Estación Retiro
Encyclopedia
Retiro Station is a large railway terminus
in the Buenos Aires central business district
in Argentina
, located in the district of Retiro
, opposite Plaza San Martín
, a large public square.
One of Argentina's busiest railway stations, Retiro is the terminus for three railway lines; Mitre
, Belgrano
, and San Martin
and is adjacent to the Retiro bus station
(Terminal de Omnibus), the principal long-distance bus terminal in Buenos Aires. The complex is accessible by the C line of the Buenos Aires Metro
system and by numerous local public bus services. A modern tram
way extension that will link Retiro, the Puerto Madero
district and Constitución terminal train station is in the planning stages.
station building was designed by the British
architects Eustace L. Conder, Roger Conder and Sydney G. Follet together with the engineer Reginald Reynolds. Building began in June 1909 and the station was opened on 1 August 1915. The steel structure for the building was made in Liverpool
, England
, and re-assembled in Argentina. For many years it was considered to be the most important example of structural engineering in South America
and architecturally one of the finest buildings in the world. In 1997 it was declared a National Monument.
Historic Photos
Retiro is the largest commuter rail station in Buenos Aires and more commuter trains arrive and depart from here than in any other station in the city. As of 2006, the following companies operate regular services to the suburbs of Buenos Aires along three principal lines:
In addition to its status as the hub of an extensive commuter railway network, Retiro is also the terminus of a few long-distance passenger services which provide access to cities in the north and west of the country. As of 2006, the following companies manage these long-distance services:
In April 2006 President Néstor Kirchner
announced a plan to build a Buenos Aires-Rosario-Córdoba high-speed railway
, with Retiro as its Buenos Aires terminus.
Central station
A central station usually designates the principal passenger railway station of cities which have multiple stations. The central station functions as the main transport hub for rail transport, normally with interchange with other modes of public transport...
in the Buenos Aires central business district
Buenos Aires Central Business District
The Buenos Aires central business district , is the main commercial centre of Buenos Aires, Argentina, though not an official city ward.-Overview:...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, located in the district of Retiro
Retiro, Buenos Aires
Retiro is a barrio in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Located in the northeast end of the city, Retiro is bordered on the south by the Puerto Madero and San Nicolás wards, and on the west by the Recoleta ward.-Urban character:...
, opposite Plaza San Martín
Plaza San Martín (Buenos Aires)
Plaza San Martín is a park located in the Retiro neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Situated at the northern end of pedestrianized Florida Street, the park is bounded by Libertador Ave. , Maipú St. , Santa Fe Avenue , and Leandro Alem Av....
, a large public square.
One of Argentina's busiest railway stations, Retiro is the terminus for three railway lines; Mitre
Ferrocarril General Bartolomé Mitre
Ferrocarril General Bartolomé Mitre , named after the former Argentine president Bartolomé Mitre, was one of the six state-owned Argentine railway companies formed after President Juan Perón's nationalisation of the railway network in 1948...
, Belgrano
Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano
Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano , named after the Argentine politician and military leader Manuel Belgrano, was one of the six state-owned Argentine railway companies formed after President Juan Perón's nationalisation of the railway network in 1948...
, and San Martin
Ferrocarril General San Martín
Ferrocarril General San Martín , named after the former Argentine general José de San Martín, was one of the six state-owned Argentine railway companies formed after President Juan Perón's nationalisation of the railway network in 1948...
and is adjacent to the Retiro bus station
Retiro bus station
Retiro bus station is the main bus terminal in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is situated in the Retiro district, 300 m north of Retiro railway station....
(Terminal de Omnibus), the principal long-distance bus terminal in Buenos Aires. The complex is accessible by the C line of the Buenos Aires Metro
Buenos Aires Metro
The Buenos Aires Metro , locally known as Subte is a mass-transit system that serves the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The first station of this network opened in 1913, the first of its kind in South America, the Southern Hemisphere and the entire Spanish-speaking world...
system and by numerous local public bus services. A modern tram
Tranvía del Este
Tranvía del Este or “Puerto Madero Tramway ” is a 12-block "demonstration" tramway line in the Puerto Madero neighborhood of Buenos Aires operated by the rail company Ferrovías....
way extension that will link Retiro, the Puerto Madero
Puerto Madero
Puerto Madero, also known within the urban planning community as the Puerto Madero Waterfront, is a barrio of the Argentine capital at Buenos Aires CBD, occupying a significant portion of the Río de la Plata riverbank and representing the latest architectural trends in the city of Buenos...
district and Constitución terminal train station is in the planning stages.
History
The French-styleFrench architecture
The history of French architecture runs in parallel with its neighbouring countries in Europe, with France being home to both some of the earliest pioneers in many architectural styles, and also containing some of the finest architectural creations of the continent.-Roman:The architecture of...
station building was designed by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
architects Eustace L. Conder, Roger Conder and Sydney G. Follet together with the engineer Reginald Reynolds. Building began in June 1909 and the station was opened on 1 August 1915. The steel structure for the building was made in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and re-assembled in Argentina. For many years it was considered to be the most important example of structural engineering in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and architecturally one of the finest buildings in the world. In 1997 it was declared a National Monument.
