ARGENTINA’s state-owned passenger operator Argentinian Trains Operations has awarded a contract to supply 43 DMUs for commuter services in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA). Worth $US 300m, the contract went to the sole bidder, a consortium of China Rainbow International Investment Corporation (CRIIC) and CRRC Tangshan.
The order includes 36 1676mm-gauge three-car DMUs to replace locomotive-hauled coaches, many of which are over 50 years old and have exceeded their planned working life. The new DMUs are expected to be deployed on the Mitre, San Martín, Roca and Sarmiento networks, on lines that include:
- Victoria - Capilla del Señor
- Villa Ballester - Zárate
- Pilar - Cabred
- Ezeiza - Cañuelas, and
- Moreno - Mercedes.
In addition, seven six-car 1000mm-gauge DMUs will be supplied to increase capacity on the Belgrano South network. The contract also includes the supply of spare parts and consumables for three years of maintenance, technical documentation, and commissioning support.
The order forms part of Argentina’s railway emergency investment programme, under which the government has committed $US 300m for new commuter rolling stock, while it advances plans to privatise operations through the award of operating concessions.
According to local media reports, potential bidders have been reluctant to commit to significant investment in new rolling stock. The government-funded DMU order is therefore intended to make privatisation more viable.
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