View source for Buenos Aires–Rosario–Córdoba high-speed railway

{{Short description|Canceled transportation project}}
{{Use American English|date = February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox public transit
| box_width                   = 250
| name                        = Buenos Aires–Rosario–Córdoba high-speed railway
| image                       = Gare de Paris-Gare-de-Lyon - 2018-05-15 - IMG 7479.jpg
| alt                         =
| imagesize                   = 200
| caption                     = TGV duplex of French SNCF. Similar vehicles<br> would have been used for the TAVe
| image2                      =
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| alt3                        =
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| native_name                 = <!-- use {{lang}} -->
| owner                       = [[Government of Argentina]]
| area served                 = [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]]<br>[[Santa Fe Province|Santa Fe]]<br>[[Córdoba Province, Argentina|Córdoba]]
| locale                      = Centre and Northern Argentina
| transit_type                = [[High-speed rail]]
| lines                       =
| line_number                 =
| start                       = [[Retiro Mitre railway station|Retiro (M)]]
| end                         = [[Córdoba Mitre railway station|Córdoba (M)]]
| stations                    =
| daily_ridership             =
| annual_ridership            =
| chief_executive             = <!-- or | key_people = -->
| headquarters                =
| website                     =
| began_operation             = No
| operation_will_start        = No
| ended_operation             =
| operator                    =
| marks                       =
| host                        =
| character                   =
| stock                       =
| vehicles                    =
| train_length                =
| headway                     =
| system_length               = {{convert|710|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080119040052/http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/01/argentina-says.html Argentina Says '¡Si!' to High Speed Rail] By Alexander Lew on Wired.com - 17 January 2008 (archived)</ref>
| notrack                     =
| track_gauge                 = {{Track gauge|1676 mm}}
| ogauge                      = <!-- {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}} -->
| minimum_radius_of_curvature = <!-- {{convert|0|ft|0|in|mm|0}} -->
| el                          =
| average_speed               = {{convert|250|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}<ref name=cabot/>
| top_speed                   = {{convert|320|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}<ref name=cabot/>
| map                         = [[file:High speed railway map 4.jpg|250px]]
| map_name                    = Proposed route and stations
| map_state                   = collapsed
}}
The '''Buenos Aires–Rosario–Córdoba high-speed railway''' ({{langx|es|Tren de Alta Velocidad de Argentina}}, abbrevriated '''TAVe''',<ref name=lerner>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221203/http://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2012/04/20/argentina%E2%80%99s-high-speed-trains-delayed-and-derailed Argentina’s High-Speed Trains: Delayed and Derailed] by Michael S. Lerner on Worldpolicy.org, 20 Apr 2012</ref> also named ''Argentine bullet train''<ref>[https://www.cronista.com/economia-politica/la-historia-del-tren-bala-argentino-el-proyecto-de-us-4000-m-de-nestor-kirchner-que-no-fue/ La historia del tren bala argentino, el proyecto de u$s 4000] on Cronista.com, 9 Aug 2021</ref>) was a project designed to link the [[Argentina|Argentine]] cities of [[Buenos Aires]], [[Rosario, Santa Fe|Rosario]] and [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]] through a {{convert|710|km|mi|abbr=on}} [[high-speed rail]] network.<ref name=railtech/>
The plan, announced by then-President [[Néstor Kirchner]] during a press conference at the [[Casa Rosada]] on 26 April 2006,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.lacapital.com.ar/2006/04/27/economia/noticia_288932.shtml| title=Kirchner anunció la licitación para desarrollar un tren rápido a Retiro| website=La Capital| date=27 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313012726/http://www.lacapital.com.ar/2006/04/27/economia/noticia_288932.shtml |archive-date=13 March 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> would have been the first not only in Argentina<ref>{{cite web| year=2008| title=High-Speed Passenger Rail Comes to the Americas| website=Tree Hugger| url=http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/highspeed_rail_arg.php| access-date=28 April 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428230945/http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/highspeed_rail_arg.php| archive-date=28 April 2008| url-status=dead}}</ref> but in South America,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080226052640/http://www.europeanrailoutlook.com/A/xthismonth.html High-speed rail revolution in the making] by David Briginshaw on ''European Rail Outlook'' (archived 2008)</ref> operating at up to {{convert|320|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref name=rgi0708>{{cite web| date=10 August 2007| title='Cobra' offers high speed future| work=[[Railway Gazette International]]| url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//cobra-offers-high-speed-future.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717023646/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/cobra-offers-high-speed-future.html |archive-date=17 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> reducing the time of the service from 14 to 3 hours.<ref name=railtech/>
