Chile’s Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado (EFE) presented the first of three new railcars in Talca to renew the historic Talca-Constitución service.
Marcopolo Rail in Brazil is building these new metre-gauge trains. They have bidirectional cabs, universal access, adapted toilets, and air-conditioning systems.
Each trainset can accommodate 80 seated and 140 standing passengers, and it features independent air conditioning, USB ports, and ergonomic seats.
The investment in this new fleet is close to 15 million dollars and includes the construction of a modern maintenance workshop in Talca. After completing technical tests and staff training, the three trains are expected to be in operation in September 2025.
The authorities at the ceremony emphasised that this renovation will strengthen connectivity and the quality of transport in the Maule Region by replacing the MAN Ferrostaal railcars, which have been in service since 1962 and were declared a National Monument in 2007.
