Tacna–Arica railway

Tacna–Arica railway
A railbus traversing along the beaches of Arica
Overview
Native nameFerrocarril Tacna–Arica (Spanish)
OwnerRegional Government of Tacna
LocalePeru and Chile
Termini
Stations6 (2 active)
Service
Type
Operator(s)Regional Government of Tacna
Depot(s)National Railway Museum, Tacna
Rolling stockRailbus[1]
History
Opened1856
Suspended12 March 2012 (2012-03-12)
Reopened28 May 2016 (2016-05-28)
Technical
Line length62 km (39 mi)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The Tacna–Arica railway is a transnational railway that connects the cities of Tacna and Arica, located in Peru and Chile, respectively. Agreed upon as part of the 1929 Treaty of Lima, it has a length of 62 km (39 mi) and a track gauge of 1,435 mm (4.708 ft). It is currently administered by the Regional Government of Tacna and operates since May 28, 2016,[2][3][4] after being suspended since March 12, 2012.[5]

It was built in 1856 by the English company The Arica & Tacna Railway Co. It is currently the only international railway that Peru has and is the oldest railway that is still in service, since it was the second to be built, during the government of Ramón Castilla.

Stations

The line has five bridges, at San José, Chacalluta, Gallinazo, Hospicio, and Lagartito. It also has six stations, of which only the 2 terminals are active:

Name Country Coordinates Status
Tacna  Peru 18°00′46.8″S 70°15′16.8″W / 18.013000°S 70.254667°W / -18.013000; -70.254667 Active
Kilómetro 42 18°06′54.7″S 70°19′37.4″W / 18.115194°S 70.327056°W / -18.115194; -70.327056 Inactive
Hospicio 18°12′14.3″S 70°20′07.5″W / 18.203972°S 70.335417°W / -18.203972; -70.335417 Inactive
Peru–Chile Border 18°18′47.1″S 70°19′31.9″W / 18.313083°S 70.325528°W / -18.313083; -70.325528  
Escritos  Chile 18°19′06.7″S 70°19′30.0″W / 18.318528°S 70.325000°W / -18.318528; -70.325000 Inactive
Chacalluta 18°23′54.4″S 70°18′26.5″W / 18.398444°S 70.307361°W / -18.398444; -70.307361 Inactive
Arica 18°28′24.6″S 70°19′03.0″W / 18.473500°S 70.317500°W / -18.473500; -70.317500 Active

In addition to the aforementioned stations, in the 1990s ENAFER documents indicate the existence of 2 other stops: Concordia (located 10 km south of Hospicio) and Frontera (6 km south of Concordia).[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Newman, Ian Thomson (May 12, 2015). "Peru-Chile rail link to reopen in July". International Rail Journal.
  2. ^ "Ferrocarril de Tacna volvera a prestar servicios el 1 de mayo". Diario Correo. 2016-04-19.
  3. ^ "Ferrocarril Tacna – Arica Reinicia Operaciones". Arica al día. 2016-05-28. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016.
  4. ^ "Reinauguran tren que une Arica con Tacna tras cinco años inactivo". 24Horas.cl. 2016-05-27.
  5. ^ Suárez, Ernesto (2012-09-23). "El ferrocarril Tacna-Arica está abandonado por las autoridades". El Comercio. Scribd.
  6. ^ "Peru" (PDF). Railway Station Lists. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2013.

18°18′47.1″S 70°19′31.9″W / 18.313083°S 70.325528°W / -18.313083; -70.325528