Services
Commuter Rail Services
- See also: Buenos Aires suburban passenger rail services
Retiro is the largest commuter rail station in Buenos Aires and more commuter trains arrive and depart from here than in any other station in the city. As of 2006, the following companies operate regular services to the suburbs of Buenos Aires along three principal lines:
- UGOFE: Linea San MartínLínea San Martín (Buenos Aires)The San Martín line is a 55 Kilometre,19 station commuter rail service in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, Argentina run by the private company Transportes Metropolitanos General San Martín S.A. , a subsidiary of Metropolitano, between 1 April 1994 and 7 January 2005...
service calling at Villa DevotoVilla DevotoVilla Devoto is a barrio or district in the northern part of Buenos Aires, Argentina, located in the area defined by Campana, San Martín avenue, Francisco Beiró avenue, Joaquín V. González, Baigorria, Lope de Vega Avenue and General Paz Avenue...
, El PalomarEl Palomar, Buenos Aires- External links :** Official website *...
, HurlinghamHurlingham, Buenos AiresHurlingham is a city in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It forms part of the Gran Buenos Aires metropolitan area and is situated 23 km west of the city centre...
and PilarPilar, Buenos AiresPilar is a city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It has a population of more than 226,000 inhabitants as per the . Pilar is part of the Greater Buenos Aires urban conurbation and is the head of the administrative division of Pilar Partido...
, amongst others.
- Trenes de Buenos AiresTrenes de Buenos AiresTrenes de Buenos Aires is a privately-owned company which, on 27 May 1995, took over the concession, granted by the Argentine government as part of railway privatisation during the presidency of Carlos Menem, for the operation of commuter rail services in Buenos Aires, Argentina over the broad...
: Linea MitreLínea Mitre (Buenos Aires)The Mitre line is a commuter rail service in Buenos Aires, Argentina run by the private company Trenes de Buenos Aires since 27 May 1995. This service had previously been run by the state-owned Ferrocarril General Bartolomé Mitre since nationalisation of the railways in 1948. TBA forms part of...
service calling at José León Suárez, TigreTigre, Buenos AiresTigre is a town in the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, situated in the north of Greater Buenos Aires, north of Buenos Aires city. Tigre lies on the Paraná Delta and is an important tourist and weekend attraction, easily reached by bus and train services, including the scenic Tren de la Costa...
, and Bartolomé Mitre along its three branches.
- FerrovíasFerrovíasFerrovías S.A.C. is a privately owned company which, on 1 April 1994, took over the concession, granted by the Argentine government as part of railway privatisation during the presidency of Carlos Menem, for the operation of the 1,000 mm metre gauge Belgrano Norte Line commuter rail service in...
: Linea Belgrano NorteLínea Belgrano Norte (Buenos Aires)The Belgrano Norte line is a commuter rail service in Buenos Aires, Argentina run by the private company Ferrovías since 1 April 1994. This service had previously been run by the state-owned Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano since nationalisation of the railways in 1948...
service to Villa Rosa.
Long-Distance Trains
- See also: Long-distance passenger rail services
In addition to its status as the hub of an extensive commuter railway network, Retiro is also the terminus of a few long-distance passenger services which provide access to cities in the north and west of the country. As of 2006, the following companies manage these long-distance services:
- FerrocentralFerrocentralFerrocentral is a private railway company in Argentina, its name being a combination of the Spanish words for "Central Rail." It operates long-distance passenger trains from its base at Retiro Station in Buenos Aires to several locations in northern Argentina...
: operates a twice weekly overnight service to CórdobaCórdoba, ArgentinaCórdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
and a once weekly overnight service northwest to Tucumán, both via Rosario and stations between.
- Trenes de Buenos AiresTrenes de Buenos AiresTrenes de Buenos Aires is a privately-owned company which, on 27 May 1995, took over the concession, granted by the Argentine government as part of railway privatisation during the presidency of Carlos Menem, for the operation of commuter rail services in Buenos Aires, Argentina over the broad...
: operates a weekly overnight service north to Santa FéSanta Fe, ArgentinaSanta Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It sits in northeastern Argentina, near the junction of the Paraná and Salado rivers. It lies opposite the city of Paraná, to which it is linked by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel. The city is also connected by canal with the...
, via Rosario and points between.
- FerrobairesFerrobairesFerrobaires S.A. is the commercial name of a public railway company which operates extensive long-distance passenger trains throughout Buenos Aires Province in Argentina. Its official corporate name is Unidad Ejecutora del Plan Ferroviario Provincial , or Executing Unit of the Provincial Railway...
: operates daily evening services west to JunínJunín, Buenos AiresJunín is a city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and capital of the municipality of Junín. It has a population of 82,427 and is situated 260 km west of Buenos Aires.-History:...
and points between.
In April 2006 President Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
announced a plan to build a Buenos Aires-Rosario-Córdoba high-speed railway
Buenos Aires-Rosario-Córdoba high-speed railway
The Buenos Aires–Rosario–Córdoba high-speed railway is a project designed to link the Argentine cities of Buenos Aires, Rosario and Córdoba through a high-speed rail network. The plan, announced by President Néstor Kirchner during a press conference at the Casa Rosada on 26 April 2006, would be...
, with Retiro as its Buenos Aires terminus.