Buenos Aires Transportation Tips by snehulak

'Mode': AROUND
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Getting TO/AROUND: Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is one of South America's biggest cities with 6 million inhabitants (12 million in the larger metropolitan area). For a city of this size the metro network is still very small although it's by far the oldest subway in South America.

The first line of the metro, Line A, was built and initially operated by a private company called Anglo American Tramway Company and opened already in 1913. Construction of Line B and Line C was carried out during the 1930's and the first sections of Line D (Catedral - Palermo) and Line E (San José - Boedo) started operating during the 1940's. In 1963 all metro lines were united in Subterráneos de Buenos Aires (Subte). Line E was extended into the city centre (Bolívar) in 1966 and to José María Moreno in 1973. After that there was no more metro construction until the mid-1980's when this line reached its terminus at Plaza de los Virreyes (1986) and Line D began growing towards the northwest, to Ministro Carranza in 1987, to José Hernández in 1997, to Juramento in 1999 and finally to Congreso de Tucumán in the year 2000. This new station situated under Cabildo and Congreso avenues, on the border between the districts of Belgrano and Núñez, is one of the largest stations of the Subte network and dedicated to Argentine history. Along the platform, 16 busts of outstanding Argentine personalities, including Carlos Gardel or Jorge Luís Borges, are installed, in the station vestibule two large murals show decisive battles in the history of Argentina and some showcases exhibit historical objects from Buenos Aires museums.

After losing many passengers during the 1980's, the Subte was privatised and is now operated by Metrovías which immediately started refurbishing stations and buying new rolling stock to replace older trains, some of which have been running since the Subte opened. Currently an extension of Line B to Los Incas is under construction and due to open in March 2002.

The total network is 40.5 km and totally underground. Apart from the Subte there is a 7.4 km light rail line (called Premetro and opened in 1987) which serves the southwestern part of the city from Line E's terminus at Plaza de Los Virreyes.

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