University train of La Plata

The University train of La Plata is a commuter rail service part of Roca Line, currently being operated by State-owned company Trenes Argentinos. Trains run within La Plata city of Buenos Aires Province in Argentina.

Tren Universitario
A NOHAB railcar stopped at a station (2014).
Overview
Service typecommuter rail
StatusActive
LocaleLa Plata
First serviceApril 26, 2013 (2013-04-26)
Current operator(s)SOFSE
WebsiteTren Universitario
Route
StartLa Plata
Stops7
EndPoliclínico San Martín
Distance travelled4.6 km (2.9 mi)
Average journey time20'
Service frequency60' [1]
Line(s) usedRoca Line
On-board services
Seating arrangementsYes
Technical
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed30 km/h [1]
Track owner(s)Government of Argentina

History
Former Tecnotren rolling stock.

The service was officially opened on 26 April 2013.[2] The units are railbuses powered by a 1.7-litre diesel engines manufactured by FIAT and were manufactured and assembled by TecnoTren, a local company which developed a train that runs on abandoned tracks.[3]

The train runs through the Paseo del Bosque of La Plata, connecting La Plata station with the University of La Plata campus buildings, finishing its trip at the "General San Martín" polyclinic.[4][5][6]

The service was interrupted in February 2014 when the units were sent to workshops for maintenance and inspection works,[7] being reestablished one month later.[8] In December 2014, the TecnoTren units were replaced by NOHAB railcars built in 1948 and imported in the 2000s from Portugal.[9]

State-owned company Trenes Argentinos took over Roca line (operated by Argentren) after the Government of Argentina rescinded the contracts signed with the company on 2 March 2015. The contract terms specified that the concession could be cancelled with no right to claim compensation.[10] The agreements had been signed in February 2014, committing Argentren and Corredores Ferroviarios to operate the lines.[11][12][13]

See also

References
  1. "Viajamos en el tren universitario", Crónica Ferroviaria, 13 May 2013
  2. "Ya rueda el tren universitario", El Día, 26 Apr 2013
  3. "TecnoTren: La verdad es que nos cuesta muy poca plata fabricarlo" - interview to Jorge Beritich, president of TecnoTren, Infoauto.com
  4. "Comenzó a rodar el Tren Universitario", University of La Plata website
  5. La Plata university train on Railway Gazette website
  6. "Recorrido del tren universitario", La Plata Terminal website
  7. "Estalló la polémica por el Tren Universitario", Diario Hoy, 8 March 2014
  8. "El Tren Universitario volverá este lunes a las vías", 13 March 2014
  9. "El Tren Universitario volvió a funcionar con un coche motor sueco de 1948", InfoBlancosobreNegro, 5 Dec 2014
  10. "Ya está lista la ley que prevé más control estatal sobre los trenes", Clarín, 5 Mar 2015
  11. "Estado rescindió contrato de trenes a privados y avisó que no pagará indemnizaciones", Ambito Financiero, 2 Mar 2015
  12. "Buenos Aires commuter routes renationalised", Railway Gazette, 3 Mar 2015
  13. Resolution N° 171/2015 - Official Bulletin of Argentina
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