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University train of La Plata

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Tren Universitario
A NOHAB railcar stopped at a station (2014).
Overview
Service typecommuter rail
StatusActive
LocaleLa Plata
First serviceApril 26, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-04-26)
Current operator(s)Trenes Argentinos
WebsiteTren Universitario
Route
TerminiLa Plata
Hospital San Juan de Dios
Stops9
Distance travelled8.4 km (5.2 mi)
Average journey time38'
Service frequency40'
Line(s) usedRoca Line
On-board services
Seating arrangementsYes
Technical
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed30 km/h
Track owner(s)Government of Argentina

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.

History

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Former Tecnotren rolling stock.

The service was officially opened on 26 April 2013.[1] 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.[2]

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.[3][4][5]

The service was interrupted in February 2014 when the units were sent to workshops for maintenance and inspection works,[6] service resumed one month later.[7] In December 2014, the TecnoTren units were replaced by NOHAB railcars built in 1948 and imported in the 2000s from Portugal.[8]

State-owned company Trenes Argentinos took over Roca line (operated by Argentren) after the Government of Argentina rescinded the contracts signed with the company on 2 March 2015.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.[9] The agreements had been signed in February 2014, committing Argentren and Corredores Ferroviarios to operate the lines.[10][11][12]

In March 2020, an agreement was signed between the National University of La Plata and the Ministry of Transport to build an extension of 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi) length from Policlínico to the city of Los Hornos, also building six new station along that route. The tender was launched in April 2021, with an estimated end of construction in April 2022.[13] As of October 2023, the project has not been carried out.

In September 2023, the train line was extended to the "Hospital San Juan de Dios" station. Works included the addition of 3,8 kilometres of track and four station.[14] Likewise the Government of Argentina and the University of La Plata announced plans to extend the line to the railway workshops in Los Hornos, and reach the cities of Berisso and Ensenada in a further stage.[15]

Historic operators

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Companies that have operated the University train have been:

Company Period
Argentren 2013–2015
Trenes Argentinos 2015–present

References

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  1. ^ "Ya rueda el tren universitario", El Día, 26 Apr 2013
  2. ^ "TecnoTren: La verdad es que nos cuesta muy poca plata fabricarlo" - interview to Jorge Beritich, president of TecnoTren, Infoauto.com
  3. ^ "Comenzó a rodar el Tren Universitario", University of La Plata website
  4. ^ La Plata university train on Railway Gazette website
  5. ^ "Recorrido del tren universitario", La Plata Terminal website
  6. ^ "Estalló la polémica por el Tren Universitario", Diario Hoy, 8 March 2014
  7. ^ "El Tren Universitario volverá este lunes a las vías", 13 March 2014
  8. ^ "El Tren Universitario volvió a funcionar con un coche motor sueco de 1948", InfoBlancosobreNegro, 5 Dec 2014
  9. ^ "Ya está lista la ley que prevé más control estatal sobre los trenes", Clarín, 5 Mar 2015
  10. ^ "Estado rescindió contrato de trenes a privados y avisó que no pagará indemnizaciones", Ambito Financiero, 2 Mar 2015
  11. ^ "Buenos Aires commuter routes renationalised", Railway Gazette, 3 Mar 2015
  12. ^ Resolution N° 171/2015 - Official Bulletin of Argentina
  13. ^ El Tren Universitario extenderá su recorrido y llegará hasta Los Hornos at UNLP
  14. ^ La Plata: Aseguran que la extensión del Tren Universitario comenzará a funcionar “en las próximas semanas”, En el subte, 5 Sep 2023
  15. ^ El Tren Universitario amplía su recorrido y proyecta llegar hasta Berisso y Ensenada at UNLP
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