THE Ministry of Transport reports that over 700,000 passengers used the long-distance services operated by Argentinian Trains (TA) between December 2022 and March 2023, the summer holiday season in Argentina.

This represents a 57% increase on 2019-20 before the Covid-19 pandemic, and sets a new record for the summer holiday season.

In the 2022-23 summer season over 400,000 passengers travelled between Buenos Aires and the coastal resort of Mar del Plata, an increase of 150,000 on 2019-20. Over 90,000 used the service from Buenos Aires to Rosario, and over 75,000 the train connecting the capital with Junín.

The programme to restore long-distance services undertaken by the administration of Argentina’s president, Mr Alberto Fernández, has seen 57 new destinations added to the network through the reintroduction of 16 services. Service frequencies have also been increased.

As well as developing long-distance services from Buenos Aires, the programme has seen local passenger trains reintroduced outside the capital, including in the provinces of Chaco, Neuquén and Córdoba.

Transport Minister Diego Giuliano officially opened the new halt at Jorge Mendez on March 30.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Transport

The latest reopening outside the capital took place on March 30, when the regional service from Paraná to Berduc in Entre Ríos province was extended to La Picada and Jorge Méndez.

Work undertaken by TA for the extension of this service included the construction of a new halt at Jorge Méndez with a 55m-long platform equipped with LED lighting.

Nine other stations are currently being refurbished, including accessibility improvements, and the reopening programme has also involved the renewal of over 3000km of track.

Long-distance passenger traffic has grown by 57%. Photo Credit: Ministry of Transport

“This year we had record ticket sales for the summer season, which shows that Argentinians are choosing the train as their means of transport to go on holiday,” says TA president, Mr Martín Marinucci.

“The figures for this season reflect what we have been saying and demonstrating in reality: the railway always provides a return on what you invest in it,” says transport minister, Mr Diego Giuliano.

“It provides a return by stimulating the economy through tourism, through more connectivity, by bringing places and families closer together and by offering access to new destinations to more sectors of society.”

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