Train To Mendoza?

[JamJam]

What is wrong with trains in Argentina? All that I have heard is that they take longer and are not usually something tourists do. I thought it would be a good way to see parts of Argentina that I normally wouldn't.

Hahaha.

That won't be the only thing you'll be asking whats wrong...

 

[JamJam]

unions destroyed trains

Er no, I think you'll find that was the politicians that destroyed the trains.

 

[Matiasba]

it was under the washington consensus government that the train almost dissappeared, not only here but in all Latin America, and the big favoured was the automotive american industry. Curious, now I write this, I realise american identity has a thing with the car, while europe is connected by train. This country up to the dictatorship and menemismo, used to have Europe as a mirror and (unlike the rest of Latin America) this lately have changed to the US.
The enormous railways this country used to have were built by the english and nationalizated violently by Peron.

 

[ajoknoblauch]

it was under the washington consensus government that the train almost dissappeared, not only here but in all Latin America, and the big favoured was the automotive american industry. Curious, now I write this, I realise american identity has a thing with the car, while europe is connected by train. This country up to the dictatorship and menemismo, used to have Europe as a mirror and (unlike the rest of Latin America) this lately have changed to the US.
The enormous railways this country used to have were built by the english and nationalizated violently by Peron.

Argentine trains had been deteriorating since the 1940s, at least.

 

[Matiasba]

really? how do you know that?

till 1955 we had a lot of industry going on, and a lot of villages created from nothing at one side of the railways. The economy grew and it was the pleno empleo so they did work. Then continued with a very similar status with the desarrollismo. The decadence started in the 70s, previous and under the dictatorship, and got even worst with Alfonsin. Menem privatized and the thing didnt change that much. With Nestor and Cristina, it continued the disaster, big accident and deaths included.

 

[John.St]

The main problem with a train from BsAs to Mendoza is, that there aren't any rails, except those for the municipal light rail.

Buses in Argentina: http://www.plataforma10.com/

 

[scotttswan]

The main problem with a train from BsAs to Mendoza is, that there aren't any rails, except those for the municipal light rail.

Buses in Argentina: http://www.plataforma10.com/

There used to be

But from what i've read it all went to shit when peron nationalised it from the British companies that ran them in the 40s. B)

 

[studiodio]

I took the train from BA to Cordoba when it first reopened about 2 years ago and I loved it. I had a private room with bed, suprisingly great food for good cost in the dining car...great views. it was a bit slower than a bus but far more comfortable than trying to sleep on a bus, and about the same price. only complaint i had were that all the big windows were plastic that was cloudy.

 

[sergio]

I've ridden just about every railway line in the country that has had passenger service in the past 20 + years. I doubt many expats can say that. In general train service is poor in Argentina, where it even exists. I have not followed Ferrocentral's situation over the last couple of years however the last time I rode the train to Cordoba from BA the service was good. A bit too much heat in my compartment and not particularly appetizing food in the dining-car however the train was clean, the sleepering-car compartment had a comfortable bed with fresh sheets and blanket, pillow. There was a wash basin in the room with tolietries. The attendant, like all the crew members, was young and helpful. The "Pullman" (top class chair car in Argentina) looked as though it was in excellent conditon. As I said, I have not ridden this train in 2-3 years so I can not say how it is now but at that time it was fine and I took it several times. The same for the train to Tucuman which is run by the same company. The company that runs trains to the Coast is apparently being reorganized. Since the days of Duhalde as governor, the trains were run by the Provincve of BA and the service was highly unreliable. The only possible exception was the Marplatense, a stainless steel luxury train (in the late 1940's when it was constructed by Philadelphia's Budd Company!) that has run on this line since Peron was in power. Thatm train still runs but I believe on a seasonal schedule. There is a new Talgo train, well a throwaway train from Spain, that also runs to Mar del Plata. You're always taking a risk when you ride trains in Argentina - all sorts of things can happen but it is an adventure and in some cases preferable to a bus. As for the decline, it began when the state ran Ferrocarriles Argentinos, a massive employer of useless people who collected their pay and did nothing for the most part. Some never even shopwed up for work. I rode the train from BA to Cordoba in this era when it was run by the state and it was the worst operation I have ever ever seen -- far better trains ran at that time in Mexico and India. Once Menem took power most long distance passenger service, by that time horrbly degraded, was terminated. It's quite true that truckers benefited and to this day block any serious efforts to make rail vialbe. Sadly nestor Kirchner often spoke of his desire to revive the railways however other than reinitiate a few lines with miserable service, he did nothing not has his wife. A few lines have been reopened but they get ramshackle equipment with such deteriorated track that they can not provide anything approaching reliable service. it's pathetic but that is the way it is. Pity as reviving the railways could create a lot of jobs while rebuilding the infrastructure.

About the plastic wndows the previous poster mentioned: That is due to all the rock throwng at the train. In fact last time I saw the train at Retiro it looked as though the train had had a bad case of scarring acne as there were marks everywhere due to rocks being thrown. I've ridden in the locomotives a couple of times where drivers have protective shields due this problem. A shame. Glad to hear that food is OK on the Cordoba train. I found it pretty bad but I guess it's better. The train has now been around for more than two years, by the way.

 

[GS_Dirtboy]

I've been to every Province in Argentina by motorcycle. I can't tell you how many thousands of miles of empty, rusted tracks and caving in tunnels I've seen along the roads. I think the only train I ever saw on a "long-route" anywhere outside of Buenos Aires was in Santiago de Estero and it had derailed and rolled over that morning. Not kidding.