Córdoba Metro

Córdoba Metro

Map of the current proposal for the system.
Overview
Owner	Consorcio Metro Córdoba
Locale	Córdoba, Argentina
Transit type	Rapid transit
Number of lines	3 (proposed)
Number of stations	26 (proposed)
Technical
System length	32.9 km (20.4 mi) (proposed)
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) (metre gauge)

The Córdoba Metro is a project that will, according to its proponents, serve the city of Córdoba, the second-largest city in Argentina. The metro system would become the second metro system in Argentina, after the Buenos Aires Underground. The project is currently in the planning and design phase.

On December 10, 2007, the Secretary of Transport and Traffic of the Argentine Municipality announced an initiative of the Iecsa/Gela companies to build an underground system in the City of Córdoba. The announcement was made after a meeting with the Argentine Secretary of Transport, Ricardo Jaime and, on December 14, the municipality commenced Technical and Financial Feasibility studies.

Finally on April 10, 2008, President Cristina Kirchner in a meeting with the mayor of the city of Córdoba, Daniel Giacomino confirmed the construction of the metro system. In the meeting, the Argentine president also announced granting the adjudication of the high-speed rail to the French engineering giant, Alstom. This original proposal was for a two line metro network comprising 15.8 kilometers (9.8 mi) of route.

Depending on which vehicles would be selected and other factors, the total planned cost of the system is of nearly US$1.1 billion. The preliminary design of the original project foresaw two principal lines. The first line would cross the city from west to south, over Colón and Duarte Quirós Avenues, up to Perón Boulevard, where it would reach the vicinity of the Mitre Railroad, near the bus terminal. The second line would run from north to south near the Ciudad Universitaria area, and under the Suquía river, continuing northwards to the Belgrano railway, near the Alta Córdoba train station. Plans were initially for the construction of 17 stations, 11 on the west-south line, and six in the south-north line.

However, an updated plan was announced in November 2010, with 29 stations on a 18.5 kilometers (11.5 mi) network built by China Railway International, costing US$1.8 billion.