# Trans-Andean railways

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Advertisement from *Traveller's Guide to the Argentine* (Guia del Viajero a la Argentina) number 13, July–December 1932, page 42, inside rear cover

The **Trans-Andean railways** provide [rail transport](/source/Rail_transport) over the [Andes](/source/Andes). Several are either planned, built, defunct, or waiting to be restored. They are listed here in order from north to south.

## Colombian Railways

Main article: [Rail transport in Colombia](/source/Rail_transport_in_Colombia)

- Feb 2011 - The Chinese Government plans to cooperate with Colombia in building a 220 km transcontinental railway which would link Colombia's Atlantic and Pacific coasts, according to a British newspaper.[1]

## Ecuador Trans-Andean Railway

Much of [Ecuador](/source/Ecuador)'s **Trans-Andean Railway** (a railway network that once ran from [Guayaquil](/source/Guayaquil) to [Quito](/source/Quito)) has been rendered useless by natural disasters. Torrential rains from the 1982–83 and 1997-98 [El Niño](/source/El_Ni%C3%B1o) caused massive landslides that damaged the railway line. The network is operated by **[Empresa de Ferrocarriles Ecuatorianos](/source/Empresa_de_Ferrocarriles_Ecuatorianos)**. Only three sections remain operational: a 60-kilometre (37 mi) segment connecting [Quito](/source/Quito) and [Cotopaxi National Park](/source/Cotopaxi_National_Park), a 43.5-kilometre (27 mi) stretch between [Ibarra](/source/Ibarra%2C_Ecuador) and [Primer Paso](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Primer_Paso&action=edit&redlink=1), and the mountainous five-hour, 100 km (62 mi) excursion from [Riobamba](/source/Riobamba) to [Sibambe](/source/Sibambe).

## Peru

Main article: [Rail transport in Peru](/source/Rail_transport_in_Peru)

Although wholly within [Peru](/source/Peru), the **[Ferrocarril Central Andino](/source/Ferrocarril_Central_Andino)** (FCCA; the former Ferrocarril Central del Perú) running inland from [Callao](/source/Callao) and [Lima](/source/Lima) crosses the Andes watershed at [Galera](/source/Galera_railway_station) *en route* to [La Oroya](/source/La_Oroya) and [Huancayo](/source/Huancayo).[2] From here the route is extended by the [Ferrocarril Huancayo - Huancavelica](/source/Ferrocarril_Huancayo_-_Huancavelica). In July 2006 FCCA began work to [regauge](/source/Gauge_conversion) the [Huancavelica](/source/Huancavelica) line from 914 mm (3 ft) to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) ([standard gauge](/source/Standard_gauge)). There was also a proposal for a 21 km (13 mi) tunnel under the Andes.[3]

The **Ferrocarriles del Sur del Perú** (FCS), now operated by [PeruRail](/source/PeruRail), runs from the coast at [Matarani](/source/Matarani) to [Cuzco](/source/Cusco), and to [Puno](/source/Puno) on [Lake Titicaca](/source/Lake_Titicaca) from where steamers and [train ferries](/source/Train_ferry#Peru) have been run connecting with [Guaqui](/source/Guaqui) in [Bolivia](/source/Bolivia).[4]

## Proposed Bolivia-Chile Trans-Andean railway

Empresa Nacional de Ferrocarriles - ENFE, operator of the National Railways of [Bolivia](/source/Bolivia), and consultant Hagler Bailly, United States, have signed a contract to undertake an economic feasibility study into the proposed $US 1 billion 338 km [Aiquile](/source/Aiquile)–[Santa Cruz](/source/Santa_Cruz_de_la_Sierra) Railway (IRJ July p6). The line would connect the Eastern Railway network with the Andean Railway network, and effectively create a new trans-Andean railway from Pacific Ocean ports in [Chile](/source/Chile) to the port of [Santos](/source/Santos%2C_S%C3%A3o_Paulo) in Brazil.[5]

Other Bolivia-Chile railways:

- [Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia](/source/Ferrocarril_de_Antofagasta_a_Bolivia)

- [Arica–La Paz railway](/source/Arica%E2%80%93La_Paz_railway), [Arica](/source/Arica), Chile–[La Paz](/source/La_Paz)

## Proposed Peru - Brazil Railway

Main article: [Trans-Amazonian Railway](/source/Trans-Amazonian_Railway)

In 2014, proposals were advanced by [ProInversión](/source/ProInversi%C3%B3n) for the above railway.[6][7]

- [Ucayali](/source/Ucayali) - western [Brazil](/source/Brazil)

- [Huánuco](/source/Hu%C3%A1nuco) - [Peru](/source/Peru)

- [Pasco](/source/Pasco_Province) - [Peru](/source/Peru)

- [San Martin](/source/San_Martin_Province) - [Peru](/source/Peru)

- [Amazonas](/source/Amazonas_(Brazilian_state)) - Brazil

- [Cajamarca](/source/Cajamarca) - [Peru](/source/Peru)

- [Piura](/source/Piura) - [Peru](/source/Peru) - near Pacific coast in north

## Argentina - Chile

- (from North)

### Salta-Antofagasta railway

The [Huaytiquina railway](/source/Salta%E2%80%93Antofagasta_railway) is a single 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge linking [Salta](/source/Salta), Argentina, to [Antofagasta](/source/Antofagasta), Chile. The *[Tren a las Nubes](/source/Tren_a_las_Nubes)* is a [touristic service](/source/Heritage_railway) running for 217 kilometres (135 mi) on the Argentinian side.

