Mattos/Largo das Neves as well as the branch to the depot and workshop. Metrô line 2 was formerly a Light Railway (LRT, called Premetrô) and as such operated by articulated Belgian tramcars with pantographs. On the same page of the book as the tramcar above is a photograph of a LRT set which usually consisted of two cars. Below is a rare view of a set at a level crossing at the outer end of the line between Maria de Graça and Irajá.
Rio de Janeiro: Corcovado rack railway (10/08/06) The combined elevator and rolling stair installation at the Corcovado terminus is now operating. It consists of three parallel elevators and one rolling stair each up (on the left side with a beautiful view) and down. Unfortunately, the maintenance of the rolling stock leaves much to be desired (the brakes are almost completely worn), so that no standing passengers can be transported. The concession expires in three years time. The Swiss firm Stadler which has taken over the cog wheel train business from the original manufacturer SLM is informed, and negotiations for new trains are under way to replace the trains from 1978, or for a thourough overhaul of the present stock. A speciality of the cars which are similar to the trains of the Swiss Jungfraubahn which also operates on three-phase current are the motorised control trailer which take the current not from pantographs but from cables on the motor coaches. Passengers arriving at Silvestre by tram (from Carioca, twice daily at 11h and 15h) are now permitted to change to the railway, something formerly turned down because of a pretended lack of electric power to restart on the hill. Rio de Janeiro: Monorail in Santa Teresa (16/03/06) This monorail line was some years ago the theme of a christmas card by the web master who thanks to special relations was able to ride over the whole length. The line connects the Rua Almirante Alexandrino (on which the tram line to Dois Irmãos operates, somewhat further on from the International School, previously : the Swiss School) with the residential area Santa Cecília which climbs up along the hill. The lower station is inside a small gallery, thereafter follows a tunnel and then an open-air section in reversing curves which leads to the houses, many inhabited by former Swiss residents or their successors. The car was operated in earlier times by a gasoline engine, but is now operated by natural gas for which a barrel can be seen on the roof. The two rear wheels are ordinary rubber wheels. You may only ride on it if your are an inhabitant of the area, or wish to visit a resident. Allen Morrison has made a web page with many photographs. It can be found under http://www.tramz.com/br/rj/vj/vj.html. Rio de Janeiro: SuperVia (22/12/04, 29/05/06 and 10/08/06) This suburban system has ordered 20 four car trains sets, equipped with air conditioning, from Mitsui in Japan (responsible for the delivery) where Rotem in Korea supplies themechanical part and Toshiba the electrical part. Total value of the order was USD100 Million, or USD5 Million per train set, financed by the World Bank. The first train set arrived in early January 2006 and has been transferred to the Deodoro workshop. A further three train sets (each of four cars) arrived in early March. The remaining train sets should be delivered by November 2006. At the same time line A to Deodoro has been modernised. The first trains were presented on the 8th June 2006 to the public which could participate on 30 minutes test trips on the rebuilt line to Deodoro. It was envisaged to start service by July/August 2006, and indeed the first four train sets are operating. They run from Monday to Friday from 9 to 16 hours on the lines to Deodoro and Santa Cruz, and experimentally also on other lines. First photographs can be found under http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?referrerid=39159&t=308312 . The trains are similar to those delivered to Athens before the Olympic Games. They have space for 1'300 passengers (of which 228 are seated), are handicapped friendly, have diagnostic maintenance software from Motorola which helps the driver in case of problems, have a digital radio communication system from the same firm, have have matrix dot indicators outside at the front and on the sides (which can be adjusted by the driver) and have alternative current motors. They are the first new trains for 30 years, and the first ordered by a local State government. Hitherto they were ordered by the Federal government. Rotem manufactures all kind of rolling stock, from tramcars to High Speed trains and has achieved considerable success the world over. In 1996, the Swiss firm Intamin from Wollerau, Canton of Schwyz, formerly mainly specialised in roller coasters, installed around the Barra Shopping Centre a monorail line equipped with trains from the