Transport in Chile

Transport in Chile is mostly by road. The far south of the country is not directly connected to central Chile by road without travelling through Argentina, and water transport also plays a part there. The railways were historically important in Chile, but now play a relatively small part in the country's transport system. Because of the country's geography and long distances between major cities, aviation is also important.

Road transport

Highways

Total: 85,983 km
Paved: 21,289 km
Unpaved: 64,695 km (2020 est.)^[1]

Freeways

3,347 km (2020 est.)<^[1]

Buses

Transantiago, Santiago's public bus system

Buses are now the main means of long-distance transportation in Chile, following the decline of the rail network.^[2] The bus system covers the whole country, from Arica to Santiago (a 30-hour journey) and from Santiago to Punta Arenas (about 40 hours, with a change at Osorno). There are also international services to most other countries in South America. Longer-distance services are mostly on semi-cama (reclining seat) or cama (sleeper) buses, often double deck.

Santiago began its public bus system Transantiago in 2007. Concepción's "Bio Bus" integrates with the electric train, Biotren, and is based on a dedicated right of way for buses.

Railways

Passenger trains in Chile

total: 6,782 km
broad gauge: 3,743 km 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge (1,653 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 116 km 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge; 2,923 km 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) meter gauge (40 km electrified) (1995)
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge 40 km (from Arica to Tacna, Peru)

Not all lines connect.

Chile's railways (except for a few dedicated industrial lines ^[3] ) are operated by the state owned company Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado (EFE), which completed a major investment programme in 2005.^[4]

The rail system once served the entire country, running rail lines from Arica in the north to Puerto Montt in the south. Due partly to the nature of the terrain and evolution in transportation systems, rail travel has suffered greatly at the hands of bus and air competition. The train usually takes longer to reach a destination than a bus, and the comfort is comparable. Prices also tend to be uncompetitive. Rail freight transport has also suffered at the hands of the trucking industry and will continue to do so due to the immense leverage the truck driver's union can bring to bear if they were to feel threatened.

The Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia is a metre gauge railway in the north of the country. It was originally constructed in 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge.

The northern rail line out of Santiago is now disused past the intersection with the Valparaíso line. Until there, it is used nearly exclusively for freight. Although the rest of the northern line is still in place, it is in a state of serious disrepair.

The southern line runs as far as Puerto Montt and is electrified as far as the city of Temuco, from where diesel locomotives are used. Due to lack of budget and care, the 389 km Temuco to Puerto Montt section was abandoned in 1992 but after a $44m upgrade it has been back in use since 6 December 2005 with daily service between Victoria (north of Temuco) and Puerto Montt; today, however, only the service between Victoria and Temuco still operates.^[5]

Work to build/restore(?) the South Trans-Andean Railway link between Zapala, Argentina and Lonquimay, Chile was underway in 2005.^[6] Possible break-of-gauge. Possible rack railway.^[7] Construction was undertaken by Patagonia Ferrocanal SA, formed and funded by the province.^[8] The first 7 km was completed by January 2006.^[9] Commuter rail lines in Santiago are planned to connect to Melipilla and Batuco.

There have been repeated case studies regarding the installation of a high-speed line between the cities of Valparaíso and Santiago, some even considering maglev trains, but no serious action has ever been taken on the matter.

Rail links with adjacent countries

Bolivia - yes - same gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) - from Arica to La Paz, Bolivia
Argentina - Central Trans-Andean Railway - abandoned 1984 – 100 km of mountain railway of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge with rack railway sections - break of gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)/1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) at either end. Concession planned to re-open line.^[4]
Peru - yes - a single 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge connection between the northern Chilean city of Arica and Tacna in Southern Peru.

Cities with Metros

Ports and merchant marine

Ports

Merchant marine

total: 45 ships (1,000 gross tonnage (GT) or over) totaling 580,749 GT/860,034 tonnes deadweight (DWT) ships by type: (1999 est.)

Aviation

Airports – with paved runways

total: 62
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)

Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, located in Santiago, is Chile's largest aviation facility.

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 310
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 68
under 914 m: 223 (1999 est.)

National airlines

Bridges

An enlargeable relief map of Chile with major roads and rail lines depicted

Chacao Channel

Chacao Channel bridge is a planned suspension bridge that was to link the island of Chiloé with mainland Chile crossing the Chacao Channel. It was one of the several projects that were planned to commemorate the Chile's bicentennial in 2010. If completed, it would have been the largest suspension bridge in South America. Construction started in 2017 with completion expected in 2028.

Pipelines

Mountain passes

Cardenal Antonio Samoré Pass, Los Lagos Region, Route 215-CH
Carirriñe Pass, Los Ríos Region
Chungara–Tambo Quemado, Arica and Parinacota Region
Paso de Jama, Antofagasta Region
Huahum Pass, Los Ríos Region
Icalma International Pass, Araucanía Region
Paso Internacional Los Libertadores, Valparaíso Region
Lilpela Pass, Los Ríos Region
Paso de Los Patos, Valparaíso Region
Mamuil Malal Pass, Araucanía Region
Pino Hachado Pass, Araucanía Region
San Francisco Pass, Atacama Region
Uspallata Pass, Valparaíso Region

Notes

^ ^a ^b Red Vial de Chile
^ Omnilineas website
^ Thomas Salt (2006-04-01). "Automation gets the most out of mining railway infrastructure". Railway Gazette International.
^ ^a ^b John Kolodziejski (2006-04-01). "Record investment boosts EFE's passenger business". Railway Gazette International. Archived from the original on 2012-05-31.
^ "Passengers return to Puerto Montt". Railway Gazette International. 2006-01-01.
^ IRJ March 2005
^ "IIRSA" (PDF). Initiative For Regional Infrastructure Integration In South America. 2005-09-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-06-28.
^ "Work starts on trans-Andean link". Railway Gazette International. 2005-02-01.
^ "Finance". Railway Gazette International. 2006-01-01.

References

This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.

External links

Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado

[observator-1] Red Vial de Chile

[2] Omnilineas website

[3] Thomas Salt (2006-04-01). "Automation gets the most out of mining railway infrastructure". Railway Gazette International.

[Kolodziejski-4] John Kolodziejski (2006-04-01). "Record investment boosts EFE's passenger business". Railway Gazette International. Archived from the original on 2012-05-31.

[5] "Passengers return to Puerto Montt". Railway Gazette International. 2006-01-01.

[6] IRJ March 2005

[7] "IIRSA" (PDF). Initiative For Regional Infrastructure Integration In South America. 2005-09-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-06-28.

[8] "Work starts on trans-Andean link". Railway Gazette International. 2005-02-01.

[9] "Finance". Railway Gazette International. 2006-01-01.

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