Santiago–Valparaíso railway line

{{Infobox rail line

| box_width = auto

| name = Santiago–Valparaíso railway line
Ferrocarril de Santiago a Valparaíso

| color =

| logo =

| logo_width =

| image =

| image_width =

| caption =

| type =

| system = Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado

| status =

| locale = Chile

| start = Estación Mapocho, Santiago

| end = Estación Puerto, Valparaíso

| stations =

| routes =

| daily_ridership =

| open = 1863

| close =

| owner =

| operator =

| character =

| depot =

| stock =

| linelength = {{convert|187|km|abbr=on}}

| tracklength =

| tracks = Single track

| gauge = {{Track gauge|1676mm|lk=on}}

| electrification =

| speed =

| elevation =

| map =

| map_state =

}}

The Santiago–Valparaíso railway is a railway line linking the Chilean capital city Santiago with the port city of Valparaíso.

History

The existing rail line between Santiago and Valparaíso was opened in 1863, and is {{convert|187|km|abbr=on}} long, single-track and designed to avoid steep gradients through mountainous terrain. Passenger service ceased on this line in 1987, and freight traffic almost non-existent since then.{{cite web|url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/chilean-high-speed-line/|title=Third proposal unveiled for Chilean high-speed line|website=International Rail Journal|date=8 May 2019|accessdate=29 July 2019}} Proposals have existed since the 1990s to build a more direct line between the two cities for passengers and freight. The section from Valparaíso to Limache was doubled and put underground in Viña del Mar as part of the Valparaíso Metro.

Current proposals

File:Ferrocarril Santiago Valparaiso - 2019 y futuro.svg

A study commissioned by EFE in 2016 outlined three different potential routes for a new Santiago–Valparaíso line, using the Chilean rail network's existing Indian gauge, and cost between US$4–5 billion.{{cite web|url=https://www.railjournal.com/regions/central-south-america/chile-mulls-new-santiago-valparaso-line/|title=Chile mulls new Santiago – Valparaíso line|website=International Rail Journal|date=20 September 2016|accessdate=29 July 2019}}

In 2018, a proposal was submitted by the Tren Valparaíso Santiago consortium of local firm Sigdo Koppers and China Railway Engineering Corporation. The US$2.5 billion plan consisted of a {{convert|127|km|abbr=on}} line with four stations to be designed for passenger trains to run at up to {{convert|220|km/h|abbr=on}}, offering an end-to-end journey time of 45 min, around half the time currently taken by road. The line would also be suitable for freight trains operating at up to {{convert|85|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/cs-america/single-view/view/santiago-valparaiso-proposal-submitted.html|title=Santiago – Valparaíso proposal submitted|website=International Railway Gazette|date=13 February 2019|accessdate=29 July 2019}}

References

External links

[http://www.trentvs.cl/ Tren Valparaíso Santiago - Official site]

Category:Transport in Chile

Category:Rail transport in Chile

Category:Proposed railway lines

Category:Railway lines opened in 1863