Railway infrastructure inspection

Introduction

Trenes Argentinos Infraestructura (legally, Administración de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias S. A.) is a Public Limited Company[1] belonging to the Government of Argentina and administrator of the country's railway infrastructure, created by the 2008 law. It integrates Trenes Argentinos along with other state companies in the railway sector, such as Operadora Ferroviaria and Belgrano Cargas y Logística.

Since December 2016 it has been a member of the International Union of Railways.[4].

History

Background

In the 1950s, the entire Argentine railway network (nationalized in the late 1940s) was unified under the administration of the “Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado Argentino” (EFEA) later renamed simply as “Ferrocarriles Argentinos "Ferrocarriles Argentinos (historical company)").

As a consequence of the State Reform process that began in 1989, many public services provided by the State were eliminated or concessioned. This new context caused several national companies to stop fulfilling the specific function for which they had been created, which is why the State began its respective liquidation process.

Ferrocarriles Argentinos was declared in "State of Liquidation", by decree of July 7, 1995, ceasing all its functions.[5] With the disappearance of Ferrocarriles Argentinos, the administration and ownership of the national railway infrastructure was left in the hands of a new body, the National Entity for the Administration of Railway Assets (ENABIEF), created by Decree of the National Executive Branch of 1996. Later, the June 1, 2000, ENABIEF merged with the National Directorate of State Assets.

From that date and in that context, the ONABE (National Property Administration Body) began to operate with the task of optimally managing and protecting assets that do not directly affect the State's own activities.[6].

Birth of ADIF S.E.

National Law 26352 of February 2008 reorganizes railway activity in Argentina by creating two State Companies: the Railway Infrastructure Administration and the Railway Operator. Subsequently, Decree 752 of May 6, 2008 and Resolution 1413 of November 28, 2008 complemented the Law, so that as of December 1, 2008, the ADIF took charge of the railway assets that were transferred to it by the ONABE. In 2015, the State Railway Infrastructure Administration (ADIF) will invest 9,000 million pesos to continue its works plan aimed at improving the railway system, including the companies Belgrano Cargas, to the metropolitan branches Roca, San Martín, Mitre, Sarmiento, Belgrano Norte and Belgrano Sur; and the Buenos Aires-Rosario and Buenos Aires-Mar del Plata corridors.[7].

Railway infrastructure inspection

Introduction

Since December 2016 it has been a member of the International Union of Railways.[4].

History

Background

Birth of ADIF S.E.

Features

Law 26352 entrusts Railway Infrastructure with the following functions:[8].

• - The administration of the railway infrastructure, of the assets necessary for its fulfillment, of the railway assets concessioned to private parties when for any reason the concession ends, or it is decided to remove movable or immovable property from exploitation.

• - The preparation and approval of railway infrastructure projects that are part of the railway network, their construction, rehabilitation and maintenance that are carried out by their own resources, by third parties, or associated with third parties and in accordance with what is determined by the Ministry of Federal Planning.

• - The control and inspection of the railway infrastructure that it manages and the railway circulation that occurs therein.

• - The exploitation of assets owned by the national State that are part of the railway infrastructure whose management is entrusted or transferred to it.

• - Cooperation with organizations that manage railway infrastructure in other States, to establish and allocate infrastructure capacity that covers more than one network.

• - The definition of the primary and secondary national network and the collateral exploitations, in accordance with the provisions of article 14, paragraph a) of this law.

• - The collection of fees for the use of railway infrastructure, and, where applicable, for the provision of additional, complementary and auxiliary services.

• - The preparation of a unified and updated register of railway rolling stock.

• - The formation of its organizational structure, the selection of its personnel with a criterion of excellence and their training.

• - The issuance of emergency orders directed at railway companies, providing for measures of immediate application, even if the interruption of railway operations is necessary.

• - The direction or commissioning of technical investigations on matters related to rail transport safety, the preparation of technical information bulletins and the issuance of the general rules of procedures to be followed in the event of accidents.