Subterraneanos de Buenos Aires
The Buenos Aires subway (called Subte , short for Subterráneo = underground) is a local public transport system in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires . The first section of this subway was inaugurated in 1913. It was the first such rail network in Latin America and the entire southern hemisphere . The network expanded rapidly in the following decades, but expansion stagnated after World War II .
Lines
The network currently consists of six lines (designated with the letters “A” to “E” and “H” and color-coded), which together are 56.7 km long.
| line | route | opening | length | Train stations | Power supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linea A | Plaza de Mayo ↔ San Pedrito | 1913 | 9.2 km | 18th | Overhead line |
| Linea B | Leandro N. Alem ↔ Juan Manuel de Rosas | 1930 | 11.8 km | 17th | Busbar painted from above and catenary as overhead busbar , mixed operation |
| Linea C | Retiro ↔ Constitución | 1934 | 4.4 km | 9 | Overhead line |
| Linea D | Catedral ↔ Congreso de Tucumán | 1937 | 10.4 km | 16 | Overhead line |
| Linea E | Retiro ↔ Plaza de los Virreyes | 1944 | 12.0 km | 15th | Overhead line |
| Linea H | Facultad de Derecho ↔ Hospitales | 2007 | 8.5 km | 12 | Overhead line |
The network is regular . All lines are used on the left in normal operation. The construction of today's line B by a separate company can still be seen; it was the only one that was equipped with busbars painted from above. It was also equipped with overhead conductor rails for use with the 6000 series multiple units purchased second-hand in Madrid . In addition, this route has a larger clearance profile. It enables the use of trolleys with transverse seats.
A special feature is that the platforms of the individual lines at transfer stations have different names. This also applies to the transfer options to suburban rail transport, but not consistently here. The transfer options are noted on the route network map and in the route overviews in the car.
Most of the routes are at a simple depth, access points with distribution levels are rare. There are both outside and island platforms, with the outside platforms predominating. At stations with outside platforms without transfer options, there is usually no way to change the platform side without passing the barriers. Transfer stations and those with island platforms are, however, marked on the route tapes in the cars.
history
The first line of the metro was inaugurated on December 1, 1913, after the Compañía de Tranvías Anglo Argentina received the concession in 1909 and built the line. This line consisted of one of the current sections of Line A , which connected the Plaza de Mayo and Plaza Miserere stations . On April 1, 1914, the extension of the line to the Río de Janeiro station and on July 1 to the Primera Junta station was celebrated.
In 1912 the Lacroze Hermanos company received a concession for another subway line. This was the current line B, which was inaugurated on October 17, 1930. In 1933 the Compañía Hispano-Argentina de Obras Públicas y Finanzas (CHADOPYF) began building the remaining lines.
In February 1939, the Corporación de Transportes de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires came into function, whose capital was partly private and partly public. Their task was to combine the subway, but also the trams , railways and buses into a uniform structure. Due to enormous debts, the company had to be liquidated in 1948. In 1952 it was replaced by the Administración General de Transportes de Buenos Aires (AGTBA) , which was directly subordinate to the Ministry of Transport. The AGTBA was the first to separate itself from all means of transport, with the exception of the metro itself. After the company's liquidation in 1963, the state set up a new public company, the Subterráneos de Buenos Aires , which gained full autonomy in 1977 and, after the transfer of the Block of shares to the city of Buenos Aires in the Subterráneos de Buenos Aires Sociedad del Estado (SBASE).
Law 23 696, which came into force on August 18, 1989, established the regulatory framework for the privatization of companies. Finally, through Art. 13 of Decree 2074/90, signed on October 3, 1990, the executive defined the license to use the services of Subterráneos de Buenos Aires SE . By this decree, signed by the President Carlos Menem , the routes of the underground and the underground tram were granted for twenty years. If you wanted to serve it, you also had to run the railway line Federico Lacroze - General Lemos of Ferrocarril Urquiza .
Each bidder had to provide three sets of envelopes: No. 1 should contain references from the company, No. 2A a description of the business plan and the role of the outside operator in an existing organization (SBASE), No. 2B the various financial offers. The closing date for the submission of tenders was set on June 5, 1992 (originally it was May 26). The following companies or consortia presented themselves on this day: Benito Roggio y otros , Ferrometro Argentino , Metrobaires , Pardo, Rabello y otros and Traimet .
