Ferrocarril de San Cristóbal a Tucumán
| Company type | Private (until 1896), then government-owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | Portalis frères, Charbonnier & Co.; Fives-Lille |
| Founded | 1888 |
| Fate | Nationalized and incorporated into Central Northern Railway in 1896 |
| Headquarters | Argentina |
Area served | Argentina (Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán provinces) |
| Parent | Compagnie française des Chemins de Fer en Argentine (from 1889 until 1896) |
The San Cristóbal to Tucumán Railway (in Spanish, Ferrocarril San Cristóbal a Tucumán) was a railway enterprise of French origin, established in 1888, which developed a rail connection between San Cristóbal, Santa Fe and San Miguel de Tucumán in Argentina.
History
The initial concession, granted in 1887 to Portalis frères, Charbonnier & Co., was subsequently passed on to Fives-Lille and later transferred in 1889 to the Compagnie française des Chemins de Fer en Argentine (commonly known as La Francesa), the company responsible for finalizing the railway's construction.
The segment linking San Cristóbal in Santa Fe Province with Fortín Inca in Santiago del Estero Province commenced operations on 27 April 1891. Expansion continued into Tucumán Province, with the line reaching its terminus at the provincial capital, San Miguel de Tucumán, by 6 July 1892. Later that same year, branch lines connecting Colombres to Guzmán and Pacará to Rio Salí were also opened.
In 1896, ownership of the railway transferred to the Argentine government, which incorporated it into the Central Northern Railway, thereby shifting control from French private interests to national administration.