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Metrotranvía Mendoza

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Metrotranvía Mendoza
Train at 9 de Julio station, February 2015
Train at 9 de Julio station, February 2015
Overview
OwnerGovernment of Mendoza
Area servedGreater Mendoza
LocaleMendoza, Argentina
Transit typeLight rail
Number of lines
1
Number of stations
26
Daily ridership
30,000 (2025)[1]
Annual ridership
4.8 million (2024)[2]
Websitemendoza.gov.ar/mtm
Operation
Began operation
8 October 2012[3]
OperatorSociedad de Transporte Mendoza (STM)
Number of vehicles
50
Technical
System length17 km (11 mi)[4]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification600 V DC, overhead lines
System map
Legend
Airport (2026)[5]
Aeropuerto Internacional
El Plumelillo
 Espejo
 Avellaneda
 Marcos Burgos
 Tamarindos
 Patricias Mendocinas
 José María Godoy
 Rubilar
 Lugones
 Moldes
 Suipacha
 Mendoza
 Belgrano
 Pedro Molina
 25 de Mayo
 Pellegrini
Luján (2027)[6]
Chacabuco
 Rivadavia
 San Vincente
 Inginieros
 Loria
 Benegas
 Carrodilla
 Paso
 Besares
 Liniers
 Pueyrredón
 Agronomía
 Castelli
 Drummond
 San Martín
 Luján de Cuyo
San Martín
 Godoy Cruz
 Progreso
 Independencia
 Parque TIC[7]
 9 de Julio
 Luzuriaga
 Piedra Buena
 Alta Italia
 Maza
 General Gutiérrez
Trenes Argentinos Cargas
to Retiro (freight line)
This diagram:

The Metrotranvía Mendoza (Spanish for Mendoza Light Rail or fast tramway) is a public light rail transport system for the city of Mendoza, Argentina, served by articulated light rail cars operating on newly relaid tracks in former-General San Martín Railway mainline right-of-way.

The 17-kilometre (11 mi) line runs between Parador Avellaneda in Las Heras and General Gutierrez in Maipú, on 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge double-track rail. The Metrotranvía of Mendoza serves the metropolitan area of Mendoza, which includes the departments of Las Heras, Central district, Godoy Cruz, Maipú and Luján de Cuyo. Service operates from 6:00 to 22:00. The line has been named the Línea Verde, or Green Line.[3] The line operates on the right-hand side like road traffic, in contrast to the left-handed operation of the majority of the Argentine railway network.

History

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In 2009 the Government of Mendoza Province signed an agreement to build a tram line between the cities of Mendoza and Maipú, at an estimated cost of AR$ 62,449,732.[8][9] Works were carried out by private companies Construcciones Electromecánicas del Oeste S.A. (CEOSA) and SOGESIC S.A.[10][11][12]

Project included a total refurbishment of Mendoza station, which had operated between 1885 and 1993 when it was closed by the national government.[13][14] The administrative building was reopened as a cultural centre named "Estación Cultural",[15]

An inauguration ceremony was held in February 2012,[3] but service did not begin at that time, as much of the construction work remained to be completed.[16] Starting on 29 April 2012 passengers were permitted to ride on occasional demonstration/trial services on a portion of the line. The system finally opened for regular service on 8 October 2012.[3]

2019 extension to Las Heras

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In 2019, the main building at Mendoza railway station was completely remodeled, as part of an extension to Las Heras, Mendoza.[17] The rails used for this extension was manufactured in Spain, while the concrete sleepers were built in Argentina.[18][19][20] This extension included the construction of new level crossings, as well as the refurbishment of old railway stations.[20] This extension, bringing the Metrotranvía to Las Heras, Mendoza, opened to the public on 7 May 2019.[21][22][23] The Metrotranvía now ends at Avellaneda station, located on Avellaneda Street in Panquehua,[23] a neighborhood in Las Heras.

