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Line C (Buenos Aires Underground)

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Line C
General San Martín entrance
Overview
Termini
Stations9
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemBuenos Aires Underground
Operator(s)Metrovías
History
Opened1934
Technical
Line length4.3 km (2.67 mi)
CharacterUnderground
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Route map

Legend
 Retiro
General Bartolomé Mitre Railway
 General San Martín
San Martín Workshops
 Lavalle
Diagonal Norte
Service tunnel
 Avenida de Mayo
Moreno
Independencia
San Juan
Line E
San José Workshops
 Constitución
General Roca Railway
This diagram:

Line C of the Buenos Aires Underground, that runs from Retiro to Constitución terminus, opened on 9 November 1934, and it has a length of 4.3 km. It runs under such streets as Lima Sur, Bernardo de Irigoyen, Carlos Pellegrini, Esmeralda, la Plaza San Martín and Avenida Ramos Mejia. It not only connects to every other line on the system (with the exception of Line H, which will be connected at a later date), but its termini at Retiro and Constitución also connect it to some of the most important commuter rail networks in Buenos Aires, such as the Mitre and Roca lines and also long distance passenger services. It is thus an important artery in Buenos Aires' transport system. At the same time, it is also the shortest line in both terms of length and number of stations.

It was the third line of the network to provide service to the public, after Line A and Line B. Up until 2007 with the aperture of line H, it was the only line in the system providing a North-South service.

History

The Count of Guadalhorce, who oversaw the construction of the line.

The line was constructed by the Hispanic-Argentine Company for Public Works and Finances (CHADOPyF), headed by a Spanish nobleman, the Count of Guadalhorce after the Great Depression of the 1930s had meant the Anglo-Argentine Tramways Company (which owned most of the then-vast tram network in the city) pulled out of its construction.[2] The line was subsequently opened in 1934 and extended from the present terminus at Constitución to Diagonal Norte in the centre of the city. The stretch from Diagonal Norte to its present terminus at Retiro was then opened in 1936 and marked the last expansion of the line, which remains the only line not to be extended since then.

On opening, the stations were decorated with murals depicting rural Spain created by Argentine artists Martín S. Noel and Manuel Escasani,[3] as well as some stations taking Moorish influences and were painted with gold powder. It had advanced technology for the time, such as Automatic Train Stop (ATS).[2]

When Line E was opened in 1938, its original terminus was shared with that of Line C at Constitución, however the route of Line E was altered in 1966 for the lines to meet instead at Independencia, where they still do so to this day.[4] With the current extension of Line E and Line H, they will both meet Line C at Retiro, where all three will terminate.

Siemens are currently modernising the signalling systems on the line, at a cost of $18 million which includes the use of Communications-based train control (CBTC) in order to improve the line's frequency and potentially open up the possibility of automatic trains in the future. The work is expected to be completed towards the end of 2016.[5]

Rolling stock

Between 1960 and 1963, the line used Mitsubishi rolling stock, which were later intended to be replaced with trains purchased from the Nagoya Municipal Subway but they ultimately ended up servicing Line D in 1999. From 1999 to 2007, the line used Orenstein & Koppel - Siemens-Schuckert rolling stock which was later transferred to Line H and replaced with the Nagoya trains.

In 2015, refurbished Nagoya Municipal Subway 5000 series rolling stock began to arrive, adding 50% capacity to the line and reducing journey times, as well as renewing the fleet.[6] Though the rolling stock is in very good condition and will be further refurbished, the purchase was criticised by the Minister of the Interior and Transport, Florencio Randazzo, who accused the Municipal Government of buying dated rolling stock in contrast to the brand new rolling stock purchased by the Ministry for Buenos Aires' commuter rail network and Line A of the underground.[7][8]

  • Exit to Constitución railway station c.1934
    Exit to Constitución railway station c.1934
  • Passengers going through turnstiles on the line c.1934
    Passengers going through turnstiles on the line c.1934
  • Entrance to Diagonal Norte station, c.1936
    Entrance to Diagonal Norte station, c.1936
  • Passengers entering Line C from the former Line E station at Constitución
    Passengers entering Line C from the former Line E station at Constitución
  • Passengers unloading at Retiro station
    Passengers unloading at Retiro station
  • General San Martín station interior
    General San Martín station interior

References

  1. ^ Subte récord: ya transporta 1.7 millón de pasajeros por día. Clarín - (Spanish) - Retrieved 2011-01-20
  2. ^ a b La línea C cumple 80 años - Diario de Cultura.
  3. ^ Línea C - Buenos Aires Ciduad
  4. ^ Línea E: 70 años buscando pasajeros - EnElSubte, June 2014
  5. ^ Siemens modernizará las señales de la línea C - EnElSubte, 1 October 2014.
  6. ^ Subte: llegan los primeros coches con aire acondicionado que se sumarán a la línea C - La Nacion, January 2015
  7. ^ Randazzo reveló que Macri compró formaciones de subte de más de 30 años - Cronica Ferroviaria, March 2015
  8. ^ Piccardo elude responder por qué se eligió comprar trenes usados - EnElSubte, March 2015
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