On Friday, January 19, 2024, the fastest train in South Americathe one who that day made his first historic service between Alameda station in Santiago and Curicówhere even the President of the Republic traveled, Gabriel Boric.
However, the vehicle running at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour covering the section in solo 120 minutes, no longer stops at the local station. On the other hand, it is only possible to buy tickets for one daily departure and on the regular train.
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Given the doubts of the passengers about the disabling of the newly launched service, VLN Radio contacted the general manager of the Central State Railway Company (EFE), Justin Siegel. He explained that according to the Trains for Chile project, the first route did not consider its launch in Curicó, but in Chillán.
What happened, Siegel indicated, is that because several railway bridges from Curicó to the south were damaged in the winter storms of 2023, the Government decided to maintain the inauguration date of the fast train and the Maulina commune was chosen for it.
“It is important to remember the context. The most modern trains in South America are part of a project that has been in progress for more than four years, worth more than 150 million dollars, with the idea and vision of providing an express and regular service between Santiago and Chillán in less than four hours,” said the manager.
However, Siegel continued, as a result of the storms “unfortunately we saw our operation interrupted reaching only as far as San Fernando. And what we achieved this beginning of the year was enable the operation until Curicówhere we were able to effectively incorporate the train there because we did not have the possibility of extending the service to the south.”
Likewise, the manager recalled that once the bridges from Curicó to the south were repaired, the Alameda-Rancagua-Talca services began on March 12. As of April 18, the project to Chillán was completed.
On the same day that this last itinerary began, between the Metropolitan and Ñuble regions, the improvement of 10 stations on the Santiago-Chillán section and the reconstruction of the Curicó station.
“As a result of the authorization of the six bridges that we needed to reach Chillán, we were able to incorporate the rolling stock and our personnel to attend to the service, with the six daily services that we have today. (…) the project incorporates improvements in ten of the stations between Santiago and Chillán, where Curicó undoubtedly takes one of the most important investmentsbecause it entails a reconstruction of the station, after the 2010 earthquake, with more than 3 million dollars”Siegel noted.
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“What is this space going to allow us now to operate to Chillán and start with the new train? Being able to focus and resources at the Curicó station, to be able to rehabilitate it during the year. And during that process, We maintain a daily round trip service from Santiago and from Chillán, with the regular train to Curicó,” said the EFE manager.
Asked about whether The fastest train in South America will have detentions again in CuricóSiegel stated that “we want to incorporate new services around Curicó, with the announced 30/30 Plan that will provide local connectivity between Talca, Curicó and Linares. And furthermore, we want during the second semester incorporate a new service, with the most modern train in South America, but already with a dtention at all stations between Santiago and Chillán, allowing it to stop in Curicó”.