The entire project, which costs had been calculated in US$4 billion creating 5,000 jobs directly,<ref name=lerner/> was dismissed due to the [[financial crisis of 2007–08]].<ref name=rgi0902>{{cite web| date=7 February 2009| title=Pointers February 2009| work=[[Railway Gazette International]]| url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//pointers-february-2009.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173707/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/pointers-february-2009.html |archive-date=15 December 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Although French company [[Alstom]] intended to resume the project, plans for a high-speed train were definitely suspended.<ref name=cabot/>
== Overview ==
[[Buenos Aires]] and its [[Greater Buenos Aires|metropolitan area]] has a population of more than 13 million, almost one third of the national total.<ref name=indec>{{cite web| url=http://www.indec.mecon.gov.ar| title=INDEC| access-date=17 June 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228065618/http://www.indec.mecon.gov.ar/| archive-date=28 December 2009| url-status=dead}}</ref> It is the economic and political center of Argentina, and its main international entry point.
[[Rosario]], located about {{convert|310|km|mi|abbr=on}} north-northwest of the capital, is the third-largest city and [[Port of Rosario|a major port]], with a [[Greater Rosario|metropolitan]] population of 1.3 million.<ref name=indec/> It is part of the agricultural and industrial core of the littoral region.
[[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]], with a population around 1.4&nbsp;million,<ref name=indec/> is located about {{convert|710|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Buenos Aires, near the geographical center of Argentina. It is the second most populated metropolitan area, and a cultural, touristic, and industrial center.
Altogether, the three cities include 15 million inhabitants, or more than a third of the country's overall population of 40 million, while representing the three major cities. Rosario and Cordoba are vital centers in the farm sector, which has grown rapidly in recent years thanks to high commodity prices.
By the moment the project was announced in 2006, the main form of transportation between these three cities was by road, through [[National Route 9 (Argentina)|National Route 9]] (4 lane Highway from Buenos Aires to Rosario and 2 lane route from Rosario to Cordoba -Rosario to Cordoba highway is expected to be finished by 2009-), followed far behind by air travel. The high speed rail would act as an essential component in the revival of railways in Argentina, which would have major impact on the economic development of the region for both faster passenger and cargo connections.
=== Features ===
A high-speed [[Electric locomotive|electric train]] operating at up to {{convert|320|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} with [[overhead lines|overhead catenary power lines]] on a [[standard gauge]] track of {{track gauge|1435mm}}, it would run mainly on single-track, but with {{convert|55|km|mi|abbr=on}} of double-track between Buenos Aires and Rosario to enable the nine trains/day on this section to pass one another at high speed and then to Córdoba on a new single-track alignment. [[Alstom]] was the company chosen to provide eight 509-passenger [[Bilevel car|double-deck]] [[TGV]]s equipped with [[European Train Control System|ETCS]] Level 2 signalling. The new line should have provided a [[Buenos Aires]]—[[Rosario]] journey time of 85 minutes (for comparison, an intercity passenger bus takes about four hours), with [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]] reached 90 minutes later.
=== Stations ===
{{multiple image
|align =
|total_width = 400
|image1 = J31_597_Bf_Retiro_Mitre.jpg
|image2 = Entrada de la Estación Córdoba.JPG
|footer = Retiro (left) and Córdoba stations were planned as terminus
}}
The new train would link the cities along the central corridor through the agricultural heartland of Argentina. According to the current plan, there will be 20 train services daily, carrying about 7,500 passengers. Several intermediate stops are planned between the main ones, most likely in the cities of [[Pilar, Buenos Aires|Pilar]],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.pilardetodos.com.ar/20060930/trenbala.htm| title=El tren bala podría pasar por Pilar| language=es| access-date=24 August 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203511/http://www.pilardetodos.com.ar/20060930/trenbala.htm| archive-date=27 September 2007| url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Campana, Buenos Aires|Campana]], [[San Pedro, Buenos Aires|San Pedro]], [[San Nicolás de los Arroyos]], [[Cañada de Gómez]], [[Marcos Juárez]], [[Bell Ville]] and [[Villa María, Córdoba|Villa María]].
