Ferrocentral
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Founded | 2005 |
Area served | Northern Argentina, Córdoba Province |
| Products | Long-distance passenger rail services, regional rail services |
Ferrocentral was a privately owned railway company in Argentina, its name derived from the Spanish terms meaning "Central Railway." It provided long-distance passenger rail services departing from Retiro Mitre in Buenos Aires to various locations across northern Argentina, utilizing the Indian gauge tracks of the Mitre Railway.
Additionally, the company operated regional routes such as the Tren de las Sierras, running on the tracks of the Belgrano Railway within Córdoba Province. The reopening of this line was supported by a $10 million investment from the National Government, aimed at improving regional transportation and fostering tourism development.
History
Ferrocentral took over passenger routes that were previously under the management of the now-defunct national rail operator Ferrocarriles Argentinos. After the 1991 privatization of Ferrocarriles Argentinos, numerous passenger train operations were halted. Founded in 2005, Ferrocentral was a joint venture between two railway firms—Nuevo Central Argentino, which held freight concessions on the Mitre line, and Ferrovías, which operated the Belgrano Norte Line. Their objective was to restore passenger train services from Buenos Aires’ Retiro station to Córdoba.
In 2006, Ferrocentral extended its service network to include Tucumán, with intermediate stops at cities such as Rosario and La Banda in Santiago del Estero Province. The company’s long-distance trains were powered by diesel locomotives from the GT22 model. To minimize conflicts with daytime freight operations, most trains ran during late night or early morning hours.
By 2007, Ferrocentral had resumed operation of the Tren de las Sierras ("Mountain Range Train") in Córdoba Province, linking Córdoba city with Cosquín.
In 2013, control over routes to Córdoba and San Miguel de Tucumán was transferred by Argentina’s Ministry of Transport to state-owned entities: SOFSE (operating as "Trenes Argentinos") and Administración de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF).
Passengers frequently encountered difficulties with Ferrocentral’s online ticketing system and faced limited seat availability. In November 2014, the Argentine government assumed management of services to Rosario, Tucumán, and Córdoba through Trenes Argentinos S.A., effectively ending Ferrocentral’s operations.
Services
As of October 2014, Ferrocentral provided the following train services:
| Departure | Destination | Duration (hours) | Frequency (days/week) | Service Commencement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retiro | Rosario Norte | 9 | 3 | 2005 |
| Córdoba | 14 | 4 | 2005 | |
| Tucumán | 24 | 2 | 2005 | |
| Córdoba | Villa María | 3 | 2 | 2004 |
| Alta Córdoba | Cosquín | 2 | 7 | 2007 |