Trenes de Buenos Aires
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Claudio Cirigliano, Mario Cirigliano |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Area served | Buenos Aires, Argentina; Uruguay (international route) |
Key people | Claudio Cirigliano, Mario Cirigliano |
| Products | Commuter rail services, Long-distance rail services |
| Owner | Cirigliano family (Plaza Group) |
Trenes de Buenos Aires (TBA) was a private company responsible for operating commuter rail services on the broad gauge Sarmiento and Mitre lines within Buenos Aires. Owned by Claudio and Mario Cirigliano, TBA also provided long-distance rail services on the General Mitre Railway extending to central-western Argentina, as well as on the General Urquiza Railway reaching northern Argentina and Uruguay through the international route known as the Tren de los Pueblos Libres.
Between 2004 and 2012, TBA, a subsidiary of the Cirigliano family-controlled Plaza Group, was part of the consortium Unidad de Gestión Operativa Ferroviaria de Emergencia (UGOFE), which managed additional commuter rail lines in Buenos Aires. The company became a symbol of the deterioration experienced by Argentina’s rail system following privatisation and was subject to numerous legal inquiries and investigations.
History
TBA was founded in 1995 after the railway privatisation initiated by Carlos Menem, obtaining a concession through Decree N° 730/95 to operate the metropolitan Mitre Line and Sarmiento Line. Operations commenced on 27 May 1995.
During its initial two years, TBA fulfilled contractual obligations with a service frequency reaching 98%. By February 1999, the company had invested around US$200 million, which included refurbishing 220 Toshiba railcars and renovating 13 stations along with maintenance workshops. Additionally, automated ticket vending machines were implemented.
A significant enhancement involved deploying "Puma" coaches on the Retiro-Tigre route. These units were manufactured locally by Emprendimientos Ferroviarios S.A. (EMFER) and featured air conditioning, ABS braking systems, and computerized monitoring.
In 1997, plans were announced for a US$2.5 billion modernization initiative that encompassed acquiring 492 new electric multiple units, upgrading over 100 km of track infrastructure, and installing advanced signalling technology. However, under President Fernando De la Rúa, this budget was reduced to US$1.3 billion. To offset this reduction, subsidies were granted to TBA and other operators.
Beyond its metropolitan commuter services on the Sarmiento and Mitre Lines, TBA operated long-distance passenger routes on the General Mitre Railway, connecting Retiro with cities such as Rosario, Santa Fe, and other northern Argentine destinations. The company managed roughly 1,000 daily train trips, transporting an estimated 147.7 million passengers annually—approximately 500,000 per day.
Starting in 2004, TBA became part of the consortium Unidad de Gestión Operativa Ferroviaria de Emergencia (UGOFE), alongside Metrovías and Ferrovías, overseeing commuter operations on the Belgrano Sur Line, Roca Line, and San Martín Line. This occurred after concessions previously held by Metropolitano S.A. were revoked.
Revocation of concession
After a deadly commuter train collision at Once Station, Buenos Aires, on 22 February 2012—resulting in 51 fatalities and over 700 injuries—TBA was placed under federal intervention on 28 February. The government revoked its concessions for operating the Mitre and Sarmiento lines on 24 May. Subsequently, control of these lines was transferred first to the consortium Unidad de Gestión Operativa Mitre Sarmiento (UGOMS) and later to Trenes Argentinos, returning management to state hands.
In October 2015, an investigation published by the newspaper La Nación revealed significant mismanagement by TBA during its operational period. The report detailed extravagant expenditures on luxury goods such as jewellery, champagne, and trips to Doha and Dubai. At that time, TBA was under ongoing scrutiny related to the Once disaster and owed AR$70 million in unpaid penalties. It was also disclosed that TBA had engaged in bribery involving former transport minister Ricardo Jaime, who was himself under investigation.
One of TBA’s proprietors, Sergio Cigliano, was convicted for negligence connected to the accident that led to the company's concession being revoked; he received a nine-year prison sentence.
See also
External links
- Archived official site as of 1 February 2012