View source for Line C (Buenos Aires Underground)

{{short description|Rapid transit line of Buenos Aires}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name                            = [[File:Línea C (SBASE) bullet.svg|50px]] <br /> Line C
| image                           = File:Boca de acceso Gral San Martín 02.jpg
| image_width                     = 275
| caption                         = <small>'''General San Martín entrance'''</small>
| type                            = [[Rapid transit]]
| system                          = [[Buenos Aires Underground]]
| status                          = 
| locale                          = 
| start                           = [[Retiro (Line C Buenos Aires Underground)|Retiro]]
| end                             = [[Constitución (Line C Buenos Aires Underground)|Constitución]]
| stations                        = 9
| daily_ridership                 = 208,000 (2018)<ref name="Clarin">{{cite web |url=https://www.clarin.com/ciudades/subte-record-pasajeros-siguen-quejas-servicio-busca-mejorar-obras_0_S1jcmz0Sm.html |title=Subte: con récord de pasajeros, siguen las quejas por el servicio y busca mejorar con más obras |date=13 August 2018 |access-date=2019-03-21}}</ref> [[Image:Increase.svg|10px]] 15.22% <ref name="Enelsubte">{{cite web |url=https://www.clarin.com/ciudades/subte-record-pasajeros-siguen-quejas-servicio-busca-mejorar-obras_0_S1jcmz0Sm.html |title=En 2018 el Subte transportó la mayor cantidad de pasajeros en 25 años |date=20 February 2019 |access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref>
| open                            = 1934
| close                           = 
| owner                           = 
| operator                        = [[Metrovías]]
| character                       = Underground
| stock = [[Buenos Aires Underground 200 Series|200 Series]] [[Nagoya Municipal Subway 5000 series|5000 series]]
| linelength                      = 4.3 km (2.67 mi)
| tracklength                     = 
| gauge                           = {{RailGauge|sg}}
| electrification                 = [[Overhead lines|Catenary]] 1500 V DC
| speed                           = 
| elevation                       = 
| map                             = {{Line C (BA)}}
| map_state                       = 
}}{{Update|date=October 2022}}
'''Line C''' of the [[Buenos Aires Underground]], that runs from  [[Retiro (Line C Buenos Aires Underground)|Retiro]] to [[Constitución (Line C Buenos Aires Underground)|Constitución]] terminus, opened on 9 November 1934, and it has a length of {{convert|4.3|km|abbr=on}}. It runs under Lima Sur, Bernardo de Irigoyen, Carlos Pellegrini, Esmeralda, la [[Plaza San Martín (Buenos Aires)|Plaza San Martín]] and Avenida Ramos Mejia streets. It not only connects to every other line on the system (with the exception of [[Line H (Buenos Aires Underground)|Line H]], which it is planned will be connected at a later date), but its termini at [[Retiro railway station|Retiro]] and [[Constitución railway station|Constitución]] also connect it to some of the most important [[Rail transport in Argentina#Commuter networks|commuter rail networks in Buenos Aires]], such as the [[Mitre Line (Buenos Aires)|Mitre]] and [[Roca Line (Buenos Aires)|Roca]] lines and also [[Transport in Argentina#Long-distance passenger services|long-distance passenger services]]. It is thus an important artery in Buenos Aires' transport system. At the same time, it is also the shortest line in both terms of length and number of stations.

It was the third line of the network to provide rail services to the public, after [[Line A (Buenos Aires Underground)|Line A]] and [[Line B (Buenos Aires Underground)|Line B]]. Up until 2007 with the opening of line H, it was the only line in the system providing a north–south service.

[[File:Línea C del Subte de Buenos Aires.svg|Line C map|thumb|300px]]

==History==
The line was constructed by the Compañía Hispano Argentina de Obras Públicas y Finanzas (CHADOPyF, Hispanic-Argentine Company for Public Works and Finances), headed by a Spanish nobleman, Rafael Benjumea, the Count of [[Guadalhorce]].  This company took on the task because the Great Depression of the 1930s meant that the [[Anglo-Argentine Tramways Company]] (which owned most of the then vast tram network in the city) pulled out of its construction.<ref name="cultura">[http://www.diariodecultura.com.ar/turismo-cultural/la-linea-c-cumple-80-anos/ La línea C cumple 80 años] – Diario de Cultura.</ref> The line was subsequently opened in 1934 and extended from the present terminus at Constitución to [[Avenida Roque Sáenz Peña|Diagonal Norte]] in the centre of the city. The stretch from Diagonal Norte to its present terminus at Retiro was opened in 1936 and marked the last expansion of the line, which remains the only line not to be extended since then.

On opening, the stations were decorated with murals depicting rural [[Spain]] created by Argentine artists Martín S. Noel and Manuel Escasani,<ref>[http://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/subte/nuestra-historia/linea-c Línea C] – Buenos Aires Ciduad</ref> as well as some stations reflecting [[Moorish]] influences and were painted with gold powder. It had advanced technology for the time, such as [[Automatic Train Stop]] (ATS).<ref name="cultura" />

When [[Line E (Buenos Aires Underground)|Line E]] was opened in 1938, its original terminus was shared with that of Line C at Constitución.  However, Line Es' route was altered in 1966 for the lines to meet instead at [[Independencia (Line C Buenos Aires Underground)|Independencia]], where they still do so to this day.<ref>[http://enelsubte.com/noticias/linea-e-70-anos-buscando-pasajeros-3243/ Línea E: 70 años buscando pasajeros] – EnElSubte, June 2014</ref> With the extensions of Line E and Line H, they now meet Line C at Retiro, where all three terminate.