German Federal Garden Exhibition at Stuttgart (the remainder of the trains went to the next Garden Exhibition at Gelsenkirchen). Cars operated automatically, but with an attendant to start and stop the trains by pushbutton. In case of technical problems the man who had designed the control system was able to interfere from his garden in the German Ruhr area, but only after the transmission frequency had been altered (in the same way he also managed the monorails at Stuttgart and Gelsenkirchen). The practical purpose of the line remained a mystery, as the parking spaces were arranged around the shopping centre and were quicker reached by walking than by using the monorail. At the same time, some more lines were planned to the residential areas nearby, with other vehicles, but they were never realised. In August 2003, operation stopped, and the line was dismantled. Santos (03/10/05, 25/04/07,10/12/07) The museum tramway has received from the "Museo do Carro Eléctrico in Porto/Portugal cars 137, 171 and 193 as a gift. The cars are required for the extension of the line which is under construction. They should have arrived in September and should be in service at the end of 2005. The cars must keep their historical character, and their origin must be shown during ten years inside the cars. Santos considers the acquisition of further cars from Lisboa, Turin and San Francisco. In addition, a historical trolleybus operation is being planned. At present there are still eight trolleybuses in operation. Sources: Allen Morrison/Tramway & Urban Transit and Via Trolebus The museum tramway was extended to 4,9 km. In addition to the three vehicles from Porto the bogie tram 3143 from Torino/Italia shall be operating. A further new vehicle is car 1799 of the former tramway of São Paulo (originally from New York) which during 40 years had been standing in a park in nearby Bertioga. Source: Tramway& Urban
Transit
The "Aeromovel", a railway operated by compressed air and driven by a propeller, which had been taken over by an American firm has so far apart from the show line on a viaduct at Porto Alegre only sold one system to a amusement park in Indonesia. The Brasilian City of Blumenau, a further prospective customer, never ordered an installation. Porto Alegre: Trensurb (10/12/07) The extension of the Suburban Railway from São Leopoldo (Museu do Trem, railway museum) to Novo Hamburgo is under construction. A second line from Azenha (near the centre of town) to FIERGS and a connection to line 1 are also under construction. Against former announcements, work has neither started on the extension from São Leopoldo to Novo Hamburgo, nor on the planned line 2. For the extension a new call for bids has to be arranged, of line 2 nobody talks anymore. Source: Revista Ferroviária This city in the south of Brasil has for a long time operated a world famous system of bus corridors which are being operated with double articulated buses. Now it is planned to take a further step and rebuild the north and south axis to LRT/Light Rail. Both corridors have been overcharged for a long time. A 22 km long line is planned between the terminals Santa Cândida (in the north) and CIC (in the south) with 22 stations. At present, more than 400'000 passengers are carried per day, and an increase of 20 per cent is expected. Total cost are estimated at BRR2 billion. Quelle: Revista Ferroviária
Paraguay: Asunción (16/03/06, 10/08/06, 10/12/07, 20/04/08) The last streetcar of this system, the modernised two-axle car from Brussels No. 9007 which allegedly was in use as an advertising car until December 2005, has been restored and is being exhibited on a plinth on Plaza Uruguaya. Of recent, track is being prepared for service, and from Brussels a used PCC car no longer required there may be coming. Sources: Blickpunkt Strassenbahn/Tramway & Urban Transit The old railway station at Aregua, 30 km from Asunción, receives every Sunday the passengers of the "Tren del Lago". The cultural operation, in the building called "Station A", offers visitors a lively program with a Paraguayan folk dance festival and an exhibition of handicraft products for sale. The steam train leaves Botánica station in the outskirts of Asunción at 10:00 hours, and the cost of the trip is PYG (Guarani)30.000 for local visitors and USD20 for foreign tourists. Source: El Reporter Ferroviário As part of FLB's definitive Uruguay project, the acquired diesel locomotive was transported from Paraná to Buenos Aires for repairs. A notice can be found in the edition of "El Reporter Ferroviário" dated 28th October 2003. Blaguer S.A. is the name of the firm which LFU has registered in Argentina. A short notice in German can be found in our periodical "Volta o Trem" No.7-5 (in German only).
In the meantime, the locomotive has been overhauled and repainted.
