FEMESA

Last updated
Ferrocarriles Metropolitanos S.A.
Type S.A.
Industry Rail transport
Predecessor Ferrocarriles Argentinos
Founded1991 [1]
Founder Government of Argentina
Defunct1997;24 years ago (1997)
FateDissolved after concessions were granted
Successor Metropolitano
Ferrovías
TBA
Metrovías
Headquarters
Area served
Buenos Aires Province
Services Maintenance
Owner Government of Argentina

Ferrocarriles Metropolitanos S.A. (also known for its acronym FEMESA) was a company set up by the Argentine government in 1991, during the presidency of Carlos Menem, to oversee the privatisation of commuter rail services within the city of Buenos Aires in Argentina. The company granted concessions to Metropolitano, Ferrovías, Metrovías, and Trenes de Buenos Aires for the operation of services which had previously been run by state-owned companies since the nationalisation of the railways in 1948. With its task complete, FEMESA was wound up in 1997. [2]

Overview

FEMESA was created to take over commuter rail services operated until then by state-owned Ferrocarriles Argentinos (FA). The company was established as a transitional entinty until those services were concessioned to private operators. Meanwhile, FA still operated passenger services of middle and long distance, until March 10, 1993, [3] when all those services were cancelled. [4] [5] [1]

In 1994, FEMESA granted concessions to Metropolitano which, through three subsidiary companies, took over the operation of services on the Línea San Martín, Línea Roca and Belgrano Sur Line in Buenos Aires previously operated by the state-owned San Martín, Roca and Belgrano Railway divisions, respectively. In spite of Metropolitano receiving large government subsidies, its services deteriorated to a point where, by 2007, the three concessions had all been revoked and their operation was taken over by the consortium UGOFE.

Concessions were also granted in 1994 to Ferrovías and Metrovías, for operation of services over the Belgrano Norte, and Urquiza Lines, respectively, previously operated by the state-owned Belgrano, and Urquiza divisions of FA.

Finally, in 1995, concessions were granted to Trenes de Buenos Aires for the operation of services over the Mitre and Sarmiento Lines, previously operated by the state-owned Mitre and Sarmiento divisions of FA.

With all the commuter rail services in Buenos Aires now privatised, FEMESA was wound up in 1997. [2]

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