MARCOPOLO RAIL BEGINS DELIVERY OF TRAINS TO EFE – TRENES DE CHILE

Supply of three train sets to the public company responsible for managing the Chilean railway network consolidates the brand in the international market

Marcopolo Rail announces the start of the delivery of three two-car Prosper train sets acquired by Empresa de Los Ferrocarriles del Estado – EFE Trenes de Chile, responsible for managing the railway network founded in 1884 and one of the oldest public companies in the country.

The Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) were produced at the Ana Rech Industrial Complex in Caxias do Sul (RS), in a factory dedicated to the production of railway vehicles and which meets strict manufacturing standards.

The supply of rolling stock, spare parts, and maintenance consolidates the international market presence of Marcopolo’s division specialized in the development and production of railway vehicles.

“The delivery of state-of-the-art trains to EFE, which has played an important role in Chile’s mobility for 140 years, consolidates us as a reference manufacturer for Latin America and reinforces our commitment to innovation and sustainability. This supply will also significantly contribute to the advancement of the country’s railway infrastructure, promoting more efficient and safer transportation,” analyzes Petras Amaral Santos, executive manager of Marcopolo Rail.

The bidirectional train sets with doors on both sides have the capacity to transport 223 passengers, with 80 seated in armchair-style seats and 143 standing. The bidirectionality of the cars will allow for more efficient operation, as the train will not need to reach turntables to reverse its course and can return from any point on the track.

“We are filled with satisfaction to see this new train starting its journey, becoming part of the renewal of a service full of history and emblematic of the Maule Region. This service is highly appreciated by all the inhabitants, who will soon be able to witness the most important quality leap this service has had in its more than 60 years. The incorporation of this first train, which is the first of three, reflects the commitment of President Gabriel Boric’s government to offer quality public transportation and to reinvigorate trains in Chile,” comments the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Muñoz.

The models will also feature air conditioning, space for people with reduced mobility, as well as an adapted restroom, USB ports, and a foldable table on the backrest. For greater thermal comfort, the trains will have an independent air conditioning system for each car.

System to Benefit the Mobility of 325,000 People

The train sets will operate on the Talca-Constitución line, an interurban medium-distance passenger transport circuit, with 88 kilometers of extension, 11 stations, which will transport about 50,000 passengers per year, connecting four municipalities. The system is part of the Trenes de Chile program, which recently underwent infrastructure improvements and will benefit 325,000 people in the region. Currently, the branch connects the rural areas of the central valley and the coastal zone in the Maule region.

“This is a great step in the modernization of the railway service in the region and also for a traditional and centenary route, where we are arriving with more safety and reliability. These new trains will allow our passengers to travel with greater comfort and universal accessibility, strengthening connectivity and sustainable transportation in Maule,” comments the President of EFE, Eric Martin.

The track renovation works received technical approval from the National Monuments Council (the tracks and stations are listed as Historical Monuments). This new infrastructure will reduce travel time from the current 3 hours and 15 minutes to just 2 hours and 45 minutes, considering the stops at stations along the route.

Advancement of Metro-Rail Mobility

Marcopolo Rail works to identify opportunities for the advancement of metro-rail mobility, in line with current global demands, and strives to promote high-capacity travel with speed, efficiency, and comfort.

In 2024, the Prosper VLT, Marcopolo Rail’s first light rail vehicle (LRV), began operation on a tourist route operated by Giordani Turismo in Santana do Livramento (RS). The company is also responsible for manufacturing the people movers supplied to the AeroGru consortium, formed by the companies Aerom, HTB, FBS, and TSEA. The consortium is responsible for the transportation project that connects the CPTM’s Line 13-Jade to terminals 1, 2, and 3 of Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo (SP).

About Marcopolo Rail

Aligned with the purpose of improving life experiences through mobility, Marcopolo Rail is a division of Marcopolo, specialized in the development and production of new rail modes. Marcopolo Rail’s portfolio includes railway products and the production of multiple LRVs, as well as the manufacture of car bodies for people movers. In addition to the product line, it also offers contracts for maintenance and modernization services.