La locomotora funciona! (16/08/04) In June 2004, the target had been reached, the repairs on the Cockerill diesel locomotive financed by FLB/AIFFLA and handed over to LFU for operation were finalised. LFU was able to find in Bahia Blana three truck loads of spare parts, part of which were sold to the suburban system TBA which helped with finance. A friendly firm helped with the final work; therefore, the engine will operate for some time in Buenos Aires at work for the construction of a Metrovías tunnel, to reduce debts, before being shipped to Uruguay. Work is not finished yet. LFU also owns a passenger coach, a tower car and goods wagons waiting for repairs. All are still on the standard gauge network of ALL Argentina and must be transferred to Buenos Aires for an exhaustive renovation. As LFU has been financed by selling model railways in Montevideo, model trains are gratefully accepted as donations. The railway administration AFE has reconnected the shunting tracks of the former terminal station Estación Central General Artigas early in February with the line tracks . It is now hoped that the station will be reopened. Grupo de Passajeros
On December 15, 2005 and after many promises
throughout the past years, the state railway AFE re-introduced passenger
trains on the line Sayago - Victor Sudriers. Freight trains always have
circulated on this 36 km long section. The trains start at the new terminal
of Montevideo and stop at Yatay, Sayago, Peñarol, Manga, Toledo,
Pando to reach V. Sudriers. One of the vehicles used for this service is
the 70 years old Brill railcar Nr. 127. Local sources report that the trains
are fairly well occupied although the rolling stock did not see any improvements
Source: Fahrplancenter
Rachdi
Uruguay is not only of recent the latest residence of Urutren, the newest activity of our affiliated co-operative AIFFLA, but also excels with reopening of railway lines. Between Montevideo and Florida there has been since the 2nd January 2008 from Monday to Saturday a daily train of AFE, the state railway of Uruguay. The train leaves Florida at 06.00 hours, the return from Montevideo is at 17.25 hours. Journey time is 2,5 hours, the fare is half the one of the buses. The train is composed of a diesel engine and coaches. Source: El Reporter Ferroviário
Buenos Aires Used rolling stock from Renfe (20/04/08) The Spanish state railway Renfe has concluded a contract for the delivery of used rolling stock. With three contracts a total of 416 vehicles shall be delivered until 2010. The equipment which has become superfluous since the opening of the high speed lines includes 16 Talgo-III trains. Total value, not including transport is €120 millions. Further contracts, to be paid separately, concern the maintenance of the vehicles. Source: El Reporter Ferroviário
The website of Ferrovías, operating a diesel suburban service from General Belgrano (Retiro) to Villa Rosa, which up to now consisted of one red page with the logo of the railway has now been built up and is worth a visit. To look at the timetable, you need the Microsoft Excel program, an unusual way of presenting oneself. Suburban lines ex Metropolitano (20/04/08) After the suburban line San Martin had been taken over by UGOFE, in the meantime all the other lines of Metropolitano have also come under the roof of UGOFE which consists of the other concessionaires. The San Martin line from Retiro is now UGOFE/LSM, the ex-Roca lines from Constitución are now UGOFE/LGR and the ex-Belgrano-Sur lines from Estacíon Buenos Aires and Puente Alsina are now under UGOFE/LBS; the renationalisation will probably be the next step. Following the Spanish example, the formation of two organisations is envisaged. Administración de Infraestructura Ferroviária (AIF) would be in charge of track maintenance and signalling, whilst Operaciones Ferroviárias (OF) would be responsible for rolling stock and its operation. For this purpose, however, the grounds of Ferrocarriles Argentinas must be liberated which at present are under the control of ONABE. UGOFE/LSM (ex Metropolitano, ex San Martin) (16/03/06, 25/04/07, 10/12/07, 15/08/08) The former line 1 of Metropolitano, the only line of this company from Retiro station and earlier known as General San Martin, to Pilar, has been taken away from Metropolitano because of maintenance negligence. The operators Ferrovías, Trenes de Buenos Aires and Metrovías have formed an emergency consortium under the name of UGOFE/LSM - Unión de Géstion Operativa Ferroviária, Línea San Martin, which operates the line. The trains have received a thorough overhaul and have been painted in the colours silver/green. The Linea San Martin which operates from Retiro to Pilar has now received eight Portuguese SOREFAME coaches, a diesel locomotive English Electric 1440 and six overhauled MATERFER coaches as well as six Alco diesel locomotives. In addition to these used vehicles, a delivery of a total of 24 trains consisting of new rolling stock from China is envisaged. The delivery consists of 136 passenger coaches with fixed seats, ceiling ventilators and automatic doors. In addition there will 24 luggage/passenger coaches with a luggage compartment. and the same equipment, all from SIFANG, and 24 diesel locomotives from KISHUGAN of 2250 H.P. These should replace all existing vehicles. Source:
