View source for Transport in Chile

{{Short description|none}}
[[Image:Carreteras Duplas de Chile 2024.jpg|thumb|right|[[Dual carriageway]] highways in Chile, in red]]
'''Transport in Chile''' is mostly by road. The far south of the country is not directly connected to central [[Chile]] by road without travelling through [[Argentina]], and water transport also plays a part there.  The railways were historically important in Chile, but now play a relatively small part in the country's transport system.  Because of the country's geography and long distances between major cities, aviation is also important.

== Road transport ==
=== Highways ===
''Total:'' 85,983&nbsp;km <br/>
''Paved:'' 21,289&nbsp;km <br/>
''Unpaved:'' 64,695&nbsp;km (2020 est.)<ref name="observator">[https://www.observatoriologistico.cl/infraestructura/red-vial/?id=5d719224d2c6f20029110412 Red Vial de Chile]</ref>
*[[Chile Highway 5]]
*[[Chile Highway 7]]
*[[Route 9-CH|Chile Highway 9]]
*[[Chile Highway 68]]
*[[Route 181-CH|Chile Highway 181]]

=== Freeways ===
3,347&nbsp;km (2020 est.)<<ref name="observator"/>

*[[Chile Freeway 6]]
*[[Chile Freeway 8]]
*[[Autopista del Sol (Chile)|Autopista del Sol]]
*[[Autopista del Itata]]

=== Buses ===
[[File:Transantiago bus articulado.jpg|thumb|right|Transantiago, Santiago's public bus system]]

Buses are now the main means of long-distance transportation in Chile, following the decline of the rail network.<ref>[http://www.omnilineas.cl/comparison/index.html Omnilineas website]</ref> The bus system covers the whole country, from [[Arica, Chile|Arica]] to [[Santiago]] (a 30-hour journey) and from Santiago to [[Punta Arenas]] (about 40 hours, with a change at [[Osorno, Chile|Osorno]]). There are also international services to most other countries in South America. Longer-distance services are mostly on ''semi-cama'' (reclining seat) or ''cama'' (sleeper) buses, often double deck.

[[Santiago]] began its public bus system [[Transantiago]] in 2007. [[Concepción, Chile|Concepción]]'s "[[Bio Bus]]" integrates with the electric train, [[Biotren]], and is based on a dedicated right of way for buses.

== Railways ==
[[File:Passenger_trains_in_Chile.png|thumb|{{center|Passenger trains in Chile}}]]
{{Main|Rail transport in Chile}}
*''Total:'' 6,782&nbsp;km
*''[[Broad-gauge railway|Broad gauge]]:'' 3,743&nbsp;km ''{{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}}'' ''[[Track gauge|gauge]]'' (1,653&nbsp;km electrified)
*''[[Narrow-gauge railway|Narrow gauge]]'': 116&nbsp;km ''{{track gauge|3ft6in|lk=on}} gauge''; 2,923&nbsp;km ''{{Track gauge|1000mm|allk=on|engvar=en-US}}'' (40&nbsp;km electrified) (1995)
*''{{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}'' 40&nbsp;km (from [[Arica, Chile|Arica]] to [[Tacna]], [[Peru]])

Not all lines connect.

Chile's railways (except for a few dedicated industrial lines<ref>{{cite news | title=Automation gets the most out of mining railway infrastructure | date=2006-04-01 | url =http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//automation-gets-the-most-out-of-mining-railway-infrastructure.html | work =[[Railway Gazette International]] | author=Thomas Salt}}</ref>) are operated by the state owned company ''[[Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado]]'' (EFE), which completed a major investment programme in 2005.<ref name=Kolodziejski>{{cite magazine | title=Record investment boosts EFE's passenger business | magazine=[[Railway Gazette International]] | date=2006-04-01 | author=John Kolodziejski | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//record-investment-boosts-efes-passenger-business.html | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531200615/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/record-investment-boosts-efes-passenger-business.html | archive-date=2012-05-31 }}</ref>

The rail system once served the entire country, running rail lines from Arica in the north to Puerto Montt in the south. Due partly to the nature of the terrain and evolution in transportation systems, rail travel has suffered greatly at the hands of bus and air competition. The train usually takes longer to reach a destination than a bus, and the comfort is comparable. Prices also tend to be uncompetitive. Rail freight transport has also suffered at the hands of the trucking industry and will continue to do so due to the immense leverage the truck driver's union can bring to bear if they were to feel threatened.

