Tren de la Costa

Tren de la Costa

Company type	State-owned
Industry	Public transport
Founded	1995
Founder	Sociedad Comercial del Plata (SCP)
Headquarters	Greater Buenos Aires , Argentina
Area served	Greater Buenos Aires
Key people	Santiago Soldati (former operator)
Products	Light rail transit service
Owner	Trenes Argentinos Operaciones (since 2013)
Parent	Trenes Argentinos Operaciones

Tren de la Costa ("Coastal Train") is a suburban light rail route stretching 15.5 km with 11 stations, located within Greater Buenos Aires. It runs from Maipú Avenue station in Olivos to Delta station in Tigre, situated along the Río de la Plata. At Maipú, it links to the Mitre line via a pedestrian overpass, enabling direct travel to Retiro railway station in downtown Buenos Aires.

The service uses nine two-car train sets, each accommodating up to 200 passengers, operating at an average velocity of 35 km/h. Trips last approximately 30 minutes and trains depart every half hour. Since 2013, the state-owned company Trenes Argentinos Operaciones has been responsible for managing the line.

History

Built between 1891 and 1896 as part of the Buenos Aires and Rosario Railway (BA&R), the original track linked Coghlan junction in Buenos Aires' Belgrano district with Tigre port and was known as the Tren del Bajo. It functioned as an alternative connection to Tigre alongside the Buenos Aires Northern Railway.

Following BA&R's acquisition by the Central Argentine Railway in 1908, electrification of the line occurred in 1931. After nationalisation in 1948, it became incorporated into the General Mitre Railway. The B. Mitre-Delta branch was closed by the Argentine government in 1961 due to insufficient passenger numbers and high upkeep expenses.

During railway privatisation in 1992, the concession to revive the line was awarded to Tren de la Costa company, operated by Sociedad Comercial del Plata (SCP) under businessman Santiago Soldati. The track gauge was changed from broad to standard gauge and re-electrified with overhead wiring in 1994. Service commenced in April 1995, inaugurated by Soldati alongside President Carlos Menem.

SCP renovated eight existing stations and constructed three new ones, many designed as shopping centers, most notably San Isidro. A new terminus named "Maipú" was built opposite the former Bartolomé Mitre terminus and connected via a footbridge. Unlike the Retiro-B. Mitre segment, this line employed a light rail system with articulated trains manufactured by Spain’s CAF.

Although initially intended as a tourist attraction, the route drew about 100,000 passengers on weekends, supported by commercial centers at Maipú, Libertador, and San Isidro. Nearby developments included Parque de la Costa amusement park—the largest in South America—and Trillenium Casino close to Delta station, all part of the "de la Costa" brand.

Over time, ridership declined significantly: from roughly 100,000 weekend riders at launch to around 150,000 monthly passengers by 2005—with only one-third being international tourists—and further decreasing to about 70,000 monthly by 2010. This decline adversely affected both railway operations and associated businesses; numerous shops closed. SCP sought subsidies from the government but was refused because the line was categorized as a tourist service rather than public transit.

As a result, in 2013 the Argentine Government revoked SCP’s concession and transferred control to its subsidiary SOFSE. This transition was officially published in the Official Bulletin on June 3, 2013.

Concept

The line and its stations were conceived to offer enjoyment and leisure for both visitors and daily travelers. Seven original stops underwent renovation, each showcasing historical and artistic exhibits. Major commercial hubs were established at Maipú, Libertador, and San Isidro. Borges Station, situated near the Olivos marina, was designed as an arts station featuring an art café alongside outdoor sculptures. Close by stands the Juan Carlos Altavista Cinema (previously known as "Cine York"), recognized as one of the oldest cinemas still in operation worldwide. Anchorena station became known as The Tango station because of its cultural center, while Barrancas station is notable for hosting a weekend antiques market.

The stretch connecting Libertador and San Isidro was adapted to accommodate pedestrians, runners, and cyclists. Delta station provides access to Parque de la Costa, an amusement park, as well as Tigre’s main tourist destinations such as the Trillenium Casino, a crafts market, riverside dining options, and boat excursions.

Stations

Station	Partido	Facilities
Maipú	Vicente López	Accessible toilets, Parking lot, Coffeehouse, connection to Mitre Line
Borges		Accessible toilets, Coffeehouse
Libertador		Accessible toilets, Parking lot, Coffeehouse, Supermarket, Retail
Anchorena	San Isidro	Accessible toilets, Parking lot, Coffeehouse
Barrancas		Accessible toilets, Coffeehouse
San Isidro R		Accessible toilets, Parking lot, Coffeehouse, Supermarket, Retail, Cinema
Punta Chica		Accessible toilets
Marina Nueva	San Fernando	Accessible toilets, Coffeehouse
San Fernando R		Accessible toilets
Canal		Accessible toilets, Coffeehouse
Delta	Tigre	Accessible toilets, Coffeehouse, access to Parque de la Costa, river bus terminal and Trilenium Casino
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See also

• Trams in Buenos Aires
• Parque de la Costa
• Buenos Aires and Rosario Railway

External links

• Tren de la Costa (unofficial)