El Reporter Ferroviário
A further electrification project is being planned for this line. Total cost will be USD650 Million. The entire project will take six years. Included are the elimination of level crossings between Retiro and José J. Paz, modernisation of the stations, construction of a new workshop and a substation, new signalling and communication via fibre glass, and CTC. Source: El Reporter Ferroviário UGOFE/LGR (ex Metropolitano, ex Roca) (25/04/07, 10/12/07, 20/04/08, 15/08/08) On the lines from Constitución UGOFE/LGR has introduced 70 coaches with pneumatic door opening which is being carried out by the train driver or the guard. Furthermore the missing electrification towards La Plata (the overhead masts have been there already for many years) will be carried out. Between Claypole and Bosques, a distance of 13 km, work has already started. This will take 18 months to accomplish. Furthermore tracks 1 and 2 between Constitución and Temperley will be electrified. At present only tracks 3 and 4 are electrified. A further project is the electrification between Avellanada and Quilmes. A substation will be built at Berazategui. Also the second track between Glew and Korn shall be electrified. Thus travelling time can be reduced and the number of trains increased. In the mean time work has started. The operator, however, does not wish to get involved with this work. Source: El Reporter Ferroviário Of these projects, in 2004 the section of line between Temperley and Claypole was electrified and operation started. In the meantime work on the heightening of the platforms has started, and the existing vehicles are to be reconstructed so as to be able to stop at the higher platforms. Sources:
Punta de Rieles and Crónica Ferroviária
This very active organisation has acquired car 08 of the pre-LRV line E1/E2 of type "Alligator". The association will restore the car to original condition. Source: Tramway &
Urban Transit
The locomotive No. 953 featured on earlier on this web site which had been stored in a far away shed of Metrovías has been transferred to the maintenance centre at Lynch where it is to be restored. Up to then the locomotive had been owned by Onabe. Source:
El Reporter Ferroviário
After a long interruption this tramway is back into service since march 2007. However, it only operates inside the Camet park. The former line along the beach had to be abandoned. It is operated by one of the two vehicles from Porto. This time there is a female driver. The present stretch has a length of 500 Meter, but it is hoped to extend the line later. Source: El Reporter Ferroviário This project presented on a separate page for the use of elderly tram cars from Bern in Rosario could not be realised. The track is not ready, and the remaining funds for the transport could not be found. As by now all the new Combino trams are in service in Bern (somewhat more rapidly than the Cobra trams in Zürich!), last operating day of the old sets was officially the 16th August 2003. Six of the sets of trams reserved for Rosario have been sent to the city of Iasi in Romania. This may well be better, as the second series of Swiss standard cars at Bern had considerable corrosion damage, in contrast to the first (older) series. According to recent information from Bernmobil the authorities have lost confidence into the project. Thus the Be 8/8 to be retired will also go to Iasi, and the operators there are judged to be able to operate and maintain them. Snow in the Andes: Continue >>>>> Chaco Province (16/03/06, 10/12/07) In this province in the northeastern part of Argentina an Urban Light Railway and three interurban lines (of which one closed in the meantime) were opened under the name Sefecha - Servicio Ferroviário do Chaco. This system uses the tracks of Belgrano Cargas - earlier the meter gauge lines of the Belgrano railway. Details with line maps and photographs from the opening can be found on a new page. The urban light rail line is the only one of its kind in Argentina outside Buenos Aires. The line is operated with used rolling stock from Mallorca/Spain. Line 1 of Sefecha which previously ended in Los Amores in the neighbouring province of Santa Fe, has been extended by one station to Cânada Ombu. The number of trains is identical as those for Los Amores. Source:
Crônica Ferroviária