=== Bids, costs and financing ===
The total cost of the Buenos Aires—Rosario—Córdoba line was calculated at [[US Dollar|US$]] 4 billion.<ref name=cabot>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190330205511/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/a-10-anos-de-la-adjudicacion-del-tren-bala-vida-y-muerte-de-una-fabula-ferroviaria-nid2101428/ A 10 años de la adjudicación del tren bala: vida y muerte de una fábula ferroviaria] by Diego Cabot on ''La Nación'', 10 Jan 2018</ref> Four European firms presented themselves as bidders: [[Alstom]] ([[France|French]]),<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180311140746/http://www.eleconomista.es/empresas-finanzas/noticias/513254/05/08/Jefe-de-Alstom-defiende-ventajas-para-Argentina-del-tren-de-alta-velocidad.html Jefe de Alstom defiende ventajas para Argentina del tren de alta velocidad] on ''El Economista'', 2 May 2008 (archived)</ref> [[Siemens AG|Siemens]] ([[Germany|German]]), [[Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles|CAF]] ([[Spain|Spanish]]) and [[Impregilo]] ([[Italy|Italian]]). Pre-contractual conditions stated that the national state will pay for the whole sum, but the firm in charge of the construction will finance 50%.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.lacapital.com.ar/2006/05/08/ciudad/noticia_291949.shtml| title=Puesta en marcha del tren rápido Rosario—Buenos Aires—Córdoba| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312132127/http://www.lacapital.com.ar/2006/05/08/ciudad/noticia_291949.shtml| archive-date=2007-03-12}}</ref> When technical and financial bids were due in March 2007 only the "Veloxia" grouping of [[Alstom]], Isolux Corsan, Iecsa and [[Emepa Group]] came forward,<ref name=cabot/> and the consortium was selected as preferred bidder on 20 June 2007.
Veloxia was formally selected on 16 January 2008, with a contract to be signed 'in the next few months'.<ref name=rgi080117>{{cite web| date=17 January 2008| title=Argentina confirms high speed rail consortium| work=Railway Gazette International| url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//argentina-confirms-high-speed-rail-consortium.html}}</ref> [[Alstom]] would supply eight double-deck [[TGV]] trains called 'Cobra'.<ref name=rgi0708 /> while IECSA would undertake civil engineering, Isolux Corsan and [[Emepa Group]] would construct the track.
The Argentine state secretary of transport, Ricardo Jaime, announced on 27 March 2008 that the finance minister [[Martín Lousteau]] and the consortium led by the French company Alstom approved a resolution to finance the Buenos Aires—Rosario—Cordoba High Speed Train (TAVe). The credit line was provided by the French bank [[Natixis]], covering 100% of the project. The financing scheme anticipates an investment of approximately [[Argentine Peso|A$]] 12.5 billion (€2 billion or US$4 billion), to be financed with a long-term credit of 30 years that would be guaranteed with the delivery of the public titles.
The project was finally dismissed in December 2012.<ref name=lavoz>{{cite web| url=http://www.lavoz.com.ar/noticias/politica/randazzo-sepulta-proyecto-tren-bala-cordoba| title=Randazzo sepulta el proyecto de tren bala a Córdoba| website=La Voz| date=20 December 2012}}</ref> [[France|French]] company [[Alstom]], that had been won the tender to build [[high-speed rail]], admitted to have paid bribes to the Argentine authorities.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.lanoticia1.com/noticia/empresa-que-iba-construir-tren-bala-argentino-reconocio-pago-de-coimas-60917.html| title=Empresa que iba a construir tren bala argentino reconoció pago de coimas| website=La Noticia 1| date=13 December 2014}}</ref>
=== Timeline ===
* April 2006: First announcements to build a high-speed train.<ref name=railtech>[https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/argentina/ Argentine High-Speed Railway] on ''Railway Technology'', 21 Sep 2006</ref>
* 8 May 2006: Licitation call (offerers qualification): Impregilo, Siemens, Alstom and CAF.
* 25 July 2006: Companies qualification act: Siemens, Alstom and CAF.
