Trenes Argentinos Operaciones Explained
Operadora Ferroviaria Sociedad del Estado (SOFSE), trading as Trenes Argentinos Operaciones, is an Argentine state-owned company created in 2008 to operate passenger services in Argentina. It operates as a division of Ferrocarriles Argentinos S.E..[1] [2]
Since March 2015 SOFSE has run the Buenos Aires commuter rail services Mitre, San Martín, Roca and Belgrano Sur lines previously operated by private companies.
History
Background
After the railway privatisation in Argentina at the beginning of the 1990s, the railway assets that had not been given in concession were taken over by Ferrocarriles Argentinos before being dissolved.
From 1996 to 2000 those assets were administered by "Ente Nacional de Administración de Bienes Ferroviarios" (ENABIEF) created through a National Decree promulgated by the Presidency of Argentina. On June 1, 2000, ENABIEF merged to Dirección Nacional de Bienes del Estado.
From then on, the "Organismo Nacional de Administración de Bienes" (ONABE) began its activities as an organisation created to manage the assets not directly affected by State activities.[3]
Law 26.352 promulgated in 2008 re-organized the railway operations in Argentina creating two State organisations, the "Administración de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias" (ADIF) and the "Operadora Ferroviaria" (SOFSE). Decree N° 752/08 regulated the activities by the recently established company since then.
Further operations
Although having been established in 2008, SOFSE became active two years later, when the organisation took over the railway services in Chaco Province left by Servicios Ferroviarios del Chaco (SEFECHA). In 2011 the organisation added the regional services of Salta and Buenos Aires Provinces. When the Ministry of Transport was created in 2012, SOFSE took over all the urban services not granted in concession of Greater Buenos Aires. The society also began to operate interurban services such as train services to Córdoba, Tucumán cities and other services previously operated by the Government of Entre Ríos Province.
In June 2013, SOFSE took over the Tren de la Costa when the Government decided the company would be managed by the Argentine State after revoking the contract with Sociedad Comercial del Plata.[4]
In September 2013, the Government of Argentina designed SOFSE to operate the Mitre and Sarmiento lines, after their contracts of concession were revoked to Trenes de Buenos Aires. This decision was officially promulgated through Resolution N° 1083/13.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
SOFSE temporarily operated the Mitre line until the Government of Argentina re-privatised it, giving the line concession to "Corredores Ferroviarios S.A." (a private company part of Emepa Group) on February 12, 2014.[10] [11] [12]
In December 2014, brand new trains acquired by the Government of Argentina from Chinese company CNR Dalian, started to run luxury services from Constitución to Mar del Plata.[13] [14] The classic service continued to be operated by Ferrobaires.[15]
In February 2015, services from Buenos Aires to Rufino, Santa Fe were reestablished after 22 years. The service runs with brand-new trains acquired from China on Ferrocarril San Martín tracks. Trains make stops at Chacabuco, Junín, Vedia and Alberdi, among other stations.[16] [17]
In March 2015, SOFSE started to run the CNR CKD8 trains from Retiro to Córdoba. Due to the poor condition of the tracks, trains took 19½ hours to run the 700km (400miles). This was more than twice the time that it took in 1938, when services operated by Central Argentine took 9 hours to connect both cities with two intermediate stops.[18] [19]
Commuter rail renationalisation
SOFSE took over Belgrano Sur and Roca (operated by Argentren) and Mitre and San Martín (operated by Corredores Ferroviarios) lines after the Government of Argentina rescinded the contracts signed with both companies on March 2, 2015. The contract terms specified that the concession could be cancelled with no right to claim compensation.[20] The agreements had been signed in February 2014, committing Argentren and Corredores Ferroviarios to operate the lines.[21] [22] [23]
Latest news
In January 2016, the Ministry of Transport ceased operations over services to La Pampa Province. The Government took the decision based on the low demand of the Santa Rosa–General Pico line and the poor conditions of some bridges that had deteriorated after the flooding in August 2015.[24] [25] [26]
In June 2016, the Buenos Aires–Rosario service extended operations to Rosario Norte Station (located at the north of the city, closer to the downtown) instead of Rosario Sur, which had been terminus until then.[27]
In March 2023, Trenes Argentinos announced the return of passenger services to Mendoza Province, which had been interrupted since 1993 during the Carlos Menem presidency.[28] As the former Mendoza railway station had been converted into a tram stop and added to the Metrotranvía network, the terminus was set in Palmira, distant 5 km from the city of Mendoza.[29] A test ride was run in March, nevertheless it was severely criticized due to the excessive journey time (27 hours) alleging that in the 1960s the travel took only 13 hours.[30] [28] After a delay that took more than two months,[31] [32] the service (that had terminus in Justo Daract, San Luis Province) was finally reestablished to reach Palmira in June 2023.[33]
Services operated
The following is a list of services operated by Operadora Ferroviaria in Argentina. The list includes urban railways such as Mitre, San Martín, Roca and Belgrano Sur lines previously managed by private companies.