This city on the foot of the Andes, well known for its fruits and wine cultures, already has an extensive trolleybus system with several lines, some of them operated with used three axle vehicles from Solingen/Germany. Now there are plans to build an LRT/Light Rail System, and the Chinese government has worked out an offer for 10 two car diesel trains with a capacity of 350 passengers and a length of 30 meters. The trains are air conditioned and can be heated. Prices are 40 pct.. below similar European prices and include spares for 3 years and the training of local staff. In the meantime, two offers have been received on a call for offers which, however, are twice as expensive as the budget. The first line should operate between Panquehua (Las Heras) and Maipú with a length of 12 km. Source:
El Reporter Ferroviário
The city of Córdoba plans the construction of a metro. This shall consist of two lines and a total of 17 stations 500 Metre apart, and have a length of 15,8 Kilometre. The consortium consists of the firms Iecsa (Macri group) and Ghella (Italy) as well as the french firm Alstom. The first line goes from west to east, from Duarto Quirós to the bus station. The second line goes from south to north, from the University to Alta Córdoba on the Ferrocarril Belgrano. Construction time is expected to be nine years, total cost USD800 Million. Source:
El Reporter Ferroviário
On the 12th August 2007 on line A-1 the "Tren de las Sierras" was reborn between the terminal station Rodriguez del Busto (Córdoba) and la Calera. Total length is 16 km. The line is operated by Ferrocentral, consisting of the passenger railway Ferrovías SAC and the goods railway Nuevo Central Argentino S.A. In earlier times the line was owned by the ex-Ferrocarril General Belgrano and was closed in 2001. The reopening features well with the 150th anniversary of the railways of Argentine. The diesel motor coach comes from a delivery of used vehicles from Portugal and has been overhauled by Emepa S.A. There are a total of four double motor coaches from Alsthom, type 9700, from the 1970's. Each motor coach set takes 120 passengers, running time at present is 40 minutes. The trains operate twice daily, in the morning and evening at 8h and 17h. Fare is ARP2 for adult passengers and various reductions. Also the track has been overhauled and the stations provided with higher platforms; in addition the infrastructure at the terminal stations has been newly built including workshops, washing machines and refuelling equipment. On the urban crossings level crossing barriers were erected. The complete plan envisages three sections: (1) to San Roque, 39 km, 7 stations, (2) to Capilla del Monte, 63 km, 12 stations and 8 stops, and (3) Cruz del Eje, 43 km, 4 stations and 5 stops. Photos from the opening festivities can be found under: http://www.erf.com.ar/2007/22ago/imagen%20002.jpg http://www.erf.com.ar/2007/14ago-e/ts01.jpg http://www.erf.com.ar/2007/14ago-e/ts02.jpg http://www.erf.com.ar/2007/14ago-e/ts03.jpg In the meantime the extension from La Calera via Dique San Roque and Santa Maria to Cosquín has be en inaugurated. Sources: Crônica Ferroviária and El Reporter Ferroviário Iquique (08/01/0 and 23/04/05) In this small harbour town in the north of Chile, for some time a museum tramway has been under construction for a very long time. Finally, it opened on the 24th October 2004. Rolling stock consists of a horse tram with four horses and a double deck battery operated tram car. Information and photographs can be found under http://www.tramz.com/cl/iq/e.html . After a short operating period of about three months the operation of the tram line stopped because of track problems at Christmas 2004. The problems were resolved, and the line resumed operation in February 2005. Sources: Allen Morrison/Tramway
& Urban Transit
Santiago: Subway (01/01/06, 25/12/05, 25/12/06) The subway is being extended continuously. On the 8th September 2004 line 2 was extended by two stations from Puente Cal y Canto to Cerro Blanco in the Recoleta district in the North and passes under the river Mapocho. On the 22nd December 2004 line 2 was extended by two stations and 2,1 km from Lo Ovalle to La Cisterna in the south. La Cisterna will later become a transfer station to line 4A to Vicuña Mackenna on line 4. On the 25th November 2005 line 2 was extended in the north from Cerro Blanco by two stations to Einstein. From there, the line will be extended at the end of 2006 by three stations and 2,4 km to the northern end of the motorway ring Américo Vespucio and to the terminal Vespucio Norte. On the 30th November 2005 the first sections of the entirely new line 4 were opened: from Tobalaba on line 1 - east with seven stations and 7,7 km to the south as far as Grecia. On the same day the outer section of line 4 from Vicente Valdés