The State Railways Institution (Spanish; Castilian: Instituto de Ferrocarriles del Estado, or IFE) is a state-run organization of Venezuela that manages the railway systems of the country. Its headquarters are located in Caracas, Venezuela.
According to the 1999 Constitution, its renovation is a national priority. The new infrastructure which has been added includes the first new above-ground train line constructed in Venezuela for more than 70 years, the Ezequiel Zamora Mass Transportation System. Named after the soldier Ezequiel Zamora, it was inaugurated on October 15, 2006, by President Hugo Chávez.
Historically, much of the original Venezuelan network was designed in the 19th century in the Federalist period and under the administration of Antonio Guzmán Blanco, in order to open up the country for trade and earn foreign revenues. However, the first licenses were signed and revoked nine times before the first stretch was operating.
Two of the first lines connected Caracas to its port of La Guaira (the La Guaira and Caracas Railway) and to Valencia (the Great Venezuela Railway) in the 1880s. Notable engineers associated with its original development include: John Grover and Robert Fairlie. Some of the later lines were designed by William A. Welch and Thomas Kavanagh (Caracas subway).
Rail transport in Venezuela was neglected and went into a major decline from the 1950s, with bus and road transport taking its place, just Caracas maintaining its 510NaN0 of subway system and local railway.
In 1975 was devised by the "Instituto Ferrocarriles del Estado" (IFE) a National Plan Ferrocarrilero[1] that began in Maracaibo and reached Barquisimeto-Puerto Cabello-Valencia-Caracas-Cua, following from Cua to Barcelona and Ciudad Bolivar-Ciudad Guayana. The company "Saprolate-Tranarg" made all aerial photographic surveys and the Plan was approved by the then President Luis Herrera Campins, but in the 1980s the Plan IFE was blocked for economic reasons after the devaluation of the Bolivar in 1983 and then was finally canceled with the Caracazo of 1989. Only the section Caracas-Cúa was maintained as a budgeted project (and was made, being inaugurated in 2006 by President Hugo Chavez) .
The 1999 constitution was a signal for a major reinvestment in the infrastructure of the state. Much of the renovation of the current Venezuelan railway network is still at the planning stage, with some already constructed and the rest to be built over a period of about 30 years.
The Venezuelan network includes 6820NaN0 of rail in standard gauge.[2] The network covers the populated and production areas in the country, and is managed by IFE under various Regional Development Plans. There are also connections between Colombia and Brazil that link to the other countries of South America, although traffic in the border areas are affected by foreign policy and defence strategy.
IFE is the sole operator of trains in Venezuela, however, they have created various railway names assigned to different regions throughout the country.
| Railway | Branch | Present Status | Station | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ezequiel Zamora | Capital LineCaracas – El Sombrero(approx 150 km) | Passenger service on Venezuela's first electrified train line[3] between Caracas and Cúa (41 km) has been in operation since October 15, 2006.[4] Although short this trip passes through 24 tunnels with the longest being just under 6.8 km[5] | Libertador Simón Bolívar | Caracas beside the Caracas Metro La Rinconada station. | Federal District |
| Generalísimo Francisco de Miranda | North Charallave | Miranda State | |||
| Don Simón Rodríguez | South Charallave | Miranda State | |||
| General Ezequiel Zamora | Cúa | Miranda State | |||
| Camatagua | Aragua State | ||||
| El Sombrero | Guarico State | ||||
| Puerto Cabello – La Encrucijada (approx. 108 km) | Under construction and originally projected completion by before 2011[6] however there have been damage setbacks.[7] After years of slow progress[8] a small part of the line (San Diego-Guacara about 10 km) will be opened before the end of 2012.[9] The best optimistic estimate for 100% completion was sometime before 2015.[10] Presently 14 of 15 tunnels[11] (accumulated 28 km in length) have been completed with hope for the last one to be finished before end of 2012.[12] The longest built tunnel is just a smidgen under 7.8 km in length.In 2016 the, "Puerto Cabello railway project, was described as irregular and marked by slow payments by the client as a result of the country’s poor economic conditions, mainly related to the drop in the price of oil."[13] | Puerto Cabello | Puerto Cabello | Carabobo State | |
| Naguanagua | Northern Valencia suburb | Carabobo State | |||
| San Diego | North-eastern Valencia suburb | Carabobo State | |||
