Chile on Rails will fund 25 projects with the aim of tripling passenger numbers to 150 million and doubling freight volumes to 21 million tonnes by 2027.

“The train will not only be part of the daily life of Chileans, but part of the economic life of our country,” Piñera says.

The programme includes the extension of the Santiago commuter rail network to Malloco and Melipilla and eight new trains (four in 2021 and four in 2023) to increase capacity on Santiago - Nos - Rancagua Metrotren services.

Chile on Rails will also fund the 48km Quilicura - Batuco - Tiltil commuter rail project announced by Piñera in May. Services on the eight-station line will be operated by a fleet of eight new trains, with projected ridership of 17 million passengers per year.

The 398km Santiago - Chillán line will be upgraded to enable the introduction of faster, more frequent services with new rolling stock. According to the Ministry of Transport, services will be increased from two or three trains per day to 12 trains per day, with journey times of between 3h 40min and four hours, a reduction of up to 2h 40min compared with the current timetable.

On September 6 Chilean State Railways (EFE) launched an international tender for a contract to supply six bi-mode inter-city trains for the new Chillán - Alameda inter-city service. Each train will be formed of four or five cars and seat a minimum of 250 passengers.

Valparaíso Metro commuter rail services will be extended from Limache to Calera, benefitting around 12 million people. This will reduce the current three hour Calera - Valparaíso bus trip to around 1h 20min by train.

In Biobío region, Biotren passenger services will be extended from Concepción to Penco and Lirquén. A new line between Coronel and Lota will cut journey times to 45 minutes, a reduction of almost an hour.

In Araucanía, passenger services will be extended from Temuco to Padre Las Casas when a new bridge across the Cautín River is completed. Studies will also be carried out into the extension of services south to Gorbea.  

Last November EFE ordered 13 new EMUs from CRRC for services in Biobío and Araucanía, with deliveries due to begin in March 2020.

On the metre-gauge Talca – Constitución line, Chile on Rails will fund the purchase of three new trains to replace the life-expired fleet of diesel railbuses as well as track rehabilitation and a new depot. Upgrading of rolling stock and infrastructure is expected to reduce the journey time from 3h 30min to two-and-a-half hours.