Unidad de Gestión Operativa Ferroviaria de Emergencia
| Company type | Sociedad Anónima |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Predecessor | Metropolitano (concessions revoked) |
| Founded | January 7, 2005 |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Fate | Dissolved; lines taken over by individual companies |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Area served | Buenos Aires Province, Argentina |
| Products | Commuter rail services (San Martín, Roca, Belgrano Sur lines) |
| Parent | Consortium of Ferrovías, Metrovías, Trenes de Buenos Aires (until 2012) |
Unidad de Gestión Operativa Ferroviaria de Emergencia (UGOFE) was a provisional consortium created on 7 January 2005 by the companies Ferrovías, Metrovías, and Trenes de Buenos Aires to oversee commuter rail services in Buenos Aires following the Argentine government's cancellation of concessions formerly held by Metropolitano.
Since 1994, after the railway privatisation under President Carlos Menem, Metropolitano had been responsible for operating the San Martín, Roca, and Belgrano Sur lines. Despite receiving significant government subsidies, deteriorating service standards led to the termination of the San Martín Line concession in 2004. This situation prompted the formation of UGOFE to ensure continuity of service. Subsequently, when concessions for the Roca and Belgrano Sur lines were revoked in 2007, UGOFE expanded its operational scope to include these routes, thereby strengthening its presence in Buenos Aires' commuter railway sector.
History
Formed as a Sociedad Anónima on January 7, 2005, UGOFE was a joint venture comprising Ferrovías, Metrovías, and Trenes de Buenos Aires—key operators within Buenos Aires Province's urban rail network. Its mandate was to manage the San Martín line provisionally until the Argentine Government could award a new private concession.
The remuneration of UGOFE personnel was funded by the Government through Ferrocarril Belgrano S.A., a freight rail company that had been separated from Ferrocarriles Argentinos. On May 22, 2007, following the revocation of contracts for the Roca and Belgrano Sur lines by the Government, UGOFE assumed temporary operational control of these lines starting June 7.
In response to the 2012 Once station train accident, the Government withdrew Trenes de Buenos Aires' contract for the Mitre and Sarmiento lines on May 24, 2012. Management of these lines was then temporarily transferred to a consortium formed by Ferrovías and Metrovías, excluding TBA from UGOFE's partnership.
On February 12, 2014, an official announcement was made by the Argentine Government indicating that individual companies would take over management of the lines previously operated by UGOFE, leading to the consortium's formal dissolution.
Chronology
| Line | Branch | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Roca (LGR) | Constitución–La Plata (via Quilmes) Constitución–Ezeiza–Cañuelas Constitución–Glew–Alejandro Korn Constitución–Bosques (via Quilmes) Constitución–Bosques–J.M Gutiérrez (via Temperley) Temperley–Haedo Constitución–Claypole Constitución–Gral. Alvear (Interurban) La Plata–Policlínico (University train) |
2007–2014 |
| San Martín (LSM) | Retiro–Pilar | 2005–2014 |
| Belgrano Sur (LBS) | Puente Alsina–Aldo Bonzi Buenos Aires–González Catán Buenos Aires–Marinos Cruc. Belgrano |
2007–2014 |
External links
- Official website (archived, 6 Aug 2013)