[[Siemens]] has modernised the signalling systems on the line, at a cost of $18 million which included the use of [[Communications-based train control]] (CBTC) in order to improve the line's frequency and potentially open up the possibility of automatic trains in the future. The work was completed towards the end of 2016.<ref>[http://enelsubte.com/noticias/siemens-modernizara-las-senales-de-la-linea-c/ Siemens modernizará las señales de la línea C] – EnElSubte, 1 October 2014.</ref>

Aside from the signalling system, the line has had its stations refurbished, its rolling stock refurbished and ventilation improved, in part to compensate from the extra heat associated with the air conditioning units added to the trains. Major works took place at [[Constitución railway station]] to provide better transfers between the [[Roca Line]], Line C and [[Metrobus Sur]] in the area, which includes the construction of a new underground annex to the station.<ref name="transbordo" /> Large segments of track, as well as switches, were replaced.<ref>[http://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/noticias/grandes-obras-del-subte-que-no-percibis-simple-vista Grandes obras del subte que no percibís a simple vista] – Buenos Aires Ciudad, 18 September 2015.</ref>

==Rolling stock==
{{Main|Buenos Aires Underground rolling stock}}
[[File:Nagoya-300-5.jpg|thumbnail|Interior of the Nagoya 300 Series rolling stock]]
[[File:Conde Guadalhorce.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Rafael Benjumea, the Count of Guadalhorce, who oversaw the construction of the line.]]
When the line was first opened, it was served by [[Siemens-Schuckert Orenstein & Koppel]] rolling stock in its entirety until 2007. In 1999, trains were purchased from the [[Nagoya Municipal Subway]] but they ultimately ended up being used on [[Line D (Buenos Aires Underground)|Line D]], and were then sent to Line C in 2007 as Line D acquired more new [[Alstom]] rolling stock and [[Line H (Buenos Aires Underground)|Line H]] was opened, meaning that the Siemens O&K trains were needed there as temporary stock until newer [[Alstom Metropolis]] trains arrived there.<ref>[http://enelsubte.com/noticias/ferrofilatelismo-1086/ Ferrofilatelia] – EnElSubte, 6 June 2010.</ref><ref>[http://enelsubte.com/noticias/asi-son-los-nuevos-trenes-alstom-para-la-linea-h/ Así son los nuevos trenes Alstom para la línea H] – EnElSubte, 25 March 2015.</ref>

In 2015, refurbished [[Nagoya Municipal Subway 5000 series]] rolling stock began to arrive, adding 50% capacity to the line's existing Nagoya trains and reducing journey times.<ref>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1760476-subte-llegan-los-primeros-coches-con-aire-acondicionado-que-se-sumaran-a-la-linea-c Subte: llegan los primeros coches con aire acondicionado que se sumarán a la línea C] – [[La Nacion]], January 2015</ref> Though the rolling stock was in very good condition and was further refurbished, the purchase was criticised by the Minister of the Interior and Transport, [[Florencio Randazzo]], who accused the Municipal Government of buying dated rolling stock in contrast to the brand new rolling stock purchased by the Ministry for Buenos Aires' commuter rail network and Line A of the underground.<ref>[http://wwwcronicaferroviaria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/randazzo-revelo-que-macri-compro.html Randazzo reveló que Macri compró formaciones de subte de más de 30 años] – Cronica Ferroviaria, March 2015</ref><ref>[http://enelsubte.com/noticias/piccardo-admitio-que-los-nagoya-son-de-1980-y-corto-cuando-le-preguntaron-por-que-no-se-compraron-nuevos/ Piccardo elude responder por qué se eligió comprar trenes usados] – EnElSubte, March 2015</ref> Along with the purchase, the existing Nagoya rolling stock was refurbished with [[air conditioning]].<ref name=transbordo>[http://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/noticias/el-detalle-de-las-obras-0 El Centro de Transbordo Constitución] – Buenos Aires Ciudad, 18 August 2015.</ref> 200 Series trains were gradually introduced to the line beginning in 2018, slowly replacing the [[Nagoya 250/300/700/1200]] series cars until the final set was retired in 2020.

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:Line C exit.jpg|Exit to [[Constitución railway station]] c.1934
File:Turnstiles on line C.jpg|Passengers going through turnstiles on the line c.1934
File:Diagonal Norte (ca 1936, AGN).jpg|Entrance to Diagonal Norte station, c.1936
File:Buenos Aires - Subte - Combinación en Constitución.jpg|Passengers entering Line C from the former Line E station at Constitución
File:Estación General San Martín - Subte de Buenos Aires.jpg|General San Martín station interior
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Línea C (Subterráneo Buenos Aires)|Line C}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101225113304/http://www.sbase.com.ar/en/ Subterráneos de Buenos Aires (Official Page)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101020080935/http://www.metrovias.com.ar/v2/Home-En.asp?lang=EN Metrovías S.A. Subte Operator (Official Page)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110418045213/http://www.sbase.com.ar/en/index.php/the-network/line-c Subterráneos de Buenos Aires, C Line]
* [http://www.subte.com.ar/mapas/subte.asp System map]

{{Buenos Aires Underground Stations}}
{{Buenos Aires Transit}}

[[Category:Buenos Aires Underground]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1934]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Argentina|Buenos Aires - Line C]]
[[Category:1934 establishments in Argentina]]