### Transandine Railway

The central [Transandine Railway](/source/Transandine_Railway) from [Valparaíso](/source/Valpara%C3%ADso), Chile, to [Mendoza, Argentina](/source/Mendoza%2C_Argentina) is defunct, pending reconstruction.[8] While Chile and large parts of Argentina both use the same 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge, the connecting [Ferrocarril Trasandino Los Andes - Mendoza](/source/Ferrocarril_Trasandino_Los_Andes_-_Mendoza) used a [narrow gauge](/source/Narrow_gauge_railway) of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) with [rack railway](/source/Rack_railway#Abt) sections. Thus there are two [break-of-gauge](/source/Break-of-gauge) stations, one at [Los Andes, Chile](/source/Los_Andes%2C_Chile) and the other at Mendoza.

In 2009, a deal was signed to build a [1,676 mm](/source/5_ft_6_in_gauge_railway) (5 ft 6 in), [single gauge](/source/Track_gauge), [base tunnel](/source/Base_tunnel) connecting Chile and Argentina[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*].

### South Trans-Andean railway

- from [Lonquimay](/source/Lonquimay) (Chile) to [Zapala](/source/Zapala) (Argentina) – construction abandoned.[9] 220 kilometres (140 mi) line once again proposed in 2005[10] and work underway at Chilean end in 2005; first stage completed by early 2006.[11] Possible [break-of-gauge](/source/Break-of-gauge) and [rack railway](/source/Rack_railway).[12]

- from [Osorno, Chile](/source/Osorno%2C_Chile) to [Bariloche](/source/Bariloche) – never built.

## BiOceanio

- (2010)

- Brazil - Paraguay - Argentina - Chile [13]

- [Mejillones](/source/Mejillones)

- [Antofagasta](/source/Antofagasta)

- [Paranaguá](/source/Paranagu%C3%A1)

- [São Francisco do Sul](/source/S%C3%A3o_Francisco_do_Sul)

## See also

- [Panama Canal Railway](/source/Panama_Canal_Railway)

- [Railway stations in Peru](/source/Railway_stations_in_Peru)

- [Track gauge in South America](/source/Track_gauge_in_South_America)

- [Tren a las Nubes](/source/Tren_a_las_Nubes)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["China to build inter-oceanic rail link through Colombia"](http://ww4report.com/node/9495).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Fawcett_2-0)** Fawcett, Brian (1997). *Railways of the Andes* (2nd ed.). East Harling: Plateway Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-871980-31-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-871980-31-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Huancavelica upgrade"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120531202455/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/huancavelica-upgrade.html). *[Railway Gazette International](/source/Railway_Gazette_International)*. 2006-06-01. Archived from [the original](http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//huancavelica-upgrade.html) on 2012-05-31.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Whetham_2_4-0)** Whetham, Robert D. (2008). *Railways of Peru*. Vol. 2 – The Central and Southern Lines. Bristol: Trackside Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-900095-37-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-900095-37-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** *[IRJ](/source/International_Railway_Journal)* October 1999

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Railpage"](http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11362664.htm).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Railpage"](http://www.railpage.com.au/f-p1561611.htm#1561611).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["En julio se licitará tren Los Andes - Mendoza"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070310140626/http://www.seconstruye.com/webnoticia/asp/interior.asp?id=17067) (in Spanish). March 24, 2006. Archived from [the original](http://www.seconstruye.com/webnoticia/asp/interior.asp?id%3D17067) on March 10, 2007. Retrieved 2023-05-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Attempts to cross the border"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070929024056/http://railwaysofthefarsouth.co.uk/5ftrasandinosur.html). *Railways of the Far South*. Archived from [the original](http://railwaysofthefarsouth.co.uk/5ftrasandinosur.html) on September 29, 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** *[IRJ](/source/International_Railway_Journal)* March 2005

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Work starts on trans-Andean link"](http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//work-starts-on-trans-andean-link.html). *[Railway Gazette International](/source/Railway_Gazette_International)*. 2005-02-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["IIRSA"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070628071653/http://www.iadb.org/biz/ppt/092305tuliod.pdf) (PDF). Initiative For Regional Infrastructure Integration In South America. 2005-09-01. Archived from [the original](http://www.iadb.org/biz/ppt/092305tuliod.pdf) (PDF) on June 28, 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [http://www.bioceanicoaconcagua.cl/corredorBioceanico/en/historia.html](http://www.bioceanicoaconcagua.cl/corredorBioceanico/en/historia.html) [*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

## External links

- [Mercosur report on links](http://www.mecon.gov.ar/download/okita/okita7/sumary.doc) - Argentine Ministry of Economy (doc format)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Trans-Andean railways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Andean_railways) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Andean_railways?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.