Future plans

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Light rail expansion

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An under-construction project will extend the line 4.8 km (3 mi) from Panquehua to El Plumerillo International Airport, and add another 15 km (9.3 mi) branch from the intermediate Godoy Cruz stop to Luján de Cuyo.[24][25] As of 2022, the airport extension was expected to open in 2025.[26] However, as of January 2026, it is instead scheduled to open by the end of 2026.[5]

Meanwhile, the Luján de Cuyo branch, which is already under construction,[27][28] was initially planned to open in 2028. However, on 17 January 2024, it was announced that the Luján extension may open in 2027 instead.[6]

Commuter Rail

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In June 2025, the Eastern Commuter Rail (Spanish: Tren de Cercanías del Este) project was approved, proposing to extend rail service from the current Metrotranvía terminal at General Gutiérrez station (Maipú) to Libertador General San Martín Station [es], on the border between the departments of San Martín and Junín. The estimated length is approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi), following the route of the old General San Martín Railway branch line. The project includes the rehabilitation of intermediate stations such as Palmira, with the aim of reconnecting the main historical railway towns of eastern Mendoza with Greater Mendoza. It will be financed 50% by the Provincial Government and 50% by private investment, while the National Government, through the National Secretariat of Transportation, has granted the use of the tracks for this purpose. Light diesel multiple units are planned, with frequencies adapted to an estimated demand of around 300,000 passengers.[29][30][31]

As of 30 March 2026, it was expected that the contracts for building the commuter train will be rewarded.[32] However, as of June 2026, the contract has yet to be awarded.[33]

As of May 2026, CRRC Tangshan is planned to supply the diesel multiple units for this line.[34] There is also the possibility that the commuter train may share tracks with the light rail via dual gauge trackage, with the commuter rail being a metre-gauge railway and the Metrotranvía being standard gauge.[35]

Eastern Commuter Rail
Tren de Cercanías del Este[36]
Legend
 Metrotranvía Mendoza
 General Gutiérrez
Coquimbito
 General Ortega
 Rodeo del Medio
 Fray Luis Beltrán
 Barcela
 Palmira
 San Martín [es]
Trenes Argentinos Cargas
to Retiro (freight line)
This diagram:

Rolling stock

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Some of the ex-San Diego Siemens–Duewag U2 light rail vehicles that make up the fleet

The service was initially provided by nine (out of eleven delivered) Siemens–Duewag U2 light-rail vehicles (LRVs) acquired secondhand from the San Diego Trolley system in San Diego, California.[37][38] The first four (ex-San Diego cars 1028, 1055, 1070, and 1071) arrived in Mendoza in February 2011.[39] More had arrived by November 2011,[40] and the delivery was completed with the final two cars arriving on 27 April 2012.[41] Two cars (ex-San Diego 1055 and 1058) were used for spare parts.

In 2014 another seven cars were delivered, two of which entered service in 2019 (ex-San Diego 1056 and 1057, renumbered to 1009 and 1011), and the remaining serving as spare parts donors.

In February 2022, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System sent the first three of 39 Siemens SD-100 light rail vehicles to Mendoza.[42] 27 SD100s have been delivered by November 2025.