On January 24, 1992, the Comisión de Trabajo para la Privatización (CNP) was founded, whose task it was to examine the documents. After evaluating the references from envelope 1, the commission decided to exclude the Traimet company from further processing. The damaged company appealed, but the executive finally dismissed it by decree 1832/92.
After evaluating the other two envelopes, the concession was given to a consortium consisting of the companies Benito Roggio e hijos SA , Cometrans SA , Burlington Northern RR. Co. , Morrison Knudsen Corporation Inc. and SKF SACCIFA . The companies involved formed the company Metrovías SA .
On January 1, 1994 Metrovías took over the management. The concession includes the possibility of tariff increases for improvements in the service or for reasons of inflation, but does not include the expansion of the route network, the planning and implementation of which are at the expense of the City of Buenos Aires. In 1999 the license was extended to December 31, 2017.
Line H was built at the beginning of the 21st century. In the final stage, it will pass between the stations Pompeya and Retiro via Sáenz, Hospitales, Parque Patricios, Caseros, Inclán, Humberto I, Venezuela, Once, Corrientes, Córdoba, Santa Fé, Las Heras, Plaza Francia and 9 de Julio, the other U -Bahn lines and three additional stations with suburban traffic. The section between Caseros and Once was opened on October 18, 2007, followed by the southern extension to Parque Patricios in 2011, and another southern extension to Hospitales in 2013. When building line H, the standards for lines A, C, D and E were used. This means that vehicles can be exchanged between them.
Four newly built metro stations had already been completed for years, but were not opened due to the defects mentioned and disputes between the city and the concessionaire Metrovías . This is initially the extension of Line A from Carabobo via the intermediate stop Flores to San Pedrito de Flores (planning name "Nazca"). The opening is said to have failed because of the missing cars, which were procured in March 2013. It took place in September 2013. The Echeverría and Juan Manuel de Rosas underground stations on line B were completed, and the opening was also delayed here due to the shortage of cars. They went into operation on July 26, 2013.
The most recent openings mainly concerned the completion of the tangential line H, which has crossed the major arterial roads Avenida Corrientes (and thus line B) and Avenida Santa Fe (and thus line D) since 2015 . Since May 2018 it has been leading to the Facultad de Derecho in Plaza Francia, an extension to Retiro train station is still under discussion.
expansion
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Both the city of Buenos Aires and the Argentine federal government intend to further expand the Subte network. There have been numerous plans for this for years; The implementation fails on the one hand because of the complicated financing through foreign loans, on the other hand because of discussions about the distribution of costs between the city and the federal government, and because of the continuous shortage of cars.
The extension of line E from the Bolívar metro station in Plaza de Mayo to the Retiro junction on the Avenida Leandro M. Alem train was completed several years ago. The opening was planned for 2014. Differences of opinion between the city administration and the operator Metrovías prevented the commissioning several times. On June 3, 2018, the section between the streets Marcelo T. de Alvear and Paraná went into operation with two stops, Correo Central at the main post office and Catalinas . On the former there is a possibility to change to line B (Leandro M. Alem station).
Medium and long-term expansion
In addition to the medium-term construction of the underground stations already mentioned, there are also more extensive ideas for the construction of the underground, including new underground lines. Many plans differ here and the specific construction of this is uncertain. In addition, the extension of the existing lines as well as other means of transport, such as the cheaper Metrobús , have priority.
The plan to extend line H in the north from the Facultad de Derecho underground station to the Retiro transport hub can be considered fixed . There are still discussions in the municipal parliament as to whether and to what extent Villa 31 should be connected to the line and it should be linked to line C. In the south, an extension to the Nueva Pompeya district is planned. In 2012, newspapers reported a schedule to complete the extensions by 2015, which may be considered uncertain.
In addition to extending Line H, the city has plans to build two new metro lines: A line F between Plaza Italia and Barracas as a new tangent along Avenida Callao and a cross line G between the Retiro traffic junction and the district Caballito . However, the planning for the two new subway lines has not yet been completed, and the financing through Chinese loans is unclear.
Sale of tickets
The first system used came into force in 1913 with the opening of Line A and consisted of a token similar to the one that was then issued on the tram. These were checked when entering the platform and returned when leaving the destination station.
With the inauguration of line B in the 1930s, coins could be inserted at the turnstiles . This system was replaced by tokens on January 4, 1962 . These tokens became part of popular urban culture and were easy to recognize by the inscription: "A subway ride" was written on one side and "Subterráneos de Buenos Aires" on the other.
