Metrotranvía Mendoza

{{Short description|Public transport system in Mendoza, Argentina}}

{{Infobox public transit

| name = Metrotranvía Mendoza

| image = Mendotran-logo.png

| imagesize = 200

| image2 = (Parador_9_de_Julio)_Siemens%E2%80%93Duewag_U2_rumbo_a_Gutierrez_(5).JPG

| imagesize2 = 250

| caption2 = Train at 9 de Julio station, February 2015

| owner = Government of Mendoza

| locale = Mendoza, Argentina

| transit_type = Light rail

| lines = 1

| stations = 26

| ridership = 5,000 (2013){{cite news|last1=Zavala Tello|first1=Ignacio|title=El Metrotranvía cumplió un año y tiene 5.000 usuarios por día|trans-title=The Metrotranvía has been in service for one year and has 5,000 users per day|url=http://www.diariouno.com.ar/mendoza/El-Metrotranvia-cumplio-un-ao-y-tiene-5.000-usuarios-por-dia-20130820-0010.html|newspaper=Diario Uno|language=Spanish|date=20 August 2013|location=Mendoza, Argentina|accessdate=2014-10-26}}

| annual_ridership =

| began_operation = 8 October 2012

| operator = Sociedad de Transporte Mendoza (STM)

| marks =

| vehicles = 50

| system_length = {{convert|17|km|mi|abbr=on}}[http://www.jornadaonline.com/Mendoza/49441-Ya-ejecutaron-el-55-de-las-obras-del-metrotranv%C3%ADa "Ya ejecutaron el 55% de las obras del metrotranvía" ["55% of the work on the Metrotranvía is completed"]] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521031551/http://www.jornadaonline.com/Mendoza/49441-Ya-ejecutaron-el-55-de-las-obras-del-metrotranv%C3%ADa |date=2013-05-21 }}, Jornada Online (in Spanish), 20 July 2010.

| track_gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}

| el = 600 V DC, overhead lines

| area served = Greater Mendoza

| line_number =

| start = Panquehua

| end = Gutiérrez

| chief_executive =

| website = {{url|https://www.mendoza.gov.ar/transportes/mtm/|mendoza.gov.ar/mtm}}

| character =

| alt =

| map = {{switcher

|275px

|Show static map

|{{Metrotranvía Mendoza line}}

|Show route 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 {{convert|12.5|km|mi|adj=on}} line runs between Mendoza and General Gutierrez in Maipú, on {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}} 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. 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

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.[http://www.mendozaeconomico.com/2009/02/12/firman-el-contrato-para-las-obras-del-metro-tranvia/ "Firman el contrato para las obras del metrotranvía"], Mendoza Económico, 12 February 2009.[http://www.mdzol.com/nota/103398-Comenzar%C3%A1n-a-construir-el-Metrotranv%C3%ADa/ "Comenzarán a construir el Metrotranvía"], Mendoza Online Works were carried out by private companies Construcciones Electromecánicas del Oeste S.A. (CEOSA) and SOGESIC S.A.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090420125504/http://es.truveo.com/Se-viene-el-Metro-Tranv%C3%ADa-Urbano-nom%C3%A1s-en/id/3520394609 "Se viene el metrotranvía urbano, nomás"], Truveo, 2009[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/metrotranvia-deal-signed.html "Metrotranvía deal signed"], Railway Gazette, 9 July 2013.[http://www.uncu.edu.ar/proyecto-de-metrotranvia "Proyecto de Metrotranvía"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131002/http://www.uncu.edu.ar/proyecto-de-metrotranvia |date=2015-04-02 }}, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, 12 March 2009.

