Transportation in Argentina
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Template:Argentina main topics
Argentina has a complex net of routes, crossed by long distance buses, and a number of national and international airports. The main transportation system in big cities are the numerous bus lines, which transport millions of people every day.
Due to the size of the country and its cities, we can divide transportation in Argentina in the following topics.
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City transport
Transportation in Argentine cities might seam chaotic for European standards, but bottlenecks and gridlocks are not very frequent. Most people try to use public transport instead of personal cars when going to the centre, since parking can be both difficult and expensive. Public transportation (buses, urban trains and the underground) is subsidized by the state, what makes it usually inexpensive.
Buses
The preferred method of transportation is the colectivo or bus. Buses cover the cities with wide and numerous lines, and fares depend on the destination; though usually there is only one fee for an inner-city ride, and higher ones for farther destinations (see Colectivo 60).
Faster air-conditioned versions running the same lines called diferenciales are sensibly more expensive. Different companies own different bus lines, and they usually have different colour, what make them easy to identify. Buses are supposed to keep night services every half hour, what is true only for the most popular lines.
Taxis
Taxis are also very common, and relatively accessible. They have different colours and fares in different cities, and robberies with illegal taxis are not infrequent in big cities. Call-taxis companies (radio-taxis) are very common and safer. Another modality are the remises, very much like call-taxis, but prices are agreed beforehand, although they usually have fixed prices for common destinations.
Urban trains
Urban trains connect Buenos Aires city with the Greater Buenos Aires. Every day more than 1 million people go to Argentina's capital to came back home after work. Trains stop working from 1 am to 5 am. Most of these lines are electric, but there are still a few running on Diesel.
Metro
Buenos Aires is the only Argentine city with an underground system. Most of its lines go from the centre (Micro-centro) towards the outer side. The Subterráneo de Buenos Aires has currently 5 working lines, labeled with letters from A to E, line H is under construction, and 2 more lines are planned.
Others
Bicycles are not very used in big cities, as there are few bicycle-paths, making it difficult to move with them other than in recreational areas.
Long distance transportation
Argentina being almost 4,000 kilometres long, and more than 1,000 km wide, long distance transportation is an important issue. Besides a few toll highways, there are lots of national and provincial routes that spread thought the country, and that are used by cars and long distance buses.
Routes and highways
Argentine's routes are usually simple one-lane-per-side roads. There are a few highways between some important cities, such as the Panamerican Argentina Highway 9 Buenos Aires - Rosario. The Argentine road system, although extensive, does not cover the country entirely; for instance, the Ruta 40 from El Chaltén to Esquel has not been yet paved. South sea-side backbone Ruta Nacional 3 runs from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.
Buses
Argentine long distance buses are fast, affordable and comfortable. With three different services regarding the number of stops and type of seats, called Regular, Semi-cama (semi-bed), and Cama (bed), the later being similar to airplane's business class. Some services have also on-board dinner, while others stop at canteens by the road. Long and middle-distance buses cover almost all paved-accessible cities and towns, and most of the other towns and villages.
Airplanes
Though expensive in comparison with the other means of transportation, flights are being used more and more often. Every provincial capital has its own airport, and there are many other working, specially in tourist areas such as Bariloche and Cafayate. Most companies have several daily flights to the most popular destinations, and daily or less frequent flights to other destinations. Even though Buenos Aires is the most important flight hub, both because of economical and geographical reasons, there are flights between important cities, such as Córdoba, Rosario and Mendoza.
Trains
The railway system, once wide and prosperous, is now limited almost exclusively to cargo transport. The only operating passanger lines are Buenos Aires-Mar del Plata, and Buenos Aires-Tucumán. There is also the season Tren de las nubes in the province of Salta, running from Salta to San Antonio de los Cobres, and works only from October to March.
Fluvial
Fluvial transport is also not very used, with the exception of those who cross the River Plate from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo, both in Uruguay. Other services are exclusively used as river crossing, such as those in Tigre.
Statistics
Railways
- Total: 38,326 km (160 km electrified)
- Broad gauge: 24,481 km 1.676-m gauge (134 km electrified)
- Standard gauge: 2,765 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)
- Narrow gauge: 11,080 km 1.000-m gauge (1999)
City with metro: Buenos Aires (subte)
International links
- Bolivia - yes - 1.000m gauge.
- Chile - IRJ of March 2005 reports start of reconstruction of South Trans-Andean Railway. Gauge uncertain.
- Paraguay - yes - 1.435m gauge.
- Uruguay - ??
- Brazil - ??
Highways
- Total: 215,434 km
- Paved: 63,553 km (including 734 km of expressways)
- Unpaved: 151,881 km (1998 est.)
Waterways
10,950 km navigable
Pipelines
- Crude oil: 4,090 km
- Petroleum products: 2,900 km
- Natural gas: 9,918 km
Ports and harbors
- Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepción del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata
- Necochea, Río Gallegos, Rosario, Santa Fe, San Antonio Oeste, Ushuaia
Merchant marine
- Total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 218,540 GRT/333,413 DWT
- Ships by type:
- Cargo ships: 9
- Petroleum tankers: 11
- Railcar carrier: 1
- Refrigerated cargo: 2
- Roll-on/roll-off: 1
- Short-sea passenger: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports
Total (including airstrips): 1,359 (1999 est.)
With paved runways
- Total: 142
- Over 3,047 m: 5
- 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
- 1,524 to 2,437 m: 60
- 914 to 1,523 m: 44
- Under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)
With unpaved runways
- Total: 1,217
- Over 3,047 m: 2
- 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
- 1,524 to 2,437 m: 63
- 914 to 1,523 m: 614
- Under 914 m: 536 (1999 est.)
National airline: Aerolíneas Argentinas.