The Metrotranvía Mendoza (Spanish for Mendoza Light Rail or fast tramway) is a public light rail transport system for the city of Mendoza, Argentina, served by articulated light rail cars operating on newly relaid tracks in former-General San Martín Railway mainline right-of-way.

The line runs between Parador Avellaneda in Las Heras and General Gutierrez in Maipú, on double-track rail. The Metrotranvía of Mendoza serves the metropolitan area of Mendoza, which includes the departments of Las Heras, Central district, Godoy Cruz, Maipú and Luján de Cuyo. Service operates from 6:00 to 22:00. The line has been named the Línea Verde, or Green Line. The line operates on the right-hand side like road traffic, in contrast to the left-handed operation of the majority of the Argentine railway network. History In 2009 the Government of Mendoza Province signed an agreement to build a tram line between the cities of Mendoza and Maipú, at an estimated cost of AR$ 62,449,732."Firman el contrato para las obras del metrotranvía", Mendoza Económico, 12 February 2009."Comenzarán a construir el Metrotranvía", Mendoza Online Works were carried out by private companies Construcciones Electromecánicas del Oeste S.A. (CEOSA) and SOGESIC S.A."Se viene el metrotranvía urbano, nomás", Truveo, 2009"Metrotranvía deal signed", Railway Gazette, 9 July 2013."Proyecto de Metrotranvía" , Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, 12 March 2009.

Project included a total refurbishment of Mendoza station, which had operated between 1885 and 1993 when it was closed by the national government. The administrative building was reopened as a cultural centre named "Estación Cultural",Conocé los talleres que ofrece la Estación Cultural de Ciudad on Sitio Andino, 7 Jul 2021

An inauguration ceremony was held in February 2012,"Mendoza light rail service begins" (December 2012). Tramways & Urban Transit, p. 451. LRTA Publishing. . but service did not begin at that time, as much of the construction work remained to be completed.Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, May 2012, p. 193. LRTA Publishing. Starting on 29 April 2012 passengers were permitted to ride on occasional demonstration/trial services on a portion of the line. The system finally opened for regular service on 8 October 2012.

2019 extension to Las Heras

In 2019, the main building at Mendoza railway station was completely remodeled, as part of an extension to Las Heras, Mendoza. The rails used for this extension was manufactured in Spain, while the concrete sleepers were built in Argentina."Metrotranvía: mientras esperan que lleguen los rieles de España se hacen trabajos secundarios", Diario Uno, 19 January 2015."Preparan el terreno para los rieles del Metrotranvía a Las Heras", Los Andes, 22 January 2015.Cómo es el novedoso sistema constructivo del nuevo tramo del Metrotranvía - Jornada Online, 2 July 2015 This extension included the construction of new level crossings, as well as the refurbishment of old railway stations. This extension, bringing the Metrotranvía to Las Heras, Mendoza, opened to the public on 7 May 2019. The Metrotranvía now ends at Avellaneda station, located on Avellaneda Street in Panquehua, a neighborhood in Las Heras.

Future plans

Light rail expansion

An under-construction project will extend the line 4.8 km (3 mi) from Panquehua to El Plumerillo International Airport, and add another 15 km (9.3 mi) branch from the intermediate Godoy Cruz stop to Luján de Cuyo."Proyectos para los recorridos del Metrotranvía al Aeropuerto, Luján y Maipú", Diario Uno, 19 January 2015. As of 2022, the airport extension was expected to open in 2025. However, as of January 2026, it is instead scheduled to open by the end of 2026.

Meanwhile, the Luján de Cuyo branch, which is already under construction, was initially planned to open in 2028. However, on 17 January 2024, it was announced that the Luján extension may open in 2027 instead.

Commuter Rail

In June 2025, the Eastern Commuter Rail () project was approved, proposing to extend rail service from the current Metrotranvía terminal at General Gutiérrez station (Maipú) to , on the border between the departments of San Martín and Junín. The estimated length is approximately , following the route of the old General San Martín Railway branch line. The project includes the rehabilitation of intermediate stations such as Palmira, with the aim of reconnecting the main historical railway towns of eastern Mendoza with Greater Mendoza. It will be financed 50% by the Provincial Government and 50% by private investment, while the National Government, through the National Secretariat of Transportation, has granted the use of the tracks for this purpose. Light diesel multiple units are planned, with frequencies adapted to an estimated demand of around 300,000 passengers.

As of 30 March 2026, it was expected that the contracts for building the commuter train will be rewarded. However, as of June 2026, the contract has yet to be awarded.

As of May 2026, CRRC Tangshan is planned to supply the diesel multiple units for this line. There is also the possibility that the commuter train may share tracks with the light rail via dual gauge trackage, with the commuter rail being a metre-gauge railway and the Metrotranvía being standard gauge.

Eastern Commuter Rail

Rolling stock

The service was initially provided by nine (out of eleven delivered) Siemens–Duewag U2 light-rail vehicles (LRVs) acquired secondhand from the San Diego Trolley system in San Diego, California."San Diego U2 Trolleys successfully operate in Argentina", San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, 9 March 2010.Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, November 2010, p. 428. LRTA Publishing. ISSN 1460-8324. The first four (ex-San Diego cars 1028, 1055, 1070, and 1071) arrived in Mendoza in February 2011. More had arrived by November 2011,Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, January 2012, p. 27. LRTA Publishing. and the delivery was completed with the final two cars arriving on 27 April 2012.Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, July 2012, p. 272. LRTA Publishing. Two cars (ex-San Diego 1055 and 1058) were used for spare parts.

In 2014 another seven cars were delivered, two of which entered service in 2019 (ex-San Diego 1056 and 1057, renumbered to 1009 and 1011), and the remaining serving as spare parts donors.

In February 2022, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System sent the first three of 39 Siemens SD-100 light rail vehicles to Mendoza. 27 SD100s have been delivered by November 2025.

+Current rail fleetImageModelFleet numbers ()Build DateRetired in San DiegoEntered service in MendozaSiemens–Duewag U21001–1011(11 units, ex-San Diego, where they were numbered in the range 1027–1071)1985–1989 2010–20152012, 2019Siemens SD-1002001–2027(27 units, 39 expected in total)19952022–20232022–present

Network map

See also Trolleybuses in Mendoza Trams in Buenos Aires Rosario Tramway

References

External links

MendoTran on Secretary of Public Services of Mendoza