The State Railway Company (EFE) is celebrating its 140th anniversary. For this reason, it has announced the great news that, from today, ticket sales will begin for the fastest train in South America.
According to reports, ticket sales for the new train will be open from this Thursday. The first departure will be on January 19 to Curicó. The train will make six journeys each day; added to the four journeys that are currently made with conventional trains, there will now be 10 journeys per day, five in each direction.
The new machines will connect Santiago to Curicó in just two hours, almost 20 minutes less than conventional trains take.
These new long-distance bimodal trains have arrived in Chile from China. They are capable of reaching 160 kilometers per hour, making them the fastest and most modern in South America.
As part of EFE’s 140th anniversary celebrations, the company also took the opportunity to present a postage stamp to mark its history, in collaboration with Correos de Chile, the Chilean postal service.
Due to bad weather that affected part of the railway infrastructure, important work had to be carried out on the tracks so that the fast train service between Curicó and Santiago’s Estación Central could be resumed. Work is continuing so that the service to Chillán can also resume.
Features of the fastest train in South America
The new trains have a capacity of 236 passengers seated in a high-standard class. They have a maximum velocity of 160 km/h. They can also alternate their power supply between an electric and diesel mode (dual or BMU trains) in case the electrical power system fails, increasing their reliability.
The trains have an LED passenger information screen and sound system, allowing travel conditions to be reported in real time (similar to the system used in air services). They also have automatic level access doors (different from the current trains, which have steps for passenger access), spaces equipped for wheelchairs for people with reduced mobility, thus improving accessibility, bathrooms with universal accessibility (current trains do not operate under this standard), and cafeteria space with self-service machines on board.
Furthermore, the trains have areas for bags, suitcases and other packages (luggage space above the seats, at the end of the carriages, etc.) to increase available space, reclining seats (in the current trains, the cheapest seats do not recline), as well as a WIFI system and on-board entertainment for passengers.