The Metrotranvía Mendoza (Spanish for Mendoza Light Rail or fast tramway) is a public light rail transport system for the city of Mendoza, Argentina, served by articulated light rail cars operating on newly relaid tracks in former-General San Martín Railway mainline right-of-way.
The 12.5-kilometre (7.8 mi) line runs between Mendoza and General Gutierrez in Maipú, on 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge double-track rail. The Metrotranvía of Mendoza serves the metropolitan area of Mendoza, which includes the departments of Las Heras, Central district, Godoy Cruz, Maipú and Luján de Cuyo. Service operates from 6:00 to 22:00. The line has been named the Línea Verde, or Green Line.[2] The line operates on the right-hand side as its former U.S. light rail rolling stock is configured, in contrast to the left-handed operation of the majority of the Argentine railway network.
History
editIn 2009 the Government of Mendoza Province signed an agreement to build a tram line between the cities of Mendoza and Maipú, at an estimated cost of AR$ 62,449,732.[7][8] Works were carried out by private companies Construcciones Electromecánicas del Oeste S.A. (CEOSA) and SOGESIC S.A.[9][10][11]
Project included a total refurbishment of Mendoza station, which had operated between 1885 and 1993 when it was closed by the national government.[12][13] The administrative building was reopened as a cultural centre named "Estación Cultural",[14]
An inauguration ceremony was held in February 2012,[2] but service did not begin at that time, as much of the construction work remained to be completed.[15] Starting on 29 April 2012 passengers were permitted to ride on occasional demonstration/trial services on a portion of the line. The system finally opened for regular service on 8 October 2012.[2]
2019 extension to Las Heras
editIn 2019, the main building at Mendoza railway station was completely remodeled, as part of an extension to Las Heras, Mendoza.[16] The rails used for this extension was manufactured in Spain, while the concrete sleepers were built in Argentina.[17][18][19] This extension included the construction of new level crossings, as well as the refurbishment of old railway stations.[19] This extension, bringing the Metrotranvía to Las Heras, Mendoza, opened to the public on 7 May 2019.[20][21][22] The Metrotranvía now ends at Avellaneda station, located on Avellaneda Street in Panquehua,[22] a neighborhood in Las Heras.
Future plans
editA project currently planned will extend the line 4.8 km (3 mi) from Panquehua to El Plumerillo International Airport, and add another 15 km (9.3 mi) branch from the intermediate Godoy Cruz stop to Luján de Cuyo.[23][24] As of 2022, the airport extension was expected to open in 2025.[25] Meanwhile, the Luján de Cuyo branch, which is already under construction,[26][27] was initially planned to open in 2028. However, on 17 January 2024, it was announced that the Luján extension may open in 2027 instead.[5]
Rolling stock
editThe service is provided by eleven Siemens–Duewag U2 light-rail vehicles (LRVs) acquired secondhand from the San Diego Trolley system in San Diego, California.[28][29] By November 2011, about half of these had arrived in Mendoza,[30] and the delivery was completed with the final two cars arriving on 27 April 2012.[31] In 2022, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System sent 39 Siemens SD-100 light rail vehicles.[32]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Zavala Tello, Ignacio (20 August 2013). "El Metrotranvía cumplió un año y tiene 5.000 usuarios por día" [The Metrotranvía has been in service for one year and has 5,000 users per day]. Diario Uno (in Spanish). Mendoza, Argentina. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
- ^ a b c d "Mendoza light rail service begins" (December 2012). Tramways & Urban Transit, p. 451. LRTA Publishing. ISSN 1460-8324.
- ^ "Ya ejecutaron el 55% de las obras del metrotranvía" ["55% of the work on the Metrotranvía is completed"] Archived 2013-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, Jornada Online (in Spanish), 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Quieren que el Metrotranvía llegue a Luján de Cuyo y al Aeropuerto en 2025 | Sociedad". Los Andes (in Spanish). 28 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b Lucero, Juan Manuel (18 January 2024). "El Metrotranvía podría llegar a Luján un año antes de lo planeado". www.mendozapost.com (in Spanish).
- ^ "Más conexión: el Parque TIC tiene su parador urbano de metrotranvía". Godoy Cruz (in Spanish). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Firman el contrato para las obras del metrotranvía", Mendoza Económico, 12 February 2009.
- ^ "Comenzarán a construir el Metrotranvía", Mendoza Online
- ^ "Se viene el metrotranvía urbano, nomás", Truveo, 2009
- ^ "Metrotranvía deal signed", Railway Gazette, 9 July 2013.
- ^ "Proyecto de Metrotranvía" Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, 12 March 2009.
- ^ Clarín.com (1997-05-25). "Ramal que cierra, pueblo que muere". Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-08-31.
- ^ "Página/12 De la resistencia a la recuperación". www.pagina12.com.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-08-31.
- ^ Conocé los talleres que ofrece la Estación Cultural de Ciudad on Sitio Andino, 7 Jul 2021
- ^ Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, May 2012, p. 193. LRTA Publishing.
- ^ Scortichini, Estefanía (12 November 2018). "ASÍ QUEDÓ LA VIEJA ESTACIÓN MENDOZA - PressReader". Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2024 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Metrotranvía: mientras esperan que lleguen los rieles de España se hacen trabajos secundarios", Diario Uno, 19 January 2015.
- ^ "Preparan el terreno para los rieles del Metrotranvía a Las Heras", Los Andes, 22 January 2015.
- ^ a b Cómo es el novedoso sistema constructivo del nuevo tramo del Metrotranvía - Jornada Online, 2 July 2015
- ^ "New investments in Mendoza". Urban Transport Magazine. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Habilitaron la extensión del Metrotranvía de Mendoza a Las Heras". enelSubte (in Spanish). 7 May 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Quedaron inaugurados el nuevo recorrido del Metrotranvía hacia Las Heras y el edificio del EMOP : Prensa Gobierno de Mendoza". www.mendoza.gov.ar. Government of Argentina. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Proyectos para los recorridos del Metrotranvía al Aeropuerto, Luján y Maipú", Diario Uno, 19 January 2015.
- ^ "Mendoza: el Metrotranvía podría llegar al aeropuerto". enelSubte (in Spanish). 8 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Quieren que el Metrotranvía llegue a Luján de Cuyo y al Aeropuerto en 2025 | Sociedad". Los Andes (in Spanish). 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Metrotranvía: avanza la extensión del servicio hacia Luján de Cuyo : Prensa Gobierno de Mendoza". www.mendoza.gov.ar (in Spanish).
- ^ "Avanza la obra del metrotranvía a Luján | STM - Sociedad de Transporte Mendoza" (in Spanish). 17 February 2024.
- ^ "San Diego U2 Trolleys successfully operate in Argentina", San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, 9 March 2010.
- ^ Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, November 2010, p. 428. LRTA Publishing. ISSN 1460-8324.
- ^ Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, January 2012, p. 27. LRTA Publishing.
- ^ Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, July 2012, p. 272. LRTA Publishing.
- ^ "Aging San Diego trolley cars find new life in Argentina". KPBS Public Media. 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
External links
edit- Official website
- MendoTran on Secretary of Public Services of Mendoza