Project included a total refurbishment of Mendoza station, which had operated between 1885 and 1993 when it was closed by the national government.{{Cite web |last=Clarín.com |date=1997-05-25 |title=Ramal que cierra, pueblo que muere |url=https://www.clarin.com/ediciones-anteriores/ramal-cierra-pueblo-muere_0_r1HO2WZRYg.html |access-date=2022-08-31 |website=Clarín |language=es}}{{Cite web |title=Página/12 De la resistencia a la recuperación |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/1-243065-2014-03-31.html |access-date=2022-08-31 |website=www.pagina12.com.ar |language=es}} The administrative building was reopened as a cultural centre named "Estación Cultural",[https://www.sitioandino.com.ar/n/359360-conoce-los-talleres-que-ofrece-la-estacion-cultural-de-ciudad Conocé los talleres que ofrece la Estación Cultural de Ciudad] on Sitio Andino, 7 Jul 2021

{{Anchor|Start delay}} An inauguration ceremony was held in February 2012,"Mendoza light rail service begins" (December 2012). Tramways & Urban Transit, p. 451. LRTA Publishing. {{issn|1460-8324}}. but service did not begin at that time, as much of the construction work remained to be completed.Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, May 2012, p. 193. LRTA Publishing. 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.

= 2019 extension to Las Heras=

In 2019, the main building at Mendoza railway station was completely remodeled, as part of an extension to Las Heras, Mendoza.{{cite web |last1=Scortichini |first1=Estefanía |title=ASÍ QUEDÓ LA VIEJA ESTACIÓN MENDOZA - PressReader |url=https://www.pressreader.com/argentina/los-andes/20181211/282132112530075 |via=PressReader |access-date=23 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221530/https://www.pressreader.com/argentina/los-andes/20181211/282132112530075 |archive-date=27 March 2023 |date=12 November 2018}} The rails used for this extension was manufactured in Spain, while the concrete sleepers were built in Argentina.[http://www.diariouno.com.ar/mendoza/Metrotranvia-mientras-esperan-que-lleguen-los-rieles-de-Espaa-se-hacen-trabajos-secundarios-20150119-0015.html "Metrotranvía: mientras esperan que lleguen los rieles de España se hacen trabajos secundarios"], Diario Uno, 19 January 2015.[http://www.losandes.com.ar/article/preparan-el-terreno-para-los-rieles-del-metrotranvia-a-las-heras "Preparan el terreno para los rieles del Metrotranvía a Las Heras"], Los Andes, 22 January 2015.[http://jornadaonline.com/Notas%20Entorno/137527-C%C3%B3mo-es-el-novedoso-sistema-constructivo-del-nuevo-tramo-del-Metrotranv%C3%ADa Cómo es el novedoso sistema constructivo del nuevo tramo del Metrotranvía] - Jornada Online, 2 July 2015 This extension included the construction of new level crossings, as well as the refurbishment of old railway stations. This extension, bringing the Metrotranvía to Las Heras, Mendoza, opened to the public on 7 May 2019.{{cite web |title=New investments in Mendoza |url=https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/start-of-new-investments-in-mendoza/ |website=Urban Transport Magazine |access-date=23 June 2024 |date=8 May 2019}}{{cite web |title=Habilitaron la extensión del Metrotranvía de Mendoza a Las Heras |url=https://www.enelsubte.com/noticias/habilitaron-la-extension-del-metrotranvia-de-mendoza-a-las-heras/ |website=enelSubte |access-date=23 June 2024 |language=es-AR |date=7 May 2019}}{{cite web |title=Quedaron inaugurados el nuevo recorrido del Metrotranvía hacia Las Heras y el edificio del EMOP : Prensa Gobierno de Mendoza |url=https://www.mendoza.gov.ar/prensa/quedo-inaugurado-el-nuevo-recorrido-del-metrotranvia-hacia-las-heras-y-el-edificio-del-emop/ |website=www.mendoza.gov.ar |publisher=Government of Argentina |access-date=23 June 2024 |date=7 May 2019}} The Metrotranvía now ends at Avellaneda station, located on Avellaneda Street in Panquehua, a neighborhood in Las Heras.

