The State Railways Institution (, or IFE) is a state-run organization of Venezuela that manages the railway systems of the country. Its headquarters are located in Caracas, Venezuela.

According to the 1999 Constitution, its renovation is a national priority. The new infrastructure which has been added includes the first new above-ground train line constructed in Venezuela for more than 70 years, the Ezequiel Zamora Mass Transportation System. Named after the soldier Ezequiel Zamora, it was inaugurated on October 15, 2006, by President Hugo Chávez.

History

Historically, much of the original Venezuelan network was designed in the 19th century in the Federalist period and under the administration of Antonio Guzmán Blanco, in order to open up the country for trade and earn foreign revenues. However, the first licenses were signed and revoked nine times before the first stretch was operating.

Two of the first lines connected Caracas to its port of La Guaira (the La Guaira and Caracas Railway) and to Valencia (the Great Venezuela Railway) in the 1880s. Notable engineers associated with its original development include: John Grover and Robert Fairlie. Some of the later lines were designed by William A. Welch and Thomas Kavanagh (Caracas subway).

Rail transport in Venezuela was neglected and went into a major decline from the 1950s, with bus and road transport taking its place. However, Caracas opened the first line of its subway system in 1983, and plans were made for a railway system which would include lines near Caracas and also into the interior of the country. In 1975 was devised by the "Instituto Ferrocarriles del Estado" (IFE) a National Plan Ferrocarrilero that began in Maracaibo and reached Barquisimeto-Puerto Cabello-Valencia-Caracas-Cua, following from Cua to Barcelona and Ciudad Bolivar-Ciudad Guayana. The company "Saprolate-Tranarg" made all aerial photographic surveys and the Plan was approved by the then President Luis Herrera Campins, but in the 1980s the Plan IFE was blocked for economic reasons after the devaluation of the Bolivar in 1983 and then was finally canceled with the Caracazo of 1989. Only the section Caracas-Cúa was maintained as a budgeted project (and was made, being inaugurated in 2006 by President Hugo Chavez).

The 1999 constitution was a signal for a major reinvestment in the infrastructure of the state. Much of the renovation of the current Venezuelan railway network is still at the planning stage, with some already constructed and the rest to be built over a period of about 30 years.

Railway network

The Venezuelan network includes of rail in standard gauge.Reference The network covers the populated and production areas in the country, and is managed by IFE under various Regional Development Plans. There are also connections between Colombia and Brazil that link to the other countries of South America, although traffic in the border areas are affected by foreign policy and defence strategy.

IFE is the sole operator of trains in Venezuela, however, they have created various railway names assigned to different regions throughout the country.