* August 2006: [[Secretariat of Transport (Argentina)|Secretariat of Transport]]'s Resolution n° 644 notified the [[invitation to tender]].<ref name=res644>[https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/resoluci%C3%B3n-324-2006-116445/normas-modifican SERVICIO FERROVIARIO DE ALTA VELOCIDAD - BUENOS AIRES-ROSARIO] on Argentina.gob.ar</ref>
* 20 December 2006: Technical offers. Delayed two times until 27 March 2007: Only Alstom.
* 30 January 2007: Economic offers. Delayed two times until 30 April 2007.
* 16 January 2008: Argentina chooses Alstom-led consortium in partnership with Spanish and Argentine companies to build the first very high speed line in the Americas.<ref name=cabot/><ref>{{cite press release| url=http://www.alstom.com/pr_corp_v2/2008/corp/48105.EN.php?languageId=EN&dir=/pr_corp_v2/2008/corp/&idRubriqueCourante=23132| title=Argentina chooses Alstom-led consortium| author=Alstom| date=16 January 2008| access-date=25 October 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709215941/http://www.alstom.com/pr_corp_v2/2008/corp/48105.EN.php?languageId=EN&dir=%2Fpr_corp_v2%2F2008%2Fcorp%2F&idRubriqueCourante=23132| archive-date=9 July 2009| url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 27 March 2008: Approval of a resolution for [[external financing]].
* 29 April 2008: President [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]] formally signed a turnkey contract with the Veloxia consortium for the construction of a 320&nbsp;km/h line between Buenos Aires, Rosario and Córdoba.<ref name=cabot/><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2008/04/8384/veloxia_signs_argentine_high_speed_deal.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=83&cHash=4a596768fe| title=Veloxia signs Argentine high speed deal| website=Railway Gazette| date=29 April 2008}}</ref>
* 7 February 2009: Alstom CEO announces entire project "on stand-by" due to the current financial crisis. Expresses optimism project will be completed in the future.<ref name=rgi0902 />
* December 2012: Minister of Transport, [[Florencio Randazzo]], stated that "a train running to Rosario on a secure road, with a journey time of 3 hours and a half, would be enough for me", implicitly dismissing the project.<ref name=lavoz/>
== The Mar del Plata connection ==
Other projects of high speed railway have included the {{convert|400|km|mi|abbr=on}} route from [[Constitución railway station|Constitución station]], in the central southeast part of the Buenos Aires city, to the seaside beach resort city and major fishing port of [[Mar del Plata]]. One of these projects was introduced to then governor of Buenos Aires [[Eduardo Duhalde]] in 1999 and presented by a consortium formed by companies [[Adtranz]], [[Siemens]], and [[Ferrostaal]]. With an estimated cost of [[United States dollar|US$]]600 million, trains (at an average speed of {{convert|160|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}) would reach Mar del Plata within 3 hours. Other coast cities such as Pinamar, Miramar, and Necochea, would also be served by TAVe. Plans also included the total renovation of rolling stock.<ref name=clarin2>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210421125835/https://www.clarin.com/economia/tren-bala-horas-mar-plata_0_B19x_QCl0Ke.html Tren bala: menos de 3 horas a Mar del Plata] on ''Clarin'', 3 Mar 1999</ref>
In 2009, a new bidding process was launched<ref>{{cite web| year=2008| title=Tres grupos europeos están interesados en el tren bala que unirá Buenos Aires con Mar del Plata| work=[[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|Clarín]]| url=http://www.clarin.com/diario/2008/02/08/um/m-01603318.htm| access-date=6 March 2008| language=es}}</ref> for the Constitución–Mar del Plata line.<ref>{{cite web| year=2008| title=El Tren bala hacia Mar del Plata| work=Clarín| url=http://www.clarin.com/diario/2007/02/08/um/m-01359814.htm| access-date=21 February 2008| language=es| archive-date=22 February 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222025801/http://www.clarin.com/diario/2007/02/08/um/m-01359814.htm| url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the plan, the new route would enable an average speed of {{convert|250|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and a maximum of {{convert|320|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. It would only have stops in [[Dolores, Buenos Aires|Dolores]] and [[Chascomús]] and complete the journey to Mar del Plata in less than two hours.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
