CATITA
| Company type | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Industry | Tram manufacturing, rolling stock |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
| Products | Trams, rolling stock |
Number of employees | 2000 |
Compañía de Talleres Industriales de Transportes y Afines (commonly referred to as CATITA) was an Argentine manufacturer specializing in trams, established in 1932. During the height of Buenos Aires' tramway expansion, the firm employed approximately 2,000 individuals and expanded its operations beyond just producing rolling stock.
While CATITA mainly provided trams and other vehicles to Buenos Aires, it also exported units to Asunción, Paraguay, where their trams remained operational for numerous years.
Catita Imperial
The Catita Imperial represented a double-decker tram model developed from the company's single-level Catita PCC design. It measured 11 metres in length, 2.47 metres in width, and stood 4.72 metres tall, with a weight exceeding 20 tonnes and seating capacity for 70 passengers. Distinctively, it incorporated two staircases to access the upper deck, which limited seating on the top level to 20 passengers.
Manufactured starting in 1942, the Imperial served for roughly ten years. Its use was confined to central Buenos Aires routes due to height restrictions that caused clearance challenges beneath bridges and tunnels. The demand for such high-capacity trams declined as bus transportation became increasingly competitive.