General San Martín Railway
| Company type | State-owned company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Predecessor | Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Founder | Government of Argentina |
| Defunct | 1990s (privatization process commenced in 1991) |
| Fate | Privatized and operations transferred to private companies |
| Successor | Buenos Aires al Pacífico (later América Latina Logística), Metropolitano, UGOFE, Corredores Ferroviarios S.A. |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Area served | Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Mendoza, San Luis, San Juan provinces |
| Products | Passenger and freight rail transport |
| Owner | Government of Argentina |
Number of employees | ~1,100 (Ferrocarril Belgrano S.A., related company post-privatization) (late 1990s/early 2000s) |
| Parent | Ferrocarriles Argentinos (until privatization) |
General San Martín Railway
The General San Martín Railway (FCGSM) (Spanish: Ferrocarril General San Martín), named in honor of Argentine hero José de San Martín, was among six state-run railway entities formed following the 1948 nationalisation of Argentina’s railways by President Juan Perón. These railways were operated under the umbrella of Ferrocarriles Argentinos until the privatization process commenced in 1991 during President Carlos Menem's administration.
FCGSM took over the broad gauge tracks formerly owned by the British Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway. Its primary lines originated at the Retiro terminus in Buenos Aires and extended westward, traversing through the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Mendoza, San Luis, and San Juan.
Origins
The Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway was founded in London on October 10, 1882, with the goal of constructing a railway connecting Mercedes, Buenos Aires to Villa Mercedes in San Luis Province, linking up with the Ferrocarril Andino. Initially, access to Buenos Aires was facilitated through the Buenos Aires Western Railway (currently known as Ferrocarril Sarmiento) until the company completed its own line into the city.
Nationalisation
Following financial struggles after World War II, British and French railway companies operating in Argentina opted to divest their holdings. On March 1, 1948, under President Juan Perón, all foreign-owned railway firms were nationalized into a state entity called "Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado Argentino (EFEA)", later renamed Ferrocarriles Argentinos, which assumed control over passenger and freight operations across the country.
The broad gauge railways consolidated into the San Martín network post-nationalization included:
| Ferrocarril San Martín | |
| Former Company | Provinces Covered |
|---|---|
| BA & Pacific (1) | Buenos Aires Province, Santa Fe Province, Córdoba, Mendoza Province, San Luis Province |
| Andean | Córdoba Province, Mendoza Province, San Luis Province, San Juan Province, Argentina |
Notes:
- (1) The BA & Pacific had previously absorbed the Villa María and Rufino Railway (1900), the Argentine Great Western Railway (1907), and the Andean Railway (1909).
Ferrocarriles Argentinos Era
By 1945, British and French railway companies had negotiated sales of their Argentine assets. The French lines transitioned to state ownership on November 1, 1947; British lines followed suit on March 1, 1948, including the Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway. Subsequently, the railway was renamed "Ferrocarril Nacional General San Martín" honoring independence leader General José de San Martín.
In the early 1990s, Argentina’s rail system was running an annual deficit of approximately US$355 million. National Decree No. 520 (1991) established FEMESA, a government company that replaced Ferrocarriles Argentinos for managing urban rail services within Buenos Aires Province. FEMESA oversaw passenger operations until their privatization while freight services remained under Ferrocarriles Argentinos’ control.
On March 10, 1993, all long-distance passenger train services departing from Buenos Aires were discontinued. The San Martín freight network was granted in concession to the private company "Buenos Aires al Pacífico" (later known as América Latina Logística or ALL), which operated over 5,000 kilometers of track with a fleet comprising 120 locomotives and 8,500 freight wagons primarily transporting petroleum products and minerals.
Between January 1994 and June 1995, FEMESA-managed lines underwent privatization. The consortium "Metropolitano" acquired operation of the San Martín line along with Roca and Belgrano Sur lines—renamed respectively as "TMS," "TMR," and "TMB."
After intercity passenger services were terminated in 1993, Buenos Aires Province established the "Unidad Ejecutora del Programa Ferroviario Provincial (UEPFP)," which operated trains from major Buenos Aires terminals such as Constitución, Retiro, and Once to provincial destinations including Junín and Iriarte via the San Martín corridor.
These passenger trains shared infrastructure with freight companies like América Latina Logística but suffered from inadequate upkeep. UEPFP was eventually rebranded as "Ferrobaires."
Urban services
To enhance passenger transportation throughout Greater Buenos Aires, Metropolitano procured 15 locomotives from General Motors. Nevertheless, the Argentine Peso's devaluation combined with the 2002 economic downturn caused outstanding debts, which led to rolling stock being detained at customs by judicial mandate.
By 2003, the quality of service had sharply declined. The government reassessed Metropolitano’s concession due to deteriorated track infrastructure and aging rolling stock. Ongoing dissatisfaction from passengers resulted in the cancellation of Metropolitano’s concession for the San Martín urban route in 2005. Subsequently, a joint venture of private operators (Ferrovías, Metrovías, and Trenes de Buenos Aires) created "UGOFE" to oversee the Retiro-Pilar segment. Ferrocarril Belgrano S.A., established during the 1999 privatization of Belgrano Cargas, employed approximately 1,100 former staff members. Following UGOFE’s administration, new locomotives and passenger cars were introduced, and by March 2006, services between Retiro and Hurlingham commenced.
In December 2012, the Chinese firm CSR supplied the initial batch of locomotives and coaches designated for the San Martín line.
In Mendoza, the light rail system known as Metrotranvía Mendoza began operations in 2012, using a former FCGSM railway corridor and trackbed.
UGOFE managed the San Martín line until 12 February 2014, when Transport Minister Florencio Randazzo granted the concession to "Corredores Ferroviarios S.A.", a subsidiary of Grupo Roggio.
Metropolitan area
- Retiro – Dr. Cabred
Long distance
- Retiro – Junín
- Retiro – Palmira (Mendoza Province)