Chilean State Railways (EFE) will launch a tender for the supply of six 160km/h 1676mm-gauge 3kV dc EMUs. The air-conditioned trains will have reclining seats, Wi-Fi, USB ports, power sockets and facilities for passengers with reduced mobility.

The existing service is operated with former Renfe EMUs and comprises two round trips per day with a journey time of 4h 30min with an additional service on one day per week.

With the new trains and the automation and upgrading of 74 level crossings, EFE expects to be able to cut the journey time to 2h 40min for express services. EFE plans to operate 12 round trips per day with two levels of service: a standard service with 10 intermediate stops taking 4 hours, and an express service with only three intermediate stops at San Bernardo, Rancagua and Talca.

Traffic increase

The enhanced service is forecast to increase traffic from 230,000 passengers per day to 800,000.

“Being able to travel by train more comfortably and quickly, with a greater range of services, will be a reality for the Chillán - Santiago route and will benefit two million people,” says Chile’s minister of transport and telecommunications, Ms Gloria Hutt. “This is a concrete example of the goal we have set ourselves to recover the rail system and turn the train into an attractive and competitive transport alternative.”

“These travel times are unbeatable and can only be achieved by train,” says EFE president, Mr Pedro Pablo Errázuriz. “We are talking about time savings of two hours with respect to the bus for the regular service and 2h 40min in the case of the express.”