Compañía General de Ferrocarriles en la Provincia de Buenos Aires
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Founded | 1904 |
| Headquarters | Argentina |
Area served | Buenos Aires Province, Argentina |
| Products | Railway services |
The Compañía General de Ferrocarriles en la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CGBA) was a railway enterprise owned by French investors, founded in 1904, which managed a metre-gauge rail system within Argentina.
History
In 1904, CGBA obtained authorization to construct railway lines linking the ports of Buenos Aires and Rosario, as well as extending to La Plata, along with several branch lines situated in the western and southern regions of Buenos Aires Province. The principal routes inaugurated include:
| Section | Length (km) | Date Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Buenos Aires - Rosario | 395 | 1908-01-25 |
| Villars - 9 de Julio | 202 | 1909-03-01 |
| González Catán - Port of La Plata | 88 | 1910-07-27 |
| Pergamino - Vedia | 122 | 1910-12-05 |
| Patricios - Buenos Aires | 224 | 1911-12-07 |
| 9 de Julio - General Villegas | 232 | 1912-12-01 |
Although these developments expanded the network, CGBA encountered intense rivalry from British-owned rail companies that controlled the most lucrative corridors. This competition ultimately led to the cancellation of proposed routes such as the connection between Buenos Aires and Bahía Blanca.
After Argentina's railways were nationalized during President Juan Domingo Perón's administration in 1948, CGBA was absorbed into the state-run Ferrocarril Belgrano system. By 1961, several unprofitable branches—including CGBA’s G3 (Port of La Plata), G4 (General Villegas), G5 (Victorino de la Plaza), and G6 (Vedia)—were shut down by government decree. Some lines briefly resumed service but were largely closed permanently under the military regime in 1977.
The only remaining operational segment was the G line reaching González Catán. During the railway privatization wave in 1992, this section was transferred to Metropolitano until its concession was rescinded in 2007. Afterward, UGOFE took over operations until February 2014, when management shifted to Argentren, part of the Emepa Group, following a new privatization phase of the Belgrano Sur Line. Subsequently, UGOFE was disbanded.
See also
References
External links
- Amigos del Ferrocarril Belgrano, an organization dedicated to restoring Ferrocarril Belgrano's infrastructure and stations