The fastest and most modern train in South America is in Chile: it was manufactured in China and can reach a speed of 160 km/h

High-speed rail is a reality in many parts of the world. China leads this field with proposals as surprising as the new Maglev with magnetic levitation, which is capable of reaching 600 km/h. In Spain we can find the Frecciarossa (Hitachi ETR1000) operated by Iryo. These are trains that in their standard version can move at 380 km/h, but their speed is limited to 360 km/h.

Chile, for its part, has just put into operation what it considers to be “the fastest and most modern train in South America.” We are talking about a project of approximately 70 million dollars which promises to connect the Central Station, located in Santiago, with the commune of Chillán, in the center of the country. Given that the train can reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h, the aforementioned journey could be completed in as little as 3 hours and 40 minutes.

A wonderful train with Asian origins

The State Railway Company (EFE) bought the new train from the Chinese company CRRC Sifang whose presence in the railway world dates back to the year 1900. The million-dollar agreement included the delivery of a total of six BMU type units (bimodal multiple unit) that can run on both diesel fuel and electrical power via catenary and offer significant improvements for both passengers and operators.

Internally, the renewed service comes with automatic access and leveling doors, a paradigm shift in relation to current systems that require passengers to use stairs to board. There are also bathrooms with universal accessibility, spaces equipped for wheelchairs, a cafeteria, self-service machines, more space for bags and suitcases, reclining seats and information systems using LED screens.

The rolling stock will be able to accommodate a maximum of 238 seated passengers. This capacity, together with the high speed of the train, should translate into improvements in service provision and, consequently, greater benefits for EFE. It is expected that when the railway is fully operational it will be able to offer 12 daily services (six in each direction). In this way, the company hopes to make a jump in the number of passengers transported per year.

Although the project suffered some delays due to storms in June and August last year, the train is currently in operation. The initiative arose during the presidency of Sebastián Piñera in 2019but the first trains arrived in March 2023, during Gabriel Boric's mandate. Ticket sales began on January 4 of this year. and on January 19, the Central Station – Curicó service was enabled.

The aforementioned journey, according to the authorities, can be completed in 2 hours, about 20 minutes faster than with conventional trains. On March 11, an extension was inaugurated which took the service further south of the country, specifically to Talca. The extended trip was calculated at 2 hours and 40 minutes. It is expected that in the second quarter of this year the service will be fully operational, that is, it will reach Chillán.

Images | State Railway Company | Government of Chile

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