Mendoza advances rail extensions: Metrotranvía to airport and new commuter train line

The Mendoza provincial government announced progress on two major rail projects. The Metrotranvía extension will link the city centre with Luján de Cuyo and the Internacional El Plumerillo airport, requiring a mandatory transfer at the new west‑side platform of Estación Mendoza. Minister Natalio Mema said, “En paralelo a la Estación Mendoza, en el andén lindante hacia el oeste, llega el nuevo recorrido del Metrotranvía… aquí se va a tener que hacer el trasbordo para todos aquellos que quieran llegar al aeropuerto”. The extension aims for a partial opening to Parque Benegas in October 2024, with full service to the university campus expected by 2027.

Separately, construction began on a 45‑km Tren de Cercanías linking Maipú’s Gutiérrez with Junín’s Libertador General San Martín. CEOSA will handle infrastructure and operations, while Chinese manufacturer CRRC Tangshan will supply three diesel multiple‑unit trains, each carrying 506 passengers. Mema expressed optimism, stating, “Viene un tren nuevo, cero kilómetro, tres triplas que van a operar este sistema”. The project will renew tracks, install modern signalling and safety systems, and expand the network to 19 stations, improving connectivity across the eastern Mendoza region.