Metrotrén
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Metrotrén (Spanish compound for metro, 'subway' + tren, 'train') was a Chilean commuter rail and regional rail service operated by the state-owned rail company EFE. The system started as a 134-kilometre (83 mi) line between Santiago and San Fernando, unifying between them the city of Rancagua and 23 other towns in the Metropolitan and O'Higgins regions. This line was first connected with the Santiago Metro at Alameda station, which gave the name to the service.
Metrotrén | |
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Overview | |
Locale | Santiago, O'Higgins |
Termini | |
Stations | 18 |
Service | |
Type | Heavy rail |
Operator(s) | EFE Central S.A. |
Rolling stock |
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Daily ridership | 74,000[1] |
Ridership | 22.3 million (2019)[2] |
History | |
Opened | 1990 |
Technical | |
Line length | 133.8 km (83.14 mi) |
Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) |
Electrification | 3 kV DC overhead catenary |
Operating speed | 100–150 km/h (62–93 mph) |
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In 2017, after 5 years of renovation, the service was split into two, a fully renovated, 20-kilometre (12 mi) commuter service between Santiago and Nos, a neighborhood in San Bernardo, in the south of the city, and an 82-kilometre (51 mi) regional rail between Santiago and Rancagua. This caused the suppression of all Metrotren services to San Fernando, a second connection with the Santiago Metro at Lo Valledor station, and the integration of the Santiago-Nos service to the Metropolitan Movility Network, introducing the railway services into Santiago's integrated public transport fares.
The integration was responsible for a large increase in annual ridership, and growing demand from the public for more rail services. Since 2019, the government has announced the construction of two brand new commuter lines from Santiago, with services to Melipilla, in the south-west, and the recovery and restoration of the line to Batuco, in the north. Both of them will be partially integrated to the city's public transport fare.
In 2021, EFE decided to eliminate the brand Metrotren, and establish the services as separate brands, still fully operated by the company.