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The Uruguayan railway network has approximately 2900 km of lines, all of gauge 1435 mm, diesel traction and only 11 km of double track. Half of the network is closed, freight trains circulating branches in Montevideo - Rivera - Livramento , Piedra Sola - Three Trees , Sayago - Minas , Verdum-Plant ANCAP, Carnelli-La Teja, Chamberlain - Paysandu - Salto - Concordia and Algorta - Fray Bentos . We work to reopen August 25 - San Jose -Ombucitos, having reopened the stretch to San Jose for passenger services in December 2006.

Overview

Total rail network: 2,835 km

Standard gauge: 1435 – 2,835 km

In service: 1,507 km

Out of service: 1,328 km

History

The work of building the first railway line in Uruguay began April 25, 1867, a branch between Paso del Molino and Cerro which consisted horse-drawn train. The national "Ferrocarril Central" had obtained the concession for the laying of tracks to Durazno, 205 km from Montevideo. However, for more than a decade they had submitted projects to no avail. The first 18 km branch between Bella Vista and Las Piedras, was inaugurated on 1 January 1869. To continue the extension of the line and due to lack of capital in the country, many loans were contracted in London, where, as a control, a directory was established. Due to financial problems and high costs of the national administration, the British acquired the majority stake. The Central Uruguay Railway, the largest British companies operating in the country, was formally born on 1 January 1878. By this time several several companies had appeared, although they were started by national capitals, they ended under British control as of not finding capital in the country to complete the works.

Nationalization

Following what was then a worldwide trend, the private companies were nationalised in 1948, the parliament approved the projects for the acquisition of foreign railroads, charging and part of the debt of 17 billion pounds that the UK had with Uruguay because of purchases made during the Second World War.

Narrow gauge

There were four big narrow gauge railway lines in Uruguay: Puerto del Sauce (now Juan Lacaze) - Terminal: 914, (1901–1959), Piriápolis - Pan de Azucar: 750 (1903–1958), km 393-Arrozal 33: 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) and km 110 - Cantera Burgueño: 600. All were dismantled. There were also several quarry lines of 600 gauge, among them the famous INDARE sand line. Around 300 m of that sand line is preserved and also a lot of steam locomotives. One of those is in working order. Also, a new narrow gauge line, of around 1 km, with two diesel locomotives from the former km 110 - Cantera Burgueño line, was constructed in a park on the town of Santiago Vazquez, in the West of Montevideo.

Passenger services

Regular passenger services are operated between Montevideo and 25 de Agosto (63 km) since August 26, 1993 (previously all regular passenger services were withdrawn on January 2, 1988). One daily train was extended to San José de Mayo (96 km from Montevideo) on January 15, 2007, and other was extended from 25 de Agosto to Florida (109 km from Montevideo) on January 2, 2008. Another line, which operates between Montevideo and Ingeniero Victor Sudriers, was reopened on December 15, 2005 (44 km).

Renovation plans

The state railway administration AFE has announced that starting January, 2010, 377 km of track will be renewed on the Pintado - Rivera railway of the central main line. The contract for the repair of railways covers in particular the section from Pintado (Florida) and Chamberlain (Tacuarembó) based on the change of wooden ties, and from there to Rivera on the border with Brazil, part of the international branch located along the border with the city of Santana do Livramento, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil using rail supplied by Russia given in lieu of a debt and wooden ties imported from Paraguay. The programme will cost US$30m.

International links

• Argentina - 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) freight rail connection over the Salto Grande Dam.
• Brazil - break of gauge, 1435 gauge (Uruguay) / 1000 gauge (Santana do Livramento, Brazil).

See also

• Rail transport by country
• Railway stations in Uruguay
• Transport in Uruguay

References

1. Ferrocarriles del Uruguay (In Spanish)
2. "Pointers February 2009". Railway Gazette International. 2010-10-29.
3. "Ayer se iniciaron las obras en la línea férrea Pintado-Rivera". 2010-10-30. (in Spanish)

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