Today, the service is disrupted by serious deficiencies and delays and takes over seven hours, more than the service provided in the '50s by ''El Marplatense'' with speeds of up to 90+ mph (150&nbsp;km/h) making the run in 3 hrs 45 min in then cutting edge [[Budd Company|Budd Co.]]-built formations.<ref>[https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/el-marplatense-el-triste-final-del-tren-de-lujo-que-llevo-al-jet-set-y-que-hoy-esta-olvidado-en-un-nid18012022/ El triste final del tren de lujo que llevó al jet set], ''La Nación''. 20 Jan 2022</ref> The ''Marplatense'' (operated during mostly by [[Ferrocarriles Argentinos]] and then by [[Ferrobaires]]) service was ceased in 2015.<ref>[https://www.enelsubte.com/noticias/el-marplatense-el-largo-adios-del-unico-tren-de-lujo-de-la-argentina/ El Marplatense: el largo adiós del único "tren de lujo" de la Argentina] on ''En el subte'', 11 Feb 2019</ref>
== Criticism ==
The project was heavily criticised by Poder Ciudadano, the Argentine dependency of the worldwide anti-corruption NGO [[Transparency International]], for being disproportionately expensive relative to the number of people benefitting from it. Poder Ciudadano also expressed its disapproval at the Argentine government's diversion of funds away from the already under-funded Buenos Aires metropolitan rail-service, which is used every day by millions of citizens.
.<ref>{{cite web| title=Detengamos el Tren Bala| website=Poder Ciudadano| date=18 April 2008| url=http://www.poderciudadano.org.ar/?do=campanas&id=31&PHPSESSID=b3e6332d2b4724470e670604d6a7c03a|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614172405/http://www.poderciudadano.org.ar/?do=campanas&id=31&PHPSESSID=b3e6332d2b4724470e670604d6a7c03a |archive-date=14 June 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Later, when Poder Ciudadano asked for the expedient of the bidding, it was rejected in two occasions.
<ref>{{cite web| title=La Secretaría de Transporte niega el acceso al expediente de licitación del Tren Bala| website=Poder Ciudadano| date=17 September 2008| url=http://www.poderciudadano.org.ar/?do=campanas&id=31&PHPSESSID=b3e6332d2b4724470e670604d6a7c03a|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917210955/http://www.poderciudadano.org.ar/?do=campanas&id=31&PHPSESSID=b3e6332d2b4724470e670604d6a7c03a |archive-date=17 September 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Planned high-speed rail by country]]
* [[Rail transport in Argentina]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1257043/highspeed_rail_revolution_in_the_making/index.html High-Speed Rail Revolution in the Making] by Sam Savage on ''RedOrbit''
* {{cite web| url= http://www.europeanrailoutlook.com/A/xthismonth.html| website=European Outlook| title=International Railway Journal - Has privatisation come full circle?| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508180359/http://www.europeanrailoutlook.com/A/xthismonth.html| archive-date=8 May 2008}}
* {{cite web| url=http://www.greengauge21.net/assets/European_Regeneration_Experience.pdf| website=Green Gauge 21| title=High Speed Trains and the Development and Regeneration of Cities| date=June 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324235651/http://www.greengauge21.net/assets/European_Regeneration_Experience.pdf| archive-date=24 March 2009}}
* {{cite web| url=http://www.eco.uc3m.es/temp/agenda/mad2006/papers/12.%20Vickerman,%20Roger.pdf| website=Departamento de Economía, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid| title=Indirect and wider economic impacts of High-Speed Rail}}
* {{cite web| url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2002/05/22/economia/1022180148_850215.html| website=Cinco Días| title=Celebremos el éxito del AVE Madrid-Sevilla| language=es| date=22 May 2002}}
{{High-speed rail}}
{{Rail transport in Argentina}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buenos Aires-Rosario-Cordoba High-Speed Railway}}
[[Category:Presidency of Néstor Kirchner]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Rosario, Santa Fe|h]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Córdoba Province, Argentina|h]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Buenos Aires Province|h]]
[[Category:High-speed rail in Argentina]]
[[Category:Proposed railway lines in Argentina]]
[[Category:High-speed railway lines in Argentina]]
[[Category:Cancelled projects in Argentina]]
[[Category:Projects established in 2006]]
[[Category:2006 establishments in Argentina]]