The Buenos Aires City Government is moving forward with its project to implement an electric “trambus” line in the City of Buenos Aires. Through Subterráneos de Buenos Aires S.E. (Sbase), a multimillion-dollar tender was opened to acquire the first twenty electric passenger transport vehicles, which will be able to carry up to 120 people per articulated formation.
The route has not yet been established, but the “trambus” will operate parallel to the electric “minibuses” whose tender was opened in May and will circulate through the Historic District.
Tender Details and Budget
The procurement package has a budget of just over 50 million dollars for a total of 74 battery-powered electric vehicles and their corresponding power chargers, planned to be acquired within a period of three years.
Although the tender is managed by Sbase, it is known that the project is directly led by the Buenos Aires Ministry of Infrastructure. This tender process will begin with the purchase of the first twenty vehicles. The opening of the bids is scheduled for December 12 of this year.
Vehicle Characteristics
The tender specifications include the purchase of “brand-new electric vehicles” in two sizes: individual ones, with capacity for 70 to 85 passengers, and articulated formations, with capacity for over 120 passengers. Both will feature air conditioning and installed battery.
The vehicles are described as “urban bus type, low floor” and have tram-like features, aerodynamic bodywork, elements that maximize safety, and they are also quiet.
Future Route and Implementation
The “trambus” project is considered an “improvement in mobility” for the city and an “innovative and sustainable alternative”. Although the route has not been defined yet, progress is being made in defining stops, necessary works, and service regulation.
There have been rumors that the first route could connect the head station of Line D of the subway, Congreso de Tucumán, with the Parque de la Innovación, and another route could connect Ciudad Universitaria with Retiro station, crossing the coast road and stopping at the aeroparque. The tender opened by Sbase is called “Coastal corridor with electromobility,” suggesting this latter route.
Additional Projects and Infrastructure Expansion
The tender process for the operation of other electric vehicles, although smaller, was already opened in May. These electric “minibuses” are intended for the Historic District and will have 36 stops between Retiro and Parque Lezama. It is expected that this service will start operating by mid-next year.
In contrast, the Buenos Aires subway network still lacks expansion projects in sight, although the extension of the Premetro in Villa Lugano and Soldati is being tendered. The last station opened was Retiro on Line E in 2019. There are also tenders for the enhancement of several stations and the purchase of 29 new formations for the total fleet renovation of Line B.
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