Railway Branch Present status Station Location Ezequiel Zamora Capital Line Caracas – El Sombrero (approx 150 km)Passenger service on Venezuela's first electrified train line between Caracas and Cúa (41 km) has been in operation since October 15, 2006. Although short this trip passes through 24 tunnels with the longest being just under 6.8 kmTunnel names and lengths – SpanishLibertador Simón BolívarCaracas beside the Caracas Metro La Rinconada station.Federal DistrictGeneralísimo Francisco de MirandaNorth CharallaveMiranda StateDon Simón RodríguezSouth CharallaveMiranda StateGeneral Ezequiel ZamoraCúaMiranda StateCamataguaAragua StateEl SombreroGuarico StatePuerto Cabello – La Encrucijada (approx. 108 km)Under construction and originally projected completion by before 2011 however there have been damage setbacks. After years of slow progress a small part of the line (San Diego-Guacara about 10 km) will be opened before the end of 2012. The best optimistic estimate for 100% completion was sometime before 2015. Presently 14 of 15 tunnels (accumulated 28 km in length) have been completed with hope for the last one to be finished before end of 2012. The longest built tunnel is just a smidgen under 7.8 km in length. In 2016 the, "Puerto Cabello railway project, was described as irregular and marked by slow payments by the client as a result of the country’s poor economic conditions, mainly related to the drop in the price of oil."Puerto CabelloPuerto CabelloCarabobo StateNaguanaguaNorthern Valencia suburbCarabobo StateSan DiegoNorth-eastern Valencia suburbCarabobo StateGuacaraEastern Valencia suburbCarabobo StateSan JoaquínSan JoaquínCarabobo StateMariaraMariaraCarabobo StateMaracayMaracayAragua StateCaguaSanta Crúz de Aragua with station near Cagua, La Encrucijada and TurmeroAragua StateLa Encrucijada – Cúaplanning stageLa VictoriaLa VictoriaAragua StateLas TejeríasLas TejeríasAragua StateLa Encrucijada – San Juan de Los Morrosplanning stageVilla de CuraVilla de CuraAragua StateSan Juan de Los MorrosSan Juan de Los MorrosGuárico State Simón Bolívar Puerto Cabello – Barquisimeto Trial runs between Barquisimeto and Yaritagua have been successful where passenger travel time between the 2 stations is completed in 30 minutes (34 km). Also currently freight trains run from Puerto Cabello to Barquisimeto (173 km). Since the original plans for line and station renovation and modernization projected passenger travel by the end of 2010 have faltered, after considerable delay in construction, the best hope is that full service will be available in 2013. An additional rail will be added between the Morón and Puerto Cabello Stations to serve the expected increase in rail traffic on the shared line.Puerto CabelloPuerto CabelloCarabobo StateMorónWestern Puerto Cabello SuburbCarabobo StateSan FelipeSan FelipeYaracuy StateUramaUramaYaracuy StateChivacoaChivacoaYaracuy StateYaritaguaYaritaguaYaracuy StateBarquisimetoBarquisimetoLara StateYaritagua – Acarigua – Turén Trial train runs have been successfully employed between Barquisimeto and Acarigua via Yaritagua and everyone awaits the inauguration for this 101 km service. The travel time between Yaritagua and Acarigua is 40 minutes. As well an additional 44+ km line extension from Acarigua to Turén should be completed before the end of 2012.Ife news Ruezga bridge in Barquisimeto is said to be planned for completion in 2017, allowing opening of the line.AcariguaAcariguaPortuguesa StateTurénTurénPortuguesa State Norte Occidental (North Western) Morón – Riecito only freight servicesMorónMorónCarabobo StateTucacasTucacasFalcón StateYaracalYaracalFalcón StateRiecitoRiecitoFalcón State Yaracal – Punto Fijo planning stageCoroCoroFalcón StatePunto FijoPunto FijoFalcón State Norte Llanero (Northern Plains) Maturín – Anaco planning stageMaturínMaturínMonagas StateAnacoAnacoAnzoátegui State Anaco – TinacoAnaco Tinaco (Spanish) This 468 km line is under construction for over 3 years, and expected completion by year-end 2012 has amounted to just less than 25% line completion.Progress (Spanish) So far the construction rate on 5 different work fronts has been slow or even delayed.Aragua de BarcelonaAnacoAnzoátegui StateZarazaZarazaGuárico StateTucupitoTucupitoGuárico StateValle de la PascuaValle de