with eight stations and 10,9 km southbound to Plaza de Puente Alto was opened. The section from Grecia to Vincente Valdés with six stations and 6,1 km was opened on the 2nd March 2006. On the 30th November line 5 was extended by one station to Vicente Valdés where passengers can change to line 4. On line 4 - in contrast to the other lines - cars with steel wheels (as opposed to rubber wheels) are used. There are 180 cars which operate in one or two units of three vehicles each. They are somewhat longer (23 instead of 25 Meters) and wider (2,9 instead of 2,4 Meters). A six-car train (operating in the rush hours) carries 1582 passengers of which 240 are seated. Manufacturer is Alstom of Basil. In addition, there is a workshop at Puente Alto for the trains. On the 16th august 2006 Line 4A was opened with 8 km and five stations from La Cisterna (line 2) to Vicuña Mackenna, with connexion to line 4, but a connexion to line 5 is not envisaged. In November 2005, plans for a further line to Maipú were published. This line would start at Quinta Normal (line 5), then continue due west and parallel to line 1, with a station at a larger distance to San Pablo so as not to overcharge line 1, and go to Maipú, Lo Prado and Pudahuel. This line, probably line 6, will be 13,5 km long and have thirteen stations and will open by 2009. In the same year line 1 will be extended from Escuela Militar due east by four stations and 4 km to Los Dominicos. With this, the rail network will have a total length of 104,5 km with 108 stations. There are also plans for a line 3, originally from Plaza Chacabuco (Santiago racehorse stadium) to Plaza Egaña (La Reina) and later due north to Conchali (on the motorway ring Américo Vespucio) under Avenida Independencia (where a Light Rail line would be built). With the existing lines, line 3 would connect to line 2 at Puente Cal y Canto, and to line 5 at Plaza de Armas, line 1 at Universidad de Chile and again to line 4 at Plaza Egaña, a kind of semicircular line. Furthermore there is a project for a Light Rail line (Tren Liviano) for the development of Ciudad Oeste which will be built on the space of the Cerillos airport. The line should go to the city centre at Plaza de Maipú. However, it is possible that this and further lines planned will be built for diesel electric buses as has been the case in many cities of South America. This would follow the example of Curitiba in the Brasilian state of Santa Catarina, or recently "Transmillenio" at Bogotá/Columbia, and a similar system being planned for Cartagena de Indias in Columbia. All extensions are part of the Transantiago project which envisages a complete integration of all transportation of the city. For the bus system a total of 3'500 articulated and standard buses from Marcopolo of Brasil are on order. Also planned is the creation of transfer centres, the normalisation of bus stops, the standardisation of calls for offers to the (still private) bus operators, the creation of reserved bus lanes and the planning of signalling preferences at cross roads. Source: Urbanrail
New finance has to be found for the funiculars. At present several lines are out of service, including Polanco, El Peral, Barón and Lecheros. Of the 15 lines, five are owned by the city and ten by private people. Source:
Crônica Ferroviária
The new name of the suburban line Merval is Metro de Valparaiso. It is has its own web site which is similar to the one of EFE. This carries exhaustive information about the rebuilding program which consists of the complete renewal of the track, the overhead, the current supply, the surface stations and the new tunnel under Viña del Mar with 4 stations. New stations are Francia and Recreo. Recreo replaces Caleta Abarca (a station along the beach of the same name and exposed to vandalism) and is situated closer to the residential area of the same name. The poorly used station Laboral was closed, the three stations Valencia, Condell and Rumié were closed during rebuilding and replaced by a Metrobus service, but it is not yet certain whether they will reopen. At the same time a new workshop with 4 buildings and an area of 7500 square meters was taken into use. Exhaustive information and photographs of the new rolling stock supplement the information. On the 24th November 2005 the new metro was inaugurated. At the same time the first 10 of 27 two-car sets on order from Alstom of type X'Trapolis were taken into use. Information can be found under http://www.mercuriovalpo.cl/prontus3_fotos/site/artic/20051125/pags/20051125130941.html . The opening was a great success. During the first four days of "Marcha Blanca" with a low flat fare for the entire line 60'000 passengers used the railway, twice as much as expected, and sometimes boarding underways was impossible. This pre-service lasted until 15th