State Railways Administration of Uruguay

State Railways Administration of Uruguay
Native name
Administración de Ferrocarriles del Estado
State-owned
Industry Rail transport
Predecessor Central UR (CUR)
Midland UR
North Western UR
Northern UR
Founded 1952 (1952)
Headquarters Montevideo, Uruguay
Services Public transport
Owner Government of Uruguay
Website afe.com.uy
Map of Uruguayan railroads.
Uruguayan railway network map
Facade of Central Station Gral. Artigas, closed in 2003.
Canadian General Electric Locomotive C-18 during renovation of level crossing at San Martin Avenue in Tacuarembó.

The State Railways Administration of Uruguay (Spanish: Administración de Ferrocarriles del Estado), or AFE, is the autonomous agency of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay charged with rail transport and the maintenance of Uruguayan railways.

History

On 31 December 1948, Parliament approved projects for acquiring foreign railroads, discharging part of the £17 million which was owed to Uruguay by the United Kingdom because of purchases made during World War II. On 31 January 1949, the railroads were nationalized. That August, the executive branch of government proposed to the General Assembly the creation of a body known as the Land Transport Management of the State (ATTE), charged with the following:

The monopoly would gradually prepare to take over private enterprises, and the proposal was based on the need to avoid ruinous competition. Having difficulty obtaining approval, the Executive decided not to pursue the proposal and allow the new entity to limit its function to the operation of rail transport. Meanwhile, between 31 January 1949 and 19 September 1952 the country held two state railways: the Ferrocarril Central del Uruguay (for nationalized companies) and the state railway and tram network, which remained at the forefront of its former operations. The two companies were merged with the creation of the State Railways Administration (AFE) on 19 September 1952.

Recent developments

Uruguayan railways have approximately 2,900 kilometres (1,800 mi) of track, all 1435-mm gauge, diesel traction and with only 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) of double track. Half of the network is closed, with freight trains circulating branches from MontevideoRiveraLivramento; Piedra Sola – Three Trees; SayagoMinas; Verdum – Plant ANCAP; Carnelli – La Teja; ChamberlainPaysandúSalto – Concordia and Algorta – Fray Bentos. The branch from August 25 – San Jose – Ombucitos is under renovation, and the stretch to San Jose was reopened for passenger service in December 2006.[1]

Passenger service is provided by three suburban lines, starting from Montevideo to the north (to Florida, 109 km), the west (San Jose, 96 km sharing Line 63 to August 25) and the northeast (Mr. Victor Sudriers, 44 km, sharing the first 8 km with the other two). Since 1 March 2003, passenger trains depart and arrive at a new terminal 500 meters north of the Central Station in Montevideo (which has been closed); this entailed a loss of more than 100,000 passengers.[2] The State Railways Administration is the administrator of the rail network. It permits movement of rolling stock from other companies and institutions, and several have their own cars and locomotives (ANCAP, AUAR, CEFU, CUCP).

Rolling stock

AFE rolling stock consists of:


See also

References

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