San Rafael railway station explained

San Rafael
Symbol Location:mexicocity
Symbol:fs
Type:Commuter rail
Address:Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico
Country:Mexico
Coordinates:19.5653°N -99.1954°W
Owned:Ferrocarriles Suburbanos
Operator:Ferrocarriles Suburbanos
Platforms:1 island platform
Tracks:2
Accessible:yes
Structure:At grade
Mapframe-Caption:Area map and layout
Mapframe:yes
Map Type:Mexico City urban area
Map State:collapsed

San Rafael is a commuter railway station serving the Ferrocarril Suburbano, a suburban rail that connects the State of Mexico with Mexico City. The station is located in the municipality of Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico, north of Mexico City.[1]

General information

San Rafael station is located in the San Rafael industrial area in Tlalnepantla and it is the fourth station of the system going northbound from Buenavista. The station mainly services the factories area as well as inhabitants of the Tlayapa neighborhood.[2]

As with Mexico City Metro, each station of the Ferrocarril Suburbano has a pictogram. San Rafael's pictogram depicts a fish. In many representations, Saint Raphael can be seen holding a fish, therefore, a fish was chosen as the station's pictogram.[3]

Jardines del Recuerdo, one of Greater Mexico City's most notable graveyards is located near the station.

History

San Rafael station opened on 2 June 2008 as part of the first stretch of system 1 of the Ferrocarril Suburbano, going from Buenavista in Mexico City to the Lechería station in the State of Mexico.[4]

Before its construction, most of the area was barren land, except for the nearby factories. Illegal housing could also be found in the zone. Once the construction of San Rafael station was announced and after the station was inaugurated, several housing projects were developed in the area.[5]

During its first years of operation, San Rafael station reported very little ridership. In occasions, trains would stop at the station as it is customary, but would not open the doors, since there were no passengers at the station.[2]

In 2009, between San Rafael and Lechería station, two trains crashed, with around 100 people injured.[6]

Station layout

GStreet LevelExits/Entrances
G
Platforms
Northbound
Southbound toward Buenavista

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ferrocarriles Suburbanos - Estaciones. fsuburbanos.com. 1 April 2020.
  2. News: San Rafael: la estación que no pesca nada. El Universal. Juan Manuel. Barrera. 25 May 2008. 1 April 2020. Spanish.
  3. Ineco. December 2008. Cercanías en México para cien millones de viajeros al año. https://web.archive.org/web/20100701134557/http://www.ineco.es/clientes/itransporte/Minisite_Itransporte/Secciones/En%20Portada/en_portada_diciembre_08.pdf. 1 July 2010. 1 April 2020. Spanish.
  4. Tren Suburbano inaugurated. Railway Gazette International. 1 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20190416204841/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/tren-suburbano-inaugurated.html. 16 April 2019. 1 April 2020.
  5. Web site: El elemento urbanizante: la creación de la estación San Rafael del tren suburbano y su efecto urbanizador. Manuel. de la Vega Orozco. 1 April 2020. Spanish.
  6. Web site: Los lamentables accidentes del Tren Suburbano. UN1ÓN Edomex. 29 June 2017. 1 April 2020. Spanish.