ARGENTINA: Trenes Argentinos has opened a two-station extension of its Paraná – Berduc local passenger service in Entre Ríos province.
There is a service of two trains each way per day from the city of Paraná to the new stations at La Picada and Jorge Méndez, which have 55 m long platforms with access ramps, shelters, and LED lighting. The operator is also upgrading nine other stations on the route, as well as the depot in Paraná.
‘Today is an historic day’, said Adan Bahl, Mayor of the city of Paraná, at the opening of the 3·6 km extension on March 31. ‘After three decades without a service, the train reconnects La Picada with Paraná, something that generates a lot of excitement throughout the community. It is really exciting that there is a national government that prioritises and invests in the recovery of our trains. Our city is the epicentre of a metropolitan area that includes all the surrounding cities and we have the challenge of thinking about public transport on that scale.’
Minister of Transport Diego Giuliano said 16 passenger and three freight services have been launched by the current national government, reconnecting 73 places.
‘Some believe that this is a waste of resources’, he said. ‘We believe that it is a great investment for the people and for the city of Paraná and the entire urban network of the province of Entre Ríos.’ He added that opponents of rail expansion only look at the cost and revenue, but he believes that new services ’improve the regional economy, businesses, education, culture and social relations’.
- A station at Gobernador Castro on the Buenos Aires – Rosario line reopened after 30 years on March 13.