| Guacara | Eastern Valencia suburb | Carabobo State | |||
| San Joaquín | San Joaquín | Carabobo State | |||
| Mariara | Mariara | Carabobo State | |||
| Maracay | Maracay | Aragua State | |||
| Cagua | Santa Crúz de Aragua[14] with station near Cagua, La Encrucijada and Turmero | Aragua State | |||
| La Encrucijada – Cúa | planning stage | La Victoria | La Victoria | Aragua State | |
| Las Tejerías | Las Tejerías | Aragua State | |||
| La Encrucijada – San Juan de Los Morros | planning stage | Villa de Cura | Villa de Cura | Aragua State | |
| San Juan de Los Morros | San Juan de Los Morros | Guárico State | |||
| Simón Bolívar | Puerto Cabello – Barquisimeto | Trial runs between Barquisimeto and Yaritagua have been successful where passenger travel time between the 2 stations is completed in 30 minutes (34 km). Also currently freight trains run from Puerto Cabello to Barquisimeto (173 km).[15] Since the original plans for line and station renovation and modernization projected passenger travel by the end of 2010 have faltered, after considerable delay in construction, the best hope is that full service will be available in 2013.[16] An additional rail will be added between the Morón and Puerto Cabello Stations to serve the expected increase in rail traffic on the shared line.[17] | Puerto Cabello | Puerto Cabello | Carabobo State |
| Morón | Western Puerto Cabello Suburb | Carabobo State | |||
| San Felipe | San Felipe | Yaracuy State | |||
| Urama | Urama | Yaracuy State | |||
| Chivacoa | Chivacoa | Yaracuy State | |||
| Yaritagua | Yaritagua | Yaracuy State | |||
| Barquisimeto | Barquisimeto | Lara State | |||
| Yaritagua – Acarigua – Turén | Trial train runs have been successfully employed between Barquisimeto and Acarigua via Yaritagua and everyone awaits the inauguration for this 101 km service.[18] The travel time between Yaritagua and Acarigua is 40 minutes. As well an additional 44+ km line extension from Acarigua to Turén should be completed before the end of 2012.[19] Ruezga bridge in Barquisimeto is said to be planned for completion in 2017, allowing opening of the line.[20] | Acarigua | Acarigua | Portuguesa State | |
| Turén | Turén | Portuguesa State | |||
| Norte Occidental (North Western) | Morón – Riecito | only freight services | Morón | Morón | Carabobo State |
| Tucacas | Tucacas | Falcón State | |||
| Yaracal | Yaracal | Falcón State | |||
| Riecito | Riecito | Falcón State | |||
| Yaracal – Punto Fijo | planning stage | Coro | Coro | Falcón State | |
| Punto Fijo | Punto Fijo | Falcón State | |||
| Norte Llanero (Northern Plains) | Maturín – Anaco | planning stage | Maturín | Maturín | Monagas State |
| Anaco | Anaco | Anzoátegui State | |||
| Anaco – Tinaco[21] [22] | This 468 km line is under construction for over 3 years, and expected completion by year-end 2012 has amounted to just less than 25% line completion.[23] So far the construction rate on 5 different work fronts has been slow or even delayed.[24] | Aragua de Barcelona | Anaco | Anzoátegui State | |
| Zaraza | Zaraza | Guárico State | |||
| Tucupito | Tucupito | Guárico State | |||
| Valle de la Pascua | Valle de la Pascua | Guárico State | |||
| Chaguaramos | Chaguaramos | Guárico State | |||
| El Sombrero | El Sombrero | Guárico State | |||
| Dos Caminos | Dos Caminos | Guárico State | |||
| El Pao | El Pao | Cojedes State | |||
| Tinaco | Tinaco | Cojedes State | |||
| Tinaco – Barinas | planning stage | San Carlos | San Carlos | Cojedes State | |
| Acarigua | Acarigua | Portuguesa State | |||
| Guanare | Guanare | Portuguesa State | |||
| Sabaneta | Sabaneta | Barinas State | |||
| Barinas | Barinas | Barinas State | |||
| Barinas – San Cristobál | planning stage | Barinitas | Barinitas | Barinas State | |
| San Rafael del Piñal | San Rafael del Piñal | Táchira State | |||
| San Cristóbal | San Cristóbal State | Táchira | |||
| Centro Sur (South Central) | San Juan de Los Morros – San Fernando de Apure | The original reconstruction and extension of this 252+ km line was to be completed by year-end 2011 for freight and passenger.[25] This project continues, however slow the main train authorities remain optimistic and emphatic that everything will be ready in 2012.[26] | San Juan de Los Morros | San Juan de Los Morros | Guárico State |
| Ortíz[27] | Ortíz | Guárico State | |||
| Dos Caminos | Dos Caminos | Guárico State | |||
| Calabozo | Calabozo | Guárico State | |||
| Corozopando | Corozopando | Guárico State | |||
| Camaguán | Camaguán | Guárico State | |||
| San Fernando de Apure | San Fernando de Apure | Apure State | |||