la PascuaGuárico StateChaguaramosChaguaramosGuárico StateEl SombreroEl SombreroGuárico StateDos CaminosDos CaminosGuárico StateEl PaoEl PaoCojedes StateTinacoTinacoCojedes State Tinaco – Barinas planning stageSan CarlosSan CarlosCojedes StateAcariguaAcariguaPortuguesa StateGuanareGuanarePortuguesa StateSabanetaSabanetaBarinas StateBarinasBarinasBarinas State Barinas – San Cristobál planning stageBarinitasBarinitasBarinas StateSan Rafael del PiñalSan Rafael del PiñalTáchira StateSan CristóbalSan Cristóbal StateTáchira Centro Sur (South Central) San Juan de Los Morros – San Fernando de Apure The original reconstruction and extension of this 252+ km line was to be completed by year-end 2011 for freight and passenger. This project continues, however slow the main train authorities remain optimistic and emphatic that everything will be ready in 2012.IFE Construction (Spanish)San Juan de Los MorrosSan Juan de Los MorrosGuárico StateOrtízOrtízGuárico StateDos CaminosDos CaminosGuárico StateCalabozoCalabozoGuárico StateCorozopandoCorozopandoGuárico StateCamaguánCamaguánGuárico StateSan Fernando de ApureSan Fernando de ApureApure State Chaguaramas – Caicara del Orinoco The original reconstruction and extension to be completed by year-end 2011 for freight and passenger went by without success. The first part of the line service from Chaguaramos to Cabruta some 201 km is scheduled to be completed by 2012. The extended part that includes crossing on the 3rd bridge over the Orinoco River (this one is approx 8.7 km long and presently under construction) and connection to Caicara needs to have a defined date.ChaguaramasChaguaramasGuárico StateLas MercedesLas MercedesGuárico StateEl MejoEl MejoGuárico StateSanta RitaSanta RitaGuárico StateArrecifeArrecifeGuárico StateCabrutaCabrutaGuárico StateCaicara del OrinocoCaicara del OrinocoBolívar State Oriental (Eastern) Guanta – Naricual abandoned line, under study for upgradeGuantaGuantaAnzoátegui StateNaricualNaricualCiudad Guayana – Manicaureunder constructionPuerto OrdazCiudad Guayana EsteBolívar StateMaturínMaturínMonagas StateManicaureManicaureSucre StateAnaco – Cúaplanning stageAnacoAnacoAnzoátegui StateBarcelonaBarcelonaAnzoátegui StateEl JoséEl JoséAnzoátegui StatePuerto PírituPuerto PírituAnzoátegui StateHigueroteHigueroteMiranda StateCúaCúaMiranda State Occidental (Western) Maracaibo – Sabana de Mendoza planning stage, had symbolic laying of the first rail and project definitionMaracaibobeside a Maracaibo Metro stationZulia StateEl TablazoEl TablazoZulia StateSanta RitaSanta RitaZulia StateCabimasCabimasZulia StateCiudad OjedaCiudad OjedaZulia StateLagunillasLagunillasZulia StateBachaqueroBachaqueroZulia StateMene GrandeMene GrandeZulia StateSabana de MendozaSabana de MendozaTrujillo State Sabana de Mendoza – Barquisimeto planning stageCaroraCaroraLara StateBarquisimetoBarquisimetoLara State Encontrados – Machiques planning stageEncontradosEncontradosZulia StateMachiquesMachiquesZulia State Machiques – Maracaibo – Puerto Las Américas planning stageMaracaiboMaracaiboZulia StatePuerto Las AméricasPuerto Las AméricasZulia State Región Guayana (Guayana region) San Fernando – Tucupita planning stageSan Fernando de ApureSan Fernando de ApureApure StateCabrutaCabrutaGúarico StateCaicaraCaicaraBolívar StateCiudad BolívarCiudad BolívarBolívar StateCiudad GuayanaPuerto OrdazBolívar StateTucupitaTucupitaDelta Amacuro State Caicara – Puerto Ayacucho planning stagePuerto AyacuchoPuerto AyacuchoAmazonas State Caracas – La Guaira Caracas – La Guaira planning stage – In May 2007 a maglev train was proposed to link Caracas to La Guaira and Simón Bolívar International Airport. A route is being studied prior to obtaining funding.Work on a Venezuelan electromagnetic train could be started in two months (in Spanish) ABN 10 May 2007CaracasLa RinconadaDistrito FederalMaiquetíaMaiquetía (near the airport)Vargas StateLa GuairaLa Guaira by the seaportVargas State Recreacional (recreational) Parque Recreacional El Encanto Reconstruction for passenger service by end of 2012Los TequesLos TequesMiranda State

Operational

Fully Updated

Caracas – Cúa branch

After 70 years without major improvements to the Venezuelan railway system, the Caracas – Cúa line was opened for public service on October 15, 2006.