From September 16, 2000, magnetic cards ( Subtepass ) and contactless prepaid cards ( tarjeta SUBE ) replaced the tokens on line E. During the time that this system was also required on the other lines, magnetic stripe cards, plastic cards with wireless technology and tokens coexisted.
As a result of this latest innovation, the old turnstiles with wooden arms were replaced with new electronic machines that look similar but are equipped with digital technology . When entering, the passenger must insert the magnetic stripe card into a slot at the front of the turnstile and the device issues it at another opening further up. In the case of radio technology cards, it is sufficient to approach the turnstile in the marked area, whereupon it emits an acoustic signal and allows passage. In contrast to the magnetic card, which is thrown away, the tarjeta SUBE is rechargeable. The rechargeable prepaid cards are also valid for suburban rail transport and city buses ( colectivo ). A unit price applies in the underground network, which is why the prepaid cards are only scanned when entering the platforms. There is a zone tariff in suburban rail traffic, the cards must be scanned on entry and exit. The maximum price of the traveled route will be deducted from travelers who forget to read. When changing between different modes of transport you have to pay extra, but there is a noticeable discount within two hours of using the prepaid card. A uniform tariff also applies on buses and trains of the “Premetro”, the prepaid cards are only read once after boarding.
When the first three lines were inaugurated, there was no way to switch between them. This was only possible with the commissioning of line D at the Carlos Pellegrini station and with a surcharge. From June 1, 1956, it was possible to change between all underground lines without additional payment.
Culture
Efforts were made to integrate art into the subway from the very first phase of construction. That is why there are wall paintings and sculptures in the facilities . Some of them are allegories , others are reproductions of old views or historical posters. There is also space for music and theater events. In the Tronador station (located in the Villa Ortúzar district) on line B there are eighteen picture windows with historical views.
The history of the art competition in Callao station on Line D was painful . The exhibits were on display for several years. Before the end of the military dictatorship in 1983, the wall paintings were destroyed. At Juramento station on Line D in the Belgrano district, there is a wall painting of the cruiser General Belgrano , which was torpedoed and sunk by the British nuclear submarine Conqueror during the Falklands War . It is supplemented by a plaque with the names of all crew members.
Among the outstanding painters are works by
Paleontological finds
During the construction work for Line B in 1930, the remains of a mammoth and a mastodon were found . During the work to extend line D and line B, remains of glyptodons were found . The remains found on line D can be seen in Juramento station (same line). The three glyptodons of line B are exhibited at the Tronador station . All of these excavations were supervised by the University of La Plata and the University of Buenos Aires .
Monument protection
Numerous stations of the underground are now listed:
- On line A: Plaza de Mayo, Perú, Piedras, Lima, Sáenz Peña, Congreso, Pasco-Alberti and Plaza de Miserere;
- Line C: San Juan, Independencia, Moreno, Avenida de Mayo, Diagonal Norte, Lavalle and San Martín;
- Line D: Catedral, 9 de Julio, Tribunales, Facultad de Medicina, Agüero, Bulnes, Scalabrini Ortiz, Plaza Italia and Palermo;
- Line E: San José, Entre Ríos, Pichincha, Jujuy, Urquiza and Boedo
Individual evidence
- ↑ Daniel Gutman: Prometen abrir 5 estaciones de subte para fines de 2011. Clarín , March 31st 2010, accessed on 18 March 2013 .
- ↑ Inauguramos la estación Facultad de Derecho. Retrieved May 17, 2018 (Spanish).
- ↑ Pablo Tomino: Sin fecha de estreno, avanza la línea E. La Nacion , September 30, 2012 accessed on 18 March 2013 .
- ↑ oA: Del primer Subte a la pelea tercermundista por el Metrobus. enelSubte.com, February 21, 2013, accessed March 18, 2013 .
- ↑ above: El plan del PRO para cortar la H en Facultad de Derecho. (No longer available online.) EnelSubte.com, March 13, 2013, archived from the original on April 26, 2013 ; Retrieved March 18, 2013 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Angeles Castro: El Subte llegará al Recoleta en 2015. La Nación , January 18, 2012, accessed March 18, 2013 .
- ↑ oA: Grindetti explora reabrir las Negociaciones con China por el subte. Politicaonline.com, October 16, 2012, accessed March 18, 2013 .
Web links
- Official Website (Spanish)
- Website of the operating company Metrovías (English, Spanish)
- Metro Buenos Aires at Urbanrail.net (English)