| Chaguaramas – Caicara del Orinoco | The original reconstruction and extension to be completed by year-end 2011 for freight and passenger went by without success. The first part of the line service from Chaguaramos to Cabruta some 201 km is scheduled to be completed by 2012.[28] The extended part that includes crossing on the 3rd bridge over the Orinoco River (this one is approx 8.7 km long and presently under construction) and connection to Caicara needs to have a defined date. | Chaguaramas | Chaguaramas | Guárico State | |
| Las Mercedes | Las Mercedes | Guárico State | |||
| El Mejo | El Mejo | Guárico State | |||
| Santa Rita | Santa Rita | Guárico State | |||
| Arrecife | Arrecife | Guárico State | |||
| Cabruta | Cabruta | Guárico State | |||
| Caicara del Orinoco | Caicara del Orinoco | Bolívar State | |||
| Oriental (Eastern) | Guanta – Naricual | abandoned line, under study for upgrade | Guanta | Guanta | Anzoátegui State |
| Naricual | Naricual | ||||
| Ciudad Guayana – Manicaure | under construction | Puerto Ordaz | Ciudad Guayana Este | Bolívar State | |
| Maturín | Maturín | Monagas State | |||
| Manicaure | Manicaure | Sucre State | |||
| Anaco – Cúa | planning stage | Anaco | Anaco | Anzoátegui State | |
| Barcelona | Barcelona | Anzoátegui State | |||
| El José | El José | Anzoátegui State | |||
| Puerto Píritu | Puerto Píritu | Anzoátegui State | |||
| Higuerote | Higuerote | Miranda State | |||
| Cúa | Cúa | Miranda State | |||
| Occidental (Western) | Maracaibo – Sabana de Mendoza | planning stage, had symbolic laying of the first rail and project definition | Maracaibo | beside a Maracaibo Metro station | Zulia State |
| El Tablazo | El Tablazo | Zulia State | |||
| Santa Rita | Santa Rita | Zulia State | |||
| Cabimas | Cabimas | Zulia State | |||
| Ciudad Ojeda | Ciudad Ojeda | Zulia State | |||
| Lagunillas | Lagunillas | Zulia State | |||
| Bachaquero | Bachaquero | Zulia State | |||
| Mene Grande | Mene Grande | Zulia State | |||
| Sabana de Mendoza | Sabana de Mendoza | Trujillo State | |||
| Sabana de Mendoza – Barquisimeto | planning stage | Carora | Carora | Lara State | |
| Barquisimeto | Barquisimeto | Lara State | |||
| Encontrados – Machiques | planning stage | Encontrados | Encontrados | Zulia State | |
| Machiques | Machiques | Zulia State | |||
| Machiques – Maracaibo – Puerto Las Américas | planning stage | Maracaibo | Maracaibo | Zulia State | |
| Puerto Las Américas | Puerto Las Américas | Zulia State | |||
| Región Guayana (Guayana region) | San Fernando – Tucupita | planning stage | San Fernando de Apure | San Fernando de Apure | Apure State |
| Cabruta | Cabruta | Gúarico State | |||
| Caicara | Caicara | Bolívar State | |||
| Ciudad Bolívar | Ciudad Bolívar | Bolívar State | |||
| Ciudad Guayana | Puerto Ordaz | Bolívar State | |||
| Tucupita | Tucupita | Delta Amacuro State | |||
| Caicara – Puerto Ayacucho | planning stage | Puerto Ayacucho | Puerto Ayacucho | Amazonas State | |
| Caracas – La Guaira | Caracas – La Guaira | planning stage - In May 2007 a maglev train was proposed to link Caracas to La Guaira and Simón Bolívar International Airport. A route is being studied prior to obtaining funding.[29] | Caracas | La Rinconada | Distrito Federal |
| Maiquetía | Maiquetía (near the airport) | Vargas State | |||
| La Guaira | La Guaira by the seaport | Vargas State | |||
| Recreacional (recreational) | Parque Recreacional El Encanto | Reconstruction for passenger service by end of 2012 | Los Teques | Los Teques | Miranda State |
After 70 years without major improvements to the Venezuelan railway system, the Caracas – Cúa line was opened for public service on October 15, 2006.The route is part of the projected Ezequiel Zamora railway axis. It starts from Caracas and ends in Cúa, Miranda State. The main terminal is located next to the Caracas Metro (subway) line 3 La Rinconada Terminal Station. This short North-South line can be passenger travelled in approximately, 30 minutes. The following are the names of the 4 stations and the estimated travel time from Caracas and then the additional time to the next station. Also there is a delay time before the train restarts the trip which can be adjusted by management policy.
| Station | Location | Travel Time | Wait Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libertador Simón Bolívar | Caracas | Federal District | ||
| Generalísimo Francisco de Miranda | North Charallave | Miranda State | 17 min | 2 min |
| Don Simón Rodríguez | South Charallave | Miranda State | 4 min | 2 min |
| General Ezequiel Zamora | Cúa | Miranda State | 10 min | |
The main branch of the Simón Bolívar railway axis is a 1770NaN0 east–west line where a full upgrade/restoration was planned with a projected completion date of 2010. This line connects Carabobo State, Yaracuy State and Lara State. The stations are as follows:
Another branch of the Simón Bolívar railway axis is a 1130NaN0 north–south line connection between the Yaritagua, Yaracuy State, Acarigua, Portuguesa State where a full upgrade restoration is in progress.