December. Then, three more train sets were added. The initial service has intervals of 7,5 minutes as far as Belloto, 15 minutes to Sargento Aleda and 30 minutes to Limache. When all train sets will be in use in June 2006, the intervals are reduced to 5 minutes, 7,5 minutes and 15 minutes respectively. The total running time has been reduced by 20 minutes to 50 minutes. As an innovative measure 17 students from the Engineering faculty of the local university were able to test the trains as drivers. Thereafter they were trained as drivers and will be operating the trains from January 2006 onwards. Unfortunately it has not been possible to eliminate competition by buses. By an unfortunate decision Metro is not part of TMV (Transporte Metropolitano de Valparaíso). From the beginning of 2006 onwards, TMV will issue licenses for parallel bus services. As Metro fares are considered to be high by users, this is a serious competition. Talca (10/12/07) The railway line from Talca to Constitución, formerly a harbour town, as become a national monument. The line has a length of 90 km and reaches villages which otherwise are without road connexion. It was opened between 1892 and 1915, and has in contrast to EFE meter gauge. The vehicles are strong diesel rail buses from Ferrostaal which have been operating for the last 45 years. Source:
El Reporter Ferroviário
The Gran-Concepción region, also called Bio-Bio, has not only opened a new Metro service, but a complete transport system called Biovías which includes all transport participants of the region, from cyclists with their own cycle paths to buses with reserved lanes and signal controls, and the Light Rail lines. Biotren has now its own website and operates two lines. Line 1 operates basically once an hour, but with additional trains during the rush hours over part of the line, from Mercado in the north of Concepción via the centre to Hualqui and has 12 stations. Running time is 55 minutes. Line 2 operates from the centre of Concepción to Lomas Coradas and has 5 stations. With hourly intervals running time is 20 minutes. The entire lines were exhaustively rebuilt, the stations received a new, standardised design and are accessible for handicapped people. On line 1 some stations were renamed, some moved a short distance. Talcahuano is now Mercado, Las Higueras is now Hualpén, Los Condóres has been new since 2001, Universidad Santa Maria replaces Los Perales 100 m away, Lorenzo Arenas replaces Cementerio 100 m away, Poligono is now Pedro Medina, Omer Huet is now Arroyo del Obispo but is not served, and six more stations (Gasómetro, Guacolda, Caupolicán, Colón, Fresia and Araucana) closed. On line 2 the railway bridge over the river Bio-Bio, the largest of its type in Chile and built in 1892 with a length of 1892 meter was extensively renovated. The line which had been operated by electric trains until about 1982 and had been electrified until 1993 was re-electrified. The seven three-car trains of type UT-440 (the same type as the suburban trains in Santiago) were completely overhauled at the RENFE workshops in Valencia/Spain, with new interiors and with new and rounded end sections. A total of USD16,8 millions were invested. Maximum speed of the trains is 140 km/hour.. The stations Arenal, Concepción and Chugayante are intermodal connecting points with bicycle guards and connexion to the buses which are called "Biobuses". At the beginning of December 2005 the line from Temuco to Puerto Montt was reopened. Thus it is now possible to travel an additional distance of 387 km due south. At Puerto Montt a new railway station in the northern suburb Las Palomas was taken into use. Two pairs of trains operate daily on the rebuilt line, and they stop at twelve intermediate stations. Running time is close to 7 hours. With a ticket price of approximately €7.50 for each direction in the saloon class an attractive and priceworthy service is offered. Already after a few days the railcars for 130 passengers - they are two-car sets ex Renfe (Spain) of type UT-593 which had been modernised and equipped with air conditioning - were insufficient, as they were operating at 100% capacity. This damaged the cars so that the service had to be interrupted for 48 hours to repair them. From now onwards, only passengers with seat reservations will be transported, and no more standing passengers. Proximately, a third set of trains will be formed with another two railcars from Spain. At Temuco there is a connexion from and to trains to Santiago. Also here a further branch line to Antilhué and Valdivia will be operating in about twelve months time. . Source: Fahrplancenter
Rachdi
More information in our periodical "Volta o Trem" Actual issue is No. 14-1 Earlier issues Why not join us as a member? During the last months we have increased our membership by 20%
|