Future plans

A project currently planned 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.[http://www.diariouno.com.ar/mendoza/Proyectos-para-los-recorridos-del-Metrotranvia-al-Aeropuerto-Lujan-y-Maipu-20150119-0017.html "Proyectos para los recorridos del Metrotranvía al Aeropuerto, Luján y Maipú"], Diario Uno, 19 January 2015.{{cite web |title=Mendoza: el Metrotranvía podría llegar al aeropuerto |url=https://www.enelsubte.com/noticias/mendoza-el-metrotranvia-podria-llegar-al-aeropuerto/ |website=enelSubte |access-date=23 June 2024 |language=es-AR |date=8 June 2017}} As of 2022, the airport extension was expected to open in 2025.{{cite web |title=Quieren que el Metrotranvía llegue a Luján de Cuyo y al Aeropuerto en 2025 {{!}} Sociedad |url=https://www.losandes.com.ar/sociedad/quieren-que-el-metrotranvia-llegue-a-lujan-de-cuyo-y-al-aeropuerto-en-2025/ |website=Los Andes |language=es |date=28 June 2022}} Meanwhile, the Luján de Cuyo branch, which is already under construction,{{cite web |title=Metrotranvía: avanza la extensión del servicio hacia Luján de Cuyo : Prensa Gobierno de Mendoza |url=https://www.mendoza.gov.ar/prensa/metrotranvia-avanza-la-extension-del-servicio-hacia-lujan-de-cuyo/ |website=www.mendoza.gov.ar |language=es-AR}}{{cite web |title=Avanza la obra del metrotranvía a Luján {{!}} STM - Sociedad de Transporte Mendoza |url=https://stmendoza.com/avanza-la-obra-del-metrotranvia-a-lujan/ |language=es |date=17 February 2024}} was initially planned to open in 2028. However, on 17 January 2024, it was announced that the Luján extension may open in 2027 instead.{{cite web |last1=Lucero |first1=Juan Manuel |title=El Metrotranvía podría llegar a Luján un año antes de lo planeado |url=https://www.mendozapost.com/sociedad/metrotranvia-a-lujan-cuando-circular/ |website=www.mendozapost.com |language=es |date=18 January 2024}}

Rolling stock

File:(Parador Gutierrez) Siemens–Duewag U2 (9).JPG Siemens–Duewag U2 light rail vehicles that make up the fleet]]

The service was initially provided by eleven Siemens–Duewag U2 light-rail vehicles (LRVs) acquired secondhand from the San Diego Trolley system in San Diego, California.[http://www.sdmts.com/mts/MTSTrolleysinArgentina.asp "San Diego U2 Trolleys successfully operate in Argentina"], San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, 9 March 2010.Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, November 2010, p. 428. LRTA Publishing. ISSN 1460-8324. The first four (ex-San Diego cars 1028, 1055, 1070, and 1071) arrived in Mendoza in February 2011.{{cite web |last1=Morrison |first1=Allen |title=Mendoza, Argentina: Trams, Trolleybuses, Metrotranvía |url=http://www.tramz.com/ar/mz/mz.html |website=Electric Transport in Latin America |access-date=2025-01-27 |date=24 May 2011}} More had arrived by November 2011,Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, January 2012, p. 27. LRTA Publishing. and the delivery was completed with the final two cars arriving on 27 April 2012.Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, July 2012, p. 272. LRTA Publishing. In 2022, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System sent 39 Siemens SD-100 light rail vehicles.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-03 |title=Aging San Diego trolley cars find new life in Argentina |url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/science-technology/2022/12/02/aging-san-diego-trolley-cars-find-new-life-in-argentina |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=KPBS Public Media |language=en}}

class="wikitable sticky-header"

|+Current rail fleet

!Image

!Model

!Fleet Numbers ({{Abbr|Qty.|Quantity}})

!Build Date

!Retired in San Diego

!Entered Service in Mendoza

150x150px

|Siemens–Duewag U2

|1000 series
(11 units, ex-San Diego, where they were numbered in the range 1027–1071)

|1985–1989{{cite news|title=Electric Transit Equipment in North America|date=Winter 1988|magazine=The New Electric Railway Journal|issn=1048-3845|page=13}}

|2010-2015

|2012

150x150px

|Siemens SD-100

|2000 series
(39 units)

|1995

|2022-2023

|2022-2024