View source for Tranvía del Este

{{Short description|Demonstration light rail line in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires (2007–2012)}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width       = 250 
| name            = Tranvía del Este
| logo            = 
| logo_width      = 
| image           = Metro Ligero 153.jpg
| image_width     =
| caption         = Madrid tram in [[Puerto Madero]] in 2011
| type            = [[Light rail]]
| status          = Inactive
| locale          = [[Buenos Aires]]
| predecessor     = 
| first           = 14 July 2007
| last            = {{Start date and age|2012|10|10}} <ref name="taut-2013jan"/>
| successor       = 
| operator        = 
| formeroperator  = {{plainlist|
* [[Alstom]]
* [[Metrovías]]
* [[Ferrovías]]
}}
| ridership       = 
| ridership2      = 102,000 (2012)<ref>[http://www.cnrt.gov.ar/content/estadisticas/ferroviario Estadísticas del transporte ferroviario - Total 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612061844/http://www.cnrt.gov.ar/content/estadisticas/ferroviario |date=2015-06-12 }}, CNRT website - Ministry of Transport</ref>
| website         = 
| start           = Córdoba
| stops           = 4
| end             = Independencia
| distance        = {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| journeytime     = 
| frequency       = 15 minutes
| trainnumber     = 
| line_used       = 
| class           = 
| access          = 
| seating         = 
| sleeping        = 
| autorack        = 
| catering        = 
| observation     = 
| entertainment   = 
| baggage         = 
| otherfacilities = 
| stock           = 
| gauge           = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| el              = ? [[Volt|V]] [[Direct current|DC]] [[Overhead line|Catenary]]
| speed           = 
| owners          = [[Government of Argentina]] (2007–12) <br> SBASE (2012–present)<ref name=trasp/>
| routenumber     = 
| map             = 
| map_state       = 
}}
The '''Tranvía del Este''', also known as the '''Puerto Madero Tramway''', was a 12-block "demonstration" [[light rail]] line in the [[Puerto Madero]] neighborhood of [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina, in operation from 2007 to 2012. It used French-built [[Alstom Citadis]] 302 trams on loan, initially from [[Mulhouse]], France, and later from [[Madrid]], Spain, and  was jointly operated by [[Alstom]], [[Metrovías]], and [[Ferrovías]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200809034413/https://www.clarin.com/ciudades/tranvia-puerto-madero-usuarios-hora_0_B1b8_973PQl.html El tranvía de Puerto Madero, con sólo 25 usuarios por hora], ''Clarín'', 29 May 2012</ref>

After its initial demonstration status, numerous plans were put forward to extend the line and increase ridership, while incorporating it into the [[Buenos Aires Underground]]; however, none came to fruition. In March 2012, the [[Congress of Argentina]] promulgated a law which transferred Tranvía del Este to the city of Buenos Aires. Nevertheless, the city government refused to take over the service, leaving it inactive.<ref name=trasp>[https://www.enelsubte.com/noticias/ahora-sbase-busca-extender-el-tranvia-del-2702/ Ahora SBASE busca extender el Tranvía del Este], 1 Jul 2013</ref> In 2017, the stations were demolished in order to build the [[Paseo del Bajo]].<ref name=desidia/><ref name=paseobajo/>

==History==
=== Background ===
[[File:EstacionCentralBuenosAires.png|thumb|left|Estación Central de Buenos Aires and rail tracks c. 1875. The "Tren del Este" was an attempt to relaunch the route of the FCBA&E]]
Tranvía del Este ran on former [[Buenos Aires and Ensenada Port Railway]] tracks, that extended from the [[Central Station (Buenos Aires)|Central Station]] to Venezuela station, from there trains ran on a [[viaduct]] over [[Avenida Leandro N. Alem|Paseo de Julio Avenue]] to [[Casa Amarilla]] in [[La Boca]], then continuing to [[Quilmes]] and [[Ensenada, Buenos Aires|Ensenada]] in [[Buenos Aires Province]]. After the Central Station was destroyed by fire (and demolished), Venezuela was set as terminus.<ref>{{ cite news | last = Parise | first = Eduardo | url=http://www.clarin.com/ciudades/secreta_buenos_aires-cuando-trenes-llegaban-Bajo-Parise_0_1388861151.html | title = Cuando los trenes llegaban al Bajo | publisher = [[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|Clarín]] | date = 6 July 2015 }}</ref>

In May 2005, it was launched a project named "Tren del Este", which would be served by [[diesel railcar]]s (similar to [[Premetro (Buenos Aires)|Premetro]] rolling stock) and operated by then-[[Belgrano Norte Line]] concessionary [[Ferrovías]]. Trains would depart from Aristóbulo del Valle station in [[Vicente López, Buenos Aires|Vicente López]] to [[Retiro Belgrano railway station|Retiro]], then running on the FCBA&E tracks to [[Avellaneda]]. Works planned included the construction of a third track to join del Valle and Retiro stations, and several intermediat stops such as "Aeroparque", located at the central hall of [[Aeroparque Jorge Newbery]].<ref name=trendeleste/>