The [[Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia]] is a metre gauge railway in the north of the country. It was originally constructed in {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gauge.

The northern rail line out of [[Santiago]] is now disused past the intersection with the [[Valparaíso]] line. Until there, it is used nearly exclusively for freight. Although the rest of the northern line is still in place, it is in a state of serious disrepair.

The southern line runs as far as [[Puerto Montt]] and is electrified as far as the city of [[Temuco]], from where diesel locomotives are used. Due to lack of budget and care, the 389&nbsp;km Temuco to Puerto Montt section was abandoned in 1992 but after a $44m upgrade it has been back in use since 6 December 2005 with daily service between Victoria (north of Temuco) and Puerto Montt; today, however, only the service between Victoria and Temuco still operates.<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Passengers return to Puerto Montt | magazine = [[Railway Gazette International]] | date=2006-01-01 | url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//passengers-return-to-puerto-montt.html}}</ref>

Work to build/restore(?) the [[Trans-Andean Railways|South Trans-Andean Railway]] link between [[Zapala]], Argentina and [[Lonquimay]], Chile was underway in 2005.<ref>[[International Railway Journal|IRJ]] March 2005</ref> Possible [[break-of-gauge]]. Possible [[rack railway]].<ref>{{cite news | title=IIRSA | publisher=Initiative For Regional Infrastructure Integration In South America | date=2005-09-01 | url=http://www.iadb.org/biz/ppt/092305tuliod.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628071653/http://www.iadb.org/biz/ppt/092305tuliod.pdf | archive-date=2007-06-28 }}</ref>
Construction was undertaken by Patagonia Ferrocanal SA, formed and funded by the province.<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Work starts on trans-Andean link | magazine = [[Railway Gazette International]] | date=2005-02-01 |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//work-starts-on-trans-andean-link.html}}</ref> The first 7&nbsp;km was completed by January 2006.<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Finance | magazine = [[Railway Gazette International]] | date=2006-01-01 | url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//finance-22.html}}</ref> [[Commuter rail]] lines in Santiago are planned to connect to [[Melitrén|Melipilla]] and [[Santiago – Batuco commuter rail|Batuco]].

There have been repeated case studies regarding the installation of a high-speed line between the cities of Valparaíso and Santiago, some even considering maglev trains, but no serious action has ever been taken on the matter.

=== Rail links with adjacent countries ===
* [[Rail transport in Bolivia|Bolivia]] – yes – same gauge {{RailGauge|1000mm}} – from [[Arica, Chile|Arica]] to [[La Paz]], [[Bolivia]]
* [[Rail transport in Argentina|Argentina]] – [[Trans-Andean Railways#Central Trans-Andean|Central Trans-Andean Railway]] – abandoned 1984 – 100&nbsp;km of [[mountain railway]] of {{RailGauge|1000mm}} gauge with [[rack railway]] sections – [[break of gauge]] {{RailGauge|1676mm}}/{{RailGauge|1000mm}} at either end. Concession planned to re-open line.<ref name=Kolodziejski />
* [[Rail transport in Peru|Peru]] – yes – a single {{RailGauge|1435mm}} gauge connection between the northern Chilean city of [[Arica, Chile|Arica]] and [[Tacna]] in Southern Peru.

=== Cities with Metros ===
* [[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]] ([[Metro de Santiago de Chile|Metro de Santiago]]) [http://www.metrosantiago.cl/ website]
* [[Valparaíso]] ([[Valparaíso Metro]]) [http://www.merval.cl/ website]

== Ports and merchant marine ==
{{see also|Borde costero}}

=== Ports ===
{|
|-valign=top
|
* [[Antofagasta]]
* [[Arica, Chile|Arica]]
* [[Chañaral, Chile|Chañaral]]
* [[Coquimbo]]
* [[Corral, Chile|Corral]]
| width=40 |
|
* [[Iquique, Chile|Iquique]]
* [[Puerto Montt, Chile|Puerto Montt]]
* [[Punta Arenas, Chile|Punta Arenas]]
* [[San Antonio, Chile|San Antonio]]
| width=40 |
|
* [[San Vicente, Chile|San Vicente]]
* [[Talcahuano, Chile|Talcahuano]]
* [[Tocopilla, Chile|Tocopilla]]
