Estación Central, Chile
Encyclopedia
Santiago Estación Central (official name: Estación Alameda), located in Santiago, Chile
, is the city's only operating train station after the decommissioning of the Estación Mapocho
. The Estación Central is the initial departure point for all rail traffic bound for southern Chile (passenger trains no longer serve northern Chile). It is located on the Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins avenue, facing Matucana avenue.
(1897), and its metallic structure built by the French firm Scheider
of Le Creusot
. It has long been a reference point for travellers and locals; the building is so well known that it gave the name to the municipality and commune where it is located: Estación Central
. The building is a national monument and is protected by law against being demolished or remodeled.
The station has experienced a revival in the past years as the rail system managed by the government (Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado
) has been modernized somewhat, in an attempt to restore the bygone appeal for train travel. These efforts have met with moderate success.
The station is an important hub for public transportation, with a Santiago Metro
station and three intercity bus terminals within walking distance. Many local bus lines also stop at the station. A medium-sized shopping center is now adjacent to the station.
The nearby San Borja Bus Terminal is within walking distance and connected by a medium-sized complex of shopping centers.
The central gates of the station, serves as a transfer point to the underground Santiago Metro
Line 1 Estación Central metro station
.
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, is the city's only operating train station after the decommissioning of the Estación Mapocho
Estación Mapocho
Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the Estación Mapocho was for a long time the hub for all rail traffic serving northern Chile, Valparaiso and Argentina. Built to celebrate the centennial of Chilean independence, the building has an obvious sentimental value that adds to its imposing...
. The Estación Central is the initial departure point for all rail traffic bound for southern Chile (passenger trains no longer serve northern Chile). It is located on the Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins avenue, facing Matucana avenue.
Overview
The station was opened in 1885, but, the current building was designed by Gustave EiffelGustave Eiffel
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel was a French structural engineer from the École Centrale Paris, an architect, an entrepreneur and a specialist of metallic structures...
(1897), and its metallic structure built by the French firm Scheider
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a French global company. It was founded in 1836 by two brothers, Eugène and Adolphe Schneider.In the first part of the 20th century, Schneider et Cie associated itself with Westinghouse Systems, a major international electrical group at the time. The group began manufacturing...
of Le Creusot
Le Creusot
Le Creusot is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.The inhabitants are known as Creusotins. Formerly a mining town, its economy is now dominated by metallurgical companies such as ArcelorMittal, Schneider Electric, and Alstom.Since the 1990s, the...
. It has long been a reference point for travellers and locals; the building is so well known that it gave the name to the municipality and commune where it is located: Estación Central
Estación Central, Chile
Santiago Estación Central , located in Santiago, Chile, is the city's only operating train station after the decommissioning of the Estación Mapocho. The Estación Central is the initial departure point for all rail traffic bound for southern Chile...
. The building is a national monument and is protected by law against being demolished or remodeled.
The station has experienced a revival in the past years as the rail system managed by the government (Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado
Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado
Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado is the national railway of Chile.The track gauge is Indian gauge in the south and metre gauge in the north.-History:...
) has been modernized somewhat, in an attempt to restore the bygone appeal for train travel. These efforts have met with moderate success.
The station is an important hub for public transportation, with a Santiago Metro
Santiago Metro
Metro de Santiago is South America's most extensive metro system with 5 lines, 108 stations and 103 kilometres of track making it the second longest in Latin America after that of Mexico City. The metro system serves the city of Santiago, Chile. Three of the lines are rubber-tyred...
station and three intercity bus terminals within walking distance. Many local bus lines also stop at the station. A medium-sized shopping center is now adjacent to the station.
The nearby San Borja Bus Terminal is within walking distance and connected by a medium-sized complex of shopping centers.
The central gates of the station, serves as a transfer point to the underground Santiago Metro
Santiago Metro
Metro de Santiago is South America's most extensive metro system with 5 lines, 108 stations and 103 kilometres of track making it the second longest in Latin America after that of Mexico City. The metro system serves the city of Santiago, Chile. Three of the lines are rubber-tyred...
Line 1 Estación Central metro station
Estación Central metro station
Estación Central is a station on the Santiago Metro in Santiago, Chile. It is underground, between the stations Universidad de Santiago and Unión Latinoamericana on the same line. It is located on the Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, in the commune of Estación Central.It is named for...
.
Lines and trains
The following lines and trains terminate at Estación Alameda:- Red Sur EFEEmpresa de los Ferrocarriles del EstadoEmpresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado is the national railway of Chile.The track gauge is Indian gauge in the south and metre gauge in the north.-History:...
- TerraSurTerraSurThe TerraSur is a Chilean Inter-city rail service, opened in 2001 between Santiago and Chillán, on the Chilean Central Valley. It is operated by the Trenes Regionales Terra S.A., a subsidiary of the Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado...
inter-city service (Alameda - Estación Chillán) - MetrotrénMetrotrénThe Metrotrén , is a Chilean commuter rail system operated by Trenes Metropolitanos S.A., a subsidiary of the Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado , that covers 13 communes, from Santiago de Chile to San Fernando. It is connected with Metro de Santiago in Alameda station...
commuter service (Alameda - Estación San Fernando)
- TerraSur
- Ramal Cartagena
- FEPASA freight transport
Surroundings
- University of SantiagoUniversity of Santiago, ChileThe University of Santiago of Chile is one of the oldest public universities in Chile.The institution was born as Escuela de Artes y Oficios in 1849, under the government of Manuel Bulnes...
- San Borja Bus Terminal
- Estación Central metro stationEstación Central metro stationEstación Central is a station on the Santiago Metro in Santiago, Chile. It is underground, between the stations Universidad de Santiago and Unión Latinoamericana on the same line. It is located on the Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, in the commune of Estación Central.It is named for...
- Mall Plaza Alameda (shopping center)
- Falabella, Ripley, La PolarLa PolarLa Polar is the fourth largest retail company in Chile, behind Falabella, Paris S.A and Ripley S.A.The company has more than 30 stores in Chile with products focused on the Chilean middle class....
& Johnsons retail stores.
- Falabella, Ripley, La Polar
- Paseo Arauco Estación (shopping center)
- Almacenes ParísAlmacenes ParísAlmacenes París is a chain of department stores in Chile, owned by multinational Cencosud.-Products:The company operates dozens of stores across the country. París sells apparel for men, women, and children, household appliances, and furniture, and even has its own travel agency...
and Fashion's Park retail stores, Sodimac (warehouse store).
- Almacenes París
- Cinemundo, a 6 screens Movie theaterMovie theaterA movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
. - PlanetariumPlanetariumA planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
"Universidad de Santiago".