Tranvía del Este
Tram in Puerto Madero, 2009
|
|
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Light rail |
| Status | Inactive |
| Locale | Buenos Aires |
| First service | 14 July 2007 |
| Last service | October 10, 2012 |
| Former operator(s) | Ferrovías |
| Annual ridership | 102,000 (2012) |
| Website | tranviadeleste.com.ar |
| Route | |
| Start | Córdoba |
| Stops | 4 |
| End | Independencia |
| Distance travelled | 2 km (1.2 mi) |
| Service frequency | 15 minutes |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Electrification | Catenary |
| Track owner(s) |
Government of Argentina (pre-2013) SBASE (post-2013) |
The Tranvía del Este, also known as the Puerto Madero Tramway, was a 12-block "demonstration" tram line in the Puerto Madero neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in operation from 2007 to 2012. It used French-built Citadis 302 trams on loan, initially from Mulhouse, France, and later from Madrid, Spain, and was operated by the rail company Ferrovías.
After its initial demonstration status, numerous plans were put forward to extend the line and increase ridership, while incorporating it into the Buenos Aires Underground; however, none came to fruition. As of July 2016 it is planned to dismantle the line and move its infrastructure to other areas.
With construction of the first section completed, the line was inaugurated on July 14, 2007. Initially, the service was provided by two Citadis 302 model vehicles, manufactured by the French company Alstom, built for the Mulhouse tramway, in France, and temporarily loaned to Buenos Aires. Carrying Mulhouse numbers 04 and 05, the vehicles were double-ended, bi-directional, low-floor, four-section units, each section having 48 fixed seats, another 16 folding seats and standing room for a total of 300 passengers for the whole car. The vehicles, locally known by the name Celeris, ran on an exclusive right-of-way for 2 km (1.2 mi) parallel to Avenida Alicia Moreau de Justo, from Avenida Córdoba to Avenida Independencia.
After Mulhouse requested the return of the two trams it loaned, those cars left Buenos Aires in 2008. Replacing them on the Tranvía del Este was another tram of the same type, but loaned from Madrid, Spain, where it was number 153 (a number it also used in Buenos Aires) in the fleet of the Metro Ligero de Madrid light rail system.
The Mulhouse and Madrid trams both wore the paint schemes of their home systems while in Buenos Aires.
Trams ran from Monday through Saturday from 8:00 until 23:20, and on Sundays and holidays from 9:00 until 22:00, every 15 minutes. For tickets there were two Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) installed at each station and guards with portable vending machines were also available. Tickets cost ARS 1.00 (around US$0.26).
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Wikipedia