Network map

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Map

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "En imágenes: así son los molinetes en los paradores inteligentes del metrotranvía" [These are the new fare gates at the smart stops of the Metrotranvía] (in Spanish). Mendoza, Argentina. 25 June 2025.
  2. ↑ "Trenes que vuelan: el Metrotranvía ¿vale lo que cuesta?". www.elmedio.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-05-27.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Mendoza light rail service begins" (December 2012). Tramways & Urban Transit, p. 451. LRTA Publishing. ISSN 1460-8324.
  4. ↑ "Ya ejecutaron el 55% de las obras del metrotranvía" ["55% of the work on the Metrotranvía is completed"] Archived 2013-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, Jornada Online (in Spanish), 20 July 2010.
  5. 1 2 Tutor, Germán (15 January 2026). "El Metrotranvía llegará al aeropuerto antes de fin de año". Diario El Sol Mendoza (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  6. 1 2 Lucero, Juan Manuel (18 January 2024). "El Metrotranvía podría llegar a Luján un año antes de lo planeado". www.mendozapost.com (in Spanish).
  7. ↑ "Más conexión: el Parque TIC tiene su parador urbano de metrotranvía". Godoy Cruz (in Spanish). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  8. ↑ "Firman el contrato para las obras del metrotranvía", Mendoza Económico, 12 February 2009.
  9. ↑ "Comenzarán a construir el Metrotranvía", Mendoza Online
  10. ↑ "Se viene el metrotranvía urbano, nomás", Truveo, 2009
  11. ↑ "Metrotranvía deal signed", Railway Gazette, 9 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Proyecto de Metrotranvía" Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, 12 March 2009.
  13. ↑ Clarín.com (1997-05-25). "Ramal que cierra, pueblo que muere". Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  14. ↑ "Página/12 De la resistencia a la recuperación". www.pagina12.com.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  15. ↑ Conocé los talleres que ofrece la Estación Cultural de Ciudad on Sitio Andino, 7 Jul 2021
  16. ↑ Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, May 2012, p. 193. LRTA Publishing.
  17. ↑ Scortichini, Estefanía (12 November 2018). "ASÍ QUEDÓ LA VIEJA ESTACIÓN MENDOZA - PressReader". Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2024 – via PressReader.
  18. ↑ "Metrotranvía: mientras esperan que lleguen los rieles de España se hacen trabajos secundarios", Diario Uno, 19 January 2015.
  19. ↑ "Preparan el terreno para los rieles del Metrotranvía a Las Heras", Los Andes, 22 January 2015.
  20. 1 2 Cómo es el novedoso sistema constructivo del nuevo tramo del Metrotranvía - Jornada Online, 2 July 2015
  21. ↑ "New investments in Mendoza". Urban Transport Magazine. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  22. ↑ "Habilitaron la extensión del Metrotranvía de Mendoza a Las Heras". enelSubte (in Spanish). 7 May 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  23. 1 2 "Quedaron inaugurados el nuevo recorrido del Metrotranvía hacia Las Heras y el edificio del EMOP : Prensa Gobierno de Mendoza". www.mendoza.gov.ar. Government of Argentina. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  24. ↑ "Proyectos para los recorridos del Metrotranvía al Aeropuerto, Luján y Maipú", Diario Uno, 19 January 2015.
  25. ↑ "Mendoza: el Metrotranvía podría llegar al aeropuerto". enelSubte (in Spanish). 8 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  26. ↑ "Quieren que el Metrotranvía llegue a Luján de Cuyo y al Aeropuerto en 2025 | Sociedad". Los Andes (in Spanish). 28 June 2022.
  27. ↑ "Metrotranvía: avanza la extensión del servicio hacia Luján de Cuyo : Prensa Gobierno de Mendoza". www.mendoza.gov.ar (in Spanish).
  28. ↑ "Avanza la obra del metrotranvía a Luján | STM - Sociedad de Transporte Mendoza" (in Spanish). 17 February 2024.
  29. ↑ "Con el Tren de Cercanías del Este, Mendoza impulsa la conexión ferroviaria para fortalecer la movilidad regional : Prensa Gobierno de Mendoza". www.mendoza.gov.ar. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  30. ↑ Fiochetta, Laura (19 June 2025). "Una por una: dónde estarán las estaciones del nuevo tren en Mendoza". MDZ Online (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  31. ↑ Pfaab, Enrique (18 June 2025). "Tren de cercanías: intendentes creen que "será un antes y un después para toda la zona Este"". Los Andes (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  32. ↑ Manuel Torrez, Juan (30 March 2026). "Alfredo Cornejo anticipó que el Tren de Cercanías se adjudicará "en breve" y que las ofertas "son muy buenas"". Mdz. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  33. ↑ Wozniak, Fernanda Verdeslago (12 March 2026). "El Tren de Cercanías espera empresas: por qué todavía no se adjudica la obra". El Editor Mendoza (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  34. ↑ Gubinelli, Diego (4 May 2026). "Tren de Cercanías: cuál es el gigante chino que fabricará las formaciones que unirán el Este con Luján". Diario El Sol Mendoza (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  35. ↑ Gubinelli, Diego (7 May 2026). "El Gobierno estudia que el Tren de Cercanías use la misma vía que el Metrotranvía". Diario El Sol Mendoza (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  36. ↑ "Tren de Cercanías del Este: recorrido, paradas y tiempos del nuevo servicio que unirá Junín con Maipú". El Nueve (in Spanish). 9 September 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  37. ↑ "San Diego U2 Trolleys successfully operate in Argentina", San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, 9 March 2010.
  38. ↑ Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, November 2010, p. 428. LRTA Publishing. ISSN 1460-8324.
  39. ↑ Morrison, Allen (24 May 2011). "Mendoza, Argentina: Trams, Trolleybuses, Metrotranvía". Electric Transport in Latin America. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  40. ↑ Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, January 2012, p. 27. LRTA Publishing.
  41. ↑ Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, July 2012, p. 272. LRTA Publishing.
  42. ↑ "Aging San Diego trolley cars find new life in Argentina". KPBS Public Media. 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  43. ↑ "Electric Transit Equipment in North America". The New Electric Railway Journal. Winter 1988. p. 13. ISSN 1048-3845.
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32°53′26″S 68°51′01″W / 32.89056°S 68.85028°W / -32.89056; -68.85028

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