Metropolitan
Commuter rail services within the Buenos Aires Province:[34]
- Notes
Long distance
Inter-city services along Argentina, as of January 2024:[37]
- Notes
Regional
Regional services as of June 2023:[37]
- Notes
Maps of services operated
As of February 2023
Notes and References
- Web site: Resolución 162/2015 . 26 February 2015 . InfoLeg . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110727/http://infoleg.mecon.gov.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/240000-244999/243132/norma.htm . 2015-04-02.
- Web site: Licitación Pública Nacional 05/2015 . National Public Tender 05/2015 . Operadora Ferroviaria Sociedad del Estado . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402154226/http://www.sofse.gob.ar/contrataciones/descargar.php?i=4491 . April 2, 2015.
- Web site: Historia del organismo . ONABE . es . 2014-03-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090611095942/http://www.onabe.gov.ar/historia-onabe.html . 2009-06-11 . dead.
- Web site: Trenes: el Gobierno reestatizó una línea de carga y otra de pasajeros . Trains: the Government renationalized a cargo line and another passenger line . 4 June 2013 . . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141223032457/http://www.infobae.com/2013/06/04/713900-trenes-el-gobierno-reestatizo-una-linea-carga-y-el-tren-la-costa . 23 December 2014.
- Web site: Transfirieron a SOFSE la Línea Mitre y Sarmiento . The Mitre and Sarmiento Lines are transferred to SOFSE . 13 September 2013 . Rieles.com . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150116000350/http://www.rieles.com/website2010/index.php/noticias/nacionales/14633-transfirieron-a-sofse-la-linea-mitre-y-sarmiento . January 16, 2015.
- Web site: El gobierno nacional estatizó los ferrocarriles Sarmiento y Mitre . The national government nationalized the Sarmiento and Mitre railways . 11 September 2013 . Infobae . es.
- News: Avanza la estatización de trenes: se suman Sarmiento y Mitre . The nationalization of trains advances: Sarmiento and Mitre join . 12 September 2013 . . es.
- News: El Sarmiento ya es estatal . Sarmiento is now state-owned . 26 October 2013 . . es.
- Web site: Resolution N° 1083/13 . 11 September 2013 . Official Bulletin of Argentina . es.
- News: Trenes: le dan a Roggio el Mitre y el San Martín y a Emepa, el Roca y el Belgrano Sur . Trains: they give Roggio the Mitre and the San Martín and Emepa, the Roca and the Belgrano Sur . 12 February 2014 . . es.
- News: Las privadas volverán a operar la mayoría de las líneas ferroviarias . Private companies return to operate the majority of the railway lines . 12 February 2014 . . es.
- Web site: El Gobierno estableció un nuevo régimen de operaciones de las líneas ferroviarias . The Government establishes a new operations regime for railway lines . 12 February 2014 . . es.
- Web site: Los nuevos trenes a Mar del Plata funcionarán desde este viernes . The new trains to Mar del Plata will run from this Friday . 19 December 2014 . Telam . es.
- Web site: Realizará su primer viaje el tren chino que unirá Buenos Aires con Mar del Plata . The Chinese train that will connect Buenos Aires with Mar del Plata will make its first journey . 21 November 2014 . Minuto Uno . es.
- Web site: Horarios y Destinos: Plaza Constitución – Mar del Plata . Schedules and Destinations: Plaza Constitución – Mar del Plata . Satélite Ferroviario . es.
- Web site: Después de más de dos décadas volvió el tren de pasajeros a Rufino . After more than two decades, the passenger train returns to Rufino . 2 March 2015 . Cronica Ferroviaria . es.
- News: Mañana vuelve el tren a Rufino . Tomorrow the train returns to Rufino . 27 February 2015 . . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402140220/http://www.lacapital.com.ar/ed_impresa/2015/2/edicion_2291/contenidos/noticia_5132.html . April 2, 2015.
- News: Un viaje interminable: El nuevo tren a Córdoba tardó media hora más que en 1890 . An endless journey: The new train to Córdoba took half an hour longer than in 1890 . 11 March 2015 . Clarín . es.
- Web site: El nuevo tren a Córdoba tarda más del doble que en 1938 . The new train to Córdoba takes more than twice as long as in 1938 . 12 March 2015 . Infobae . es.
- Web site: Ya está lista la ley que prevé más control estatal sobre los trenes . The law that provides for more state control over trains is ready . Alejandro . Alfie . 5 March 2015 . . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402125413/http://www.ieco.clarin.com/economia/Nueva-ley-trenes-esta-lista_0_1315068533.html . April 2, 2015.
- News: Estado rescindió contrato de trenes a privados y avisó que no pagará indemnizaciones . The State rescinds the private train contract and announced that it will not pay compensation . 2 March 2015 . . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131348/http://www.ambito.com/noticia.asp?id=780856 . April 2, 2015.
