ARGENTINA’s Belgrano Cargas network transported 180,722 tonnes of freight in July, its best month since it carried 181,796 tonnes in 1998, and a 139% increase on July 2015, when it carried 75,502 tonnes of freight.
More than 500km of track has been renewed on the network, which links the provinces of the Argentine Northwest (NOA) with the ports of the Gran Rosario, following a year and a half of works, with transit times between Salta and Rosario reduced by 10 days.

ARGENTINA’s minister of transport Mr Guillermo Dietrich visited the port of Buenos Aires on May 24 to witness the delivery of a batch of 156 Chinese-built wagons for Argentinean Trains Cargo.

THE first two CRRC diesel locomotives for Argentina’s metre-gauge Belgrano Cargas network were loaded onto a ship at Lujong port in Shanghai on October 15 in readiness for the start of their sea voyage to Buenos Aires.

ARGENTINEAN Trains says it plans to begin tendering this week for contracts with a total value of around $US 380m for the second phase of the renewal of the metre-gauge Belgrano Railway, which links Buenos Aires with northern Argentina.

ROLLS-ROYCE is to supply 100 2200kW MTU Series 4000 diesel engines for freight locomotives in Argentina in a €30m+ deal with China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC).

ARGENTINA's minister of the interior and transport Mr Florencio Randazzo signed a letter of intent with representatives of China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) during a visit to China this week to finance the second phase of the rehabilitation of the metre-gauge Belgrano Cargas network.

CSR confirmed on December 15 that it has been awarded a contract worth around Yuan 1.7bn ($US 270m) to supply 100 diesel locomotives and 3500 wagons of various types as part of the reconstruction of Argentina's Belgrano Cargas network.

ARGENTINA and China signed a $US 2.1bn loan agreement during the state visit of Chinese president Mr Xi Jinping to Buenos Aires on July 18, which will be used to fund the revival of the metre-gauge Belgrano Cargas network.

ARGENTINEAN president Mrs Christina Kirchner signed a $US 2.47bn financing agreement with Mr Zhang Chun, CEO of China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) in Buenos Aires on December 5, which will fund the renewal of infrastructure and rolling stock on the metre-gauge Belgrano Cargas network.

THE Argentine government has decided to make its takeover of Belgrano Cargas permanent in an effort to revive the fortunes of the flagging railway, which has seen once-healthy freight volumes plummet in recent years.