Editing Transport in Chile (section)

== Railways ==
[[File:Passenger_trains_in_Chile.png|thumb|{{center|Passenger trains in Chile}}]]
{{Main|Rail transport in Chile}}
*''Total:'' 6,782&nbsp;km
*''[[Broad-gauge railway|Broad gauge]]:'' 3,743&nbsp;km ''{{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}}'' ''[[Track gauge|gauge]]'' (1,653&nbsp;km electrified)
*''[[Narrow-gauge railway|Narrow gauge]]'': 116&nbsp;km ''{{track gauge|3ft6in|lk=on}} gauge''; 2,923&nbsp;km ''{{Track gauge|1000mm|allk=on|engvar=en-US}}'' (40&nbsp;km electrified) (1995)
*''{{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}'' 40&nbsp;km (from [[Arica, Chile|Arica]] to [[Tacna]], [[Peru]])

Not all lines connect.

Chile's railways (except for a few dedicated industrial lines
<ref>{{cite news | title=Automation gets the most out of mining railway infrastructure | date=2006-04-01 | url =http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//automation-gets-the-most-out-of-mining-railway-infrastructure.html | work =[[Railway Gazette International]] | author=Thomas Salt}}</ref>
) are operated by the state owned company ''[[Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado]]'' (EFE), which completed a major investment programme in 2005.<ref name=Kolodziejski>{{cite magazine | title=Record investment boosts EFE's passenger business | magazine=[[Railway Gazette International]] | date=2006-04-01 | author=John Kolodziejski | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//record-investment-boosts-efes-passenger-business.html | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531200615/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/record-investment-boosts-efes-passenger-business.html | archive-date=2012-05-31 }}</ref>

The rail system once served the entire country, running rail lines from Arica in the north to Puerto Montt in the south. Due partly to the nature of the terrain and evolution in transportation systems, rail travel has suffered greatly at the hands of bus and air competition. The train usually takes longer to reach a destination than a bus, and the comfort is comparable. Prices also tend to be uncompetitive. Rail freight transport has also suffered at the hands of the trucking industry and will continue to do so due to the immense leverage the truck driver's union can bring to bear if they were to feel threatened.

The [[Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia]] is a metre gauge railway in the north of the country. It was originally constructed in {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gauge.

The northern rail line out of [[Santiago]] is now disused past the intersection with the [[Valparaíso]] line. Until there, it is used nearly exclusively for freight. Although the rest of the northern line is still in place, it is in a state of serious disrepair.

The southern line runs as far as [[Puerto Montt]] and is electrified as far as the city of [[Temuco]], from where diesel locomotives are used. Due to lack of budget and care, the 389&nbsp;km Temuco to Puerto Montt section was abandoned in 1992 but after a $44m upgrade it has been back in use since 6 December 2005 with daily service between Victoria (north of Temuco) and Puerto Montt; today, however, only the service between Victoria and Temuco still operates.<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Passengers return to Puerto Montt | magazine = [[Railway Gazette International]] | date=2006-01-01 | url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//passengers-return-to-puerto-montt.html}}</ref>

Work to build/restore(?) the [[Trans-Andean Railways|South Trans-Andean Railway]] link between [[Zapala]], Argentina and [[Lonquimay]], Chile was underway in 2005.<ref>[[International Railway Journal|IRJ]] March 2005</ref> Possible [[break-of-gauge]]. Possible [[rack railway]].<ref>{{cite news | title=IIRSA | publisher=Initiative For Regional Infrastructure Integration In South America | date=2005-09-01 | url=http://www.iadb.org/biz/ppt/092305tuliod.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628071653/http://www.iadb.org/biz/ppt/092305tuliod.pdf | archive-date=2007-06-28 }}</ref>
Construction was undertaken by Patagonia Ferrocanal SA, formed and funded by the province.<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Work starts on trans-Andean link | magazine = [[Railway Gazette International]] | date=2005-02-01 |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//work-starts-on-trans-andean-link.html}}</ref> The first 7&nbsp;km was completed by January 2006.<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Finance | magazine = [[Railway Gazette International]] | date=2006-01-01 | url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//finance-22.html}}</ref> [[Commuter rail]] lines in Santiago are planned to connect to [[Melitrén|Melipilla]] and [[Santiago – Batuco commuter rail|Batuco]].

There have been repeated case studies regarding the installation of a high-speed line between the cities of Valparaíso and Santiago, some even considering maglev trains, but no serious action has ever been taken on the matter.

=== Rail links with adjacent countries ===
* [[Rail transport in Bolivia|Bolivia]] – yes – same gauge {{RailGauge|1000mm}} – from [[Arica, Chile|Arica]] to [[La Paz]], [[Bolivia]]
* [[Rail transport in Argentina|Argentina]] – [[Trans-Andean Railways#Central Trans-Andean|Central Trans-Andean Railway]] – abandoned 1984 – 100&nbsp;km of [[mountain railway]] of {{RailGauge|1000mm}} gauge with [[rack railway]] sections – [[break of gauge]] {{RailGauge|1676mm}}/{{RailGauge|1000mm}} at either end. Concession planned to re-open line.<ref name=Kolodziejski />
* [[Rail transport in Peru|Peru]] – yes – a single {{RailGauge|1435mm}} gauge connection between the northern Chilean city of [[Arica, Chile|Arica]] and [[Tacna]] in Southern Peru.

=== Cities with Metros ===
* [[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]] ([[Metro de Santiago de Chile|Metro de Santiago]]) [http://www.metrosantiago.cl/ website]
* [[Valparaíso]] ([[Valparaíso Metro]]) [http://www.merval.cl/ website]