A 2520NaN0 north–south line where a full upgrade/restoration was originally projected for completion by the end of 2010. This line was supposed to connect Guárico State and Apure State.
The railway provides both freight and passenger service.
Between Puerto Cabello and Barquisimeto movement of loads over 3 million tons per month have been exceeded.
, passenger service is provided only between the stations on the Caracas – Cúa Branch. The following table shows the train schedule:
| Branch | Period | Frequency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caracas – Cúa | Monday to Friday | 5:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | every 20 minutes |
| 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | every 30 minutes | ||
| 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. | every 20 minutes | ||
| Saturday and holidays | 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. | every hour | |
All times are subject to change depending on special events, system improvements and the decisions the managers may make. In 2023, in response to growing demand, the IFE gave in to pressure and finally introduced Sunday services.
Another part of the Ezequiel Zamora railway axis has 1080NaN0 under construction between the sea port city of Puerto Cabello, Carabobo State, and the crossroads town of La Encrucijada, Aragua State. The line is predominately east–west, although between the station at Naguanagua and the terminus at Puerto Cabello the route changes to a north–south direction.
14 tunnels including the 7.8km (04.8miles) Bárbula Tunnel (the longest in South America) and many bridges are required to connect between the various stations along this line. The project is behind schedule. In 2016 work on the Puerto Cabello railway was described as "irregular and marked by slow payments by the client as a result of the country’s poor economic conditions, mainly related to the drop in the price of oil."[30]
The new stations under construction are found in:
(*)These two are suburban cities of Valencia.
Another branch north–south line 2010NaN0 found mainly in Guarico State that will cross the Orinoco River and enter the Bolívar State.
This 2330NaN0 will start in the capital city of Maracaibo Zulia State nearby the Maracaibo Metro (subway) station. The line will cross the mouth of Lake Maracaibo in a combination tunnel/bridge under construction in an east–west direction and after the El Tablazo stop the line follows a north-north-west to south-south-east direction. The stations are as follows:
This 3200NaN0 route will start from Ciudad Guyana Bolívar State, the Puerto Ordaz section and cross the Orinoco River to go south–north to reach Maturín, Monagas State and continue till it reaches the Sucre State where the line will run east–west until it reaches the deep sea water port of Manicuare.
The completion of an extension of the Simón Bolívar railway axis is a 450NaN0 north–south line connection between Acarigua, and Turén.
The first phase 4680NaN0 is part of the North Llanero railway axis (northern plains) an east–west line that would provide service to the following cities/towns:
and work was to be completed by 2012.
As part of a National Rail Development Plan, the standard gauge Tinaco-Anaco railway,[31] was inaugurated with Chinese funding in 2009.
About a fifth of the work had been done by 2012. However, it appears construction stalled in 2013,[32] though the route remains on the State Railways Institution's map of railways under construction .[33]
This 7 km long branch independent of all other rail systems is for recreational purposes only. Mainly is to provide entertainment for tourists, these enchanted sights must be viewed by all. Originally this summit section was part of the Great Venezuela Railway (180 km in length) built in 1909 and operated until after 1937. If all goes well this will be available to the public in 2012.
Work began in 2015 on a 350 million bolivar plan to restore the 7km (04miles) of track, with 7 tunnels and 5 bridges, to provide a 25-minute journey from Los Lagos to El Encanto.[34]
The completion of the connection from La Encrucijada to the Tuy Valley will be made at a later date.
A follow-up future east–west phase will connect Sabana de Mendoza with Barquisimeto Lara State.
Future expansion includes a north–south connection between San Juan de Los Morros and La Encrucijada Station.
A separate phase for the North Llanero railway axis to be constructed at a later date will connect in an east–west direction Maturín Monagas State with Anaco Anzoátegui State.
The full 11000NaN0 route, the North Llanero railway axis will be completed at a later date and will add services among the additional following cities:
This north–south branch will connect Bolívar State to Amazonas State although a possible alternative would be to join San Fernando de Apure to Puerto Ayacucho.
This east–west route will connect Apure State, Guarico State, Bolivar State, Anzoategui State, Monagas State and Delta Amacuro State. Also this line will have stops in Cabruta and Caicara.
This dominately north–south route 501NaN1 joining Federal District to Vargas State will provide access to and from Caracas and its International/National Airports and one of its major Seaports.
Completion of this line is expected within five years after fund approval.
There are no rail links to adjacent countries.