A total of 24 new stations would be built in an extension of 24 km. Rolling stock would be provided by Portuguese company [[Comboios de Portugal|Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses]] and included a total of 34 vehicles running on a [[track gauge]] of {{track gauge|1000mm}} at a maximum speed of 90 km/h. Nevertheless, that project was never carried out.<ref name=trendeleste>"El Tren del Este: un proyecto que no fue" on Crónica Ferroviaria, 26 Dec 2012<!-- original web address:https://wwwcronicaferroviaria. blogspot. com/2012/12/el-tren-del-este-un-proyecto-que-no-fue.html (not included due to WP block filters) --></ref>

=== Operation ===
[[File:Buenos Aires Celeris Tramway 2.jpg|thumb|left|Celeris trams in front of [[Puerto Madero]], with a freight track on the left]]
With construction of the first section completed,<ref>{{cite web | author=Rocha, Laura| date=6 January 2007| title=Comenzaron las obras para el tranvía de Puerto Madero |trans-title=Work begun for the Puerto Madero tramway| work=[[La Nación]] | url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/archivo/Nota.asp?nota_id=873091 | access-date=2016-07-27|language=es}}</ref> the line was inaugurated on July 14, 2007. Initially, the service was provided by two [[Alstom Citadis]] 302 model vehicles, manufactured by the [[France|French]]<ref>{{cite web | author=Atta, Carlos| date=18 January 2008| title=Francia quiere una red de tranvías en Buenos Aires |trans-title=France wants a tram network in Buenos Aires|work=[[La Nación]] | url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/Archivo/nota.asp?nota_id=979883 | access-date=2016-07-27|language=es}}</ref> company [[Alstom]], built for the [[Mulhouse tramway]], in France, and temporarily loaned to Buenos Aires. Carrying Mulhouse numbers 04 and 05, the vehicles were double-ended, bi-directional, low-floor, four-section units, each section having 48 fixed seats, another 16 folding seats and standing room for a total of 300 passengers for the whole car. The vehicles, locally known by the name Celeris, ran on an exclusive right-of-way for {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} parallel to Avenida Alicia Moreau de Justo, from Avenida Córdoba to Avenida Independencia.

After Mulhouse requested the return of the two trams it loaned, those cars left Buenos Aires in 2008.  Replacing them on the Tranvía del Este was another tram of the same type, but loaned from [[Madrid]], Spain, where it was number 153 (a number it also used in Buenos Aires) in the fleet of the [[Metro Ligero de Madrid]] [[light rail]] system.<ref name="taut=2009jan">''[[Tramways & Urban Transit]]'', January 2009, p. 27. UK: LRTA Publishing.</ref>

The Mulhouse and Madrid trams both wore the paint schemes of their home systems while in Buenos Aires.

Trams ran from Monday through Saturday from 8:00 until 23:20, and on Sundays and holidays from 9:00 until 22:00, every 15 minutes. For tickets there were two [[ticket machine|Ticket Vending Machines]] (TVMs) installed at each station and guards with portable vending machines were also available. Tickets cost [[Argentine Peso|ARS]] 1.00 (around US$0.26).

Extensions were planned, of 2&nbsp;km to [[Retiro railway station]] and the [[Retiro bus station|Intercity Bus Terminal]] and of 5.2&nbsp;km from the then-existing terminus at Independencia to Caminito in [[La Boca]].<ref>{{cite web | author=Rossi, Antonio| date=14 March 2008| title=El Tranvía de Puerto Madero será ampliado de Retiro a la Boca |trans-title=The Puerto Madero tramway will be extended to Retiro and La Boca | work=[[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|Clarín]] | url=http://www.clarin.com/diario/2008/03/14/laciudad/h-04401.htm | access-date=2016-07-27|language=es}}</ref> However, the extension plans did not proceed.

===Closure===
[[File:Vías del Tranvía del Este.jpg|thumb|The line's infrastructure in 2009, before its closure. Tracks were later dismantled and incorporated into the [[Premetro (Buenos Aires)|Premetro]].]]
By 2012, the scheduled [[headway]] was 40 minutes, using one car, and [[ridership]] on the line declined to a very low level. In October 2012, the line's only tramcar broke down, and service consequently had to be suspended indefinitely.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.infobae.com/2013/01/09/690425-el-tranvia-puerto-madero-costo-5-millones-euros-y-ahora-la-deriva|title=El tranvía de Puerto Madero está a la deriva|trans-title=The Puerto Madero tramway: Cost 8 million euros and now, adrift |work=Infobae|date= 9 January 2013|access-date=2016-07-27}}</ref> It was decided to close the line, and 10 October 2012 was the last day of service.<ref name="taut-2013jan">''[[Tramways & Urban Transit]]'', January 2013, p. 29. UK: LRTA Publishing.</ref>