- Web site: Buenos Aires commuter routes renationalised . 3 March 2015 . Railway Gazette International.
- Web site: Resolution N° 171/2015 . Official Bulletin of Argentina . es.
- News: La Pampa se quedó otra vez sin tren de pasajeros . La Pampa is once again without a passenger train . 26 January 2016 . El Diario de La Pampa . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160204004819/http://www.eldiariodelapampa.com.ar/index.php/112-portada/cuater/9708-la-pampa-se-quedo-otra-vez-sin-tren-de-pasajeros . February 4, 2016.
- News: Trenes: una herencia precaria que dejó el kichnerismo y que el maquillaje no disimula . Trains: a precarious legacy left by Kirchnerism and that makeup does not hide . Diego . Cabot . 21 January 2016 . La Nación . es.
- News: En La Pampa ya dejaron de funcionar los trenes de pasajeros . In La Pampa the passenger trains have already stopped working . 26 January 2016 . Diario Registrado . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305121424/http://www.diarioregistrado.com/politica/en-la-pampa-ya-dejaron-de-funcionar-los-trenes-de-pasajeros_a56afbc287e7f86ae3499e44a . 5 March 2016.
- News: El tren a Retiro llega ahora hasta la estación Rosario Norte, en pleno Pichincha . The train to Retiro now arrives at the Rosario Norte station, in the heart of Pichincha . 16 June 2016 . La Capital . es.
- https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2023/03/29/volvio-el-tren-a-mendoza-pero-tarda-10-horas-mas-que-en-1910-la-odisea-de-su-construccion-en-el-siglo-xix/ Volvió el tren a Mendoza, pero tarda 10 horas más que en 1910: la odisea de su construcción en el siglo XIX
- https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/despues-de-30-anos-volvimos-mendoza Después de 30 años, volvimos a Mendoza
- https://www.perfil.com/noticias/sociedad/el-gobierno-reabrio-el-tren-desde-retiro-a-mendoza-pero-la-oposicion-dice-que-el-viaje-tarda-30-horas.phtml Cruces entre el Gobierno y la oposición por las treinta horas que tarda el tren a Mendoza
- https://www.elsol.com.ar/mendoza/el-radicalismo-pide-explicaciones-por-la-demora-de-la-llegada-del-tren-a-mendoza/ El radicalismo pide explicaciones por la demora de la llegada del tren a Mendoza
- https://www.diariomendoza.com.ar/politica/exigen-explicaciones-demora-tren-buenos-aires-mendoza-n49130 Exigen explicaciones por la demora del tren entre Buenos Aires y Mendoza
- https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202306/630274-tren-de-pasajeros-mendoza.html El primer servicio regular de tren de pasajeros llegó a Mendoza luego de 30 años
- https://www.argentina.gob.ar/transporte/trenes-argentinos/horarios-tarifas-y-recorridos/areametropolitana/ Recorridos - Área metropolitana
- https://www.pagina12.com.ar/553307-inauguraron-el-tren-turistico-que-une-las-localidades-bonaer Inauguraron un tren turístico en Mercedes, sin la presencia de Matías Lammens
- https://tn.com.ar/sociedad/2023/05/27/tren-turistico-mercedes-tomas-jofre-cuales-son-las-estaciones-y-cuanto-dura-el-recorrido/ Tren turístico Mercedes-Tomás Jofré: cuáles son las estaciones y cuánto dura el recorrido
- https://www.argentina.gob.ar/transporte/trenes-argentinos/horarios-tarifas-y-recorridos/servicios-regionales-larga-distancia Servicios regionales y de larga distancia
- News: Tras dos años sin funcionar, vuelve el tren a Mar del Plata y tendrá 12 paradas . After two years without working, the train returns to Mar del Plata and will have 12 stops . 15 June 2017 . Clarín . es.
- Web site: Resolución 1093/2013 – Asignación de servicios y administración de infraestructura . Official Bulletin of Argentina . es.
- Web site: Horarios y Destinos: Retiro – Córdoba . Satélite Ferrovario . es.
- News: Estatizaron los trenes de pasajeros de larga distancia . They nationalized long-distance passenger trains . 8 November 2014 . Clarín . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150116000450/http://www.ieco.clarin.com/economia/Estatizaron-trenes-pasajeros-larga_distancia_0_1244875628.html . January 16, 2015.
- Web site: Horarios y Destinos: Roque Sáenz Peña – Chorotis . Satelite Ferroviario . es.
- Web site: Resolución 1281/2015 – Ministry of Transport . 16 July 2015 . Official Bulletin of Argentina . es.
- https://www.argentina.gob.ar/transporte/trenes-argentinos/horarios-tarifas-y-recorridos-de-trenes/servicio-regional-rosario Servicio regional Rosario - Cañada de Gómez