In January 2013, the [[Government of Argentina]] transferred the [[Buenos Aires Underground]] lines to the Government of Buenos Aires autonomous city, including the Tranvía del Este among its services.<ref name=cron/><ref>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1538799-es-ley-el-traspaso-del-subte-de-la-orbita-nacional-a-la-de-la-ciudad "Es ley el traspaso del subte de la órbita nacional a la porteña"], ''La Nación'', 20 Dec 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/ultimas/20-210284-2012-12-20.html "La Legislatura aprobó el traspaso del subte"], ''Página/12'', 20 Dec 2012</ref> In May 2013, the defective car still remained, abandoned, at Independencia station.<ref name=cron>{{cite news|last=Sanguinetti|first=Andrés|url=http://www.cronista.com/negocios/El-tren-de-Puerto-Madero-ocho-meses-sin-servicio-y-un-futuro-incierto-20130523-0062.html |title=El tren de Puerto Madero, ocho meses sin servicio y un futuro incierto|language=es|trans-title=The Puerto Madero train [sic]: Eight months without service and an uncertain future|newspaper=[[El Cronista]]|date=23 May 2013|access-date=2016-07-27}}</ref> After the transfer, the extension and expansion of the line was considered but it was not carried out.

The proposal made by State-owned company "Subterráneos de Buenos Aires" (SBASE) consisted of a series of improvements to the service that included the extension of the line to [[Retiro, Buenos Aires|Retiro]] complex (connecting it with the three [[Retiro railway station|railway terminals]] and [[Retiro (Line C Buenos Aires Underground)|the homonymous Underground stations]]). The project also included the construction of a second track and the purchase of eight trains (at a cost of US$2 million).<ref>{{cite news|title=Ahora SBASE busca extender el Tranvía del Este|url=http://enelsubte.com/noticias/ahora-sbase-busca-extender-el-tranvia-del-2702/|access-date=26 July 2016|work=EnElSubte|date=1 July 2013|language=es-ES}}</ref>

Nevertheless, in July 2016, the Chief of Government of Buenos Aires, [[Horacio Rodriguez Larreta]], announced that the disused Tranvía del Este components would be transferred to the [[Premetro (Buenos Aires)|Premetro]], including its rolling stock (one tram), overhead lines and traffic signals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noticiasurbanas.com.ar/noticias/la-ciudad-desmantelara-el-tranvia-de-puerto-madero/ |title=La Ciudad desmantelará el tranvía de Puerto Madero|trans-title=City will dismantle the Puerto Madero tramway|language=es|publisher=Noticias Urbanas|date=25 July 2016|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref><ref name="enelsubte1">{{cite news|title=Desmantelarán el tranvía de Puerto Madero|url=http://enelsubte.com/noticias/desmantelaran-el-tranvia-de-puerto-madero/|access-date=26 July 2016|work=EnElSubte|date=25 July 2016|language=es-ES}}</ref> The reason given for dismantling of the line (along with freight tracks in its vicinity) was that its existence conflicted with a regeneration program over the line's entire trajectory, which would turn the right-of-way into parks as well as a partly-underground motorway for buses and heavy goods vehicles travelling between the north and south of the city.<ref name=enelsubte1 />

===Aftermath===
In July 2017, the stations began to be demolished<ref name=desidia>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/2047236-el-tranvia-de-puerto-madero-una-postal-de-la-desidia-que-se-empezo-a-demoler El tranvía de Puerto Madero, una postal de la desidia que se empezó a demoler] by Diego Gabot, ''La Nación'', 26 July 2017</ref> to build the "[[Paseo del Bajo]]", a 7-km length [[dual carriageway]] that connects the Presidente Illia and [[National Route 1 (Argentina)|Buenos Aires–La Plata]] highways. Only [[truck|heavy vehicles]] were allowed to run on Paseo del Bajo,<ref name=paseobajo>[http://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/planeamiento/visionciudad/paseo-del-bajo Paseo del Bajo] at GCBA website</ref> which was inaugurated in 2019.<ref>[https://www.perfil.com/noticias/sociedad/macri-vidal-y-larreta-inauguran-hoy-el-monumental-paseo-del-bajo.phtml Así es el nuevo Paseo del Bajo que inauguró Macri junto a Vidal y Larreta] on Perfil, 27 May 2019</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed heights=95px>
File:Tranvía del Este (Buenos Aires, septiembre 2008).jpg|[[Mulhouse]] tram
File:Fin de vía Tranvía del Este.JPG|Córdoba terminus
File:Buenos Aires Celeris Tramway 1.jpg|Mulhouse tram in [[Avenida Córdoba|Córdoba]] station
File:Anden de la estación Corrientes - Tranvía del Este.JPG|[[Avenida Corrientes|Corrientes]] station
File:PuertoMadero119.JPG|Puerto Madero station
</gallery>

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

{{commons category}}

{{Buenos Aires landmarks}}
{{Buenos Aires Transit}}
{{Urban public transport in Argentina}}
{{Rail transport in Argentina}}
{{Portal bar|Trains|Argentina}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tranvia del Este}}
[[Category:Light rail in Argentina]]
[[Category:Tram transport in Argentina]]
[[Category:Public transport in Argentina]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2007]]
[[Category:Railway lines closed in 2012]]
[[Category:Defunct town tramway systems by city|b]]
[[Category:Buenos Aires Underground]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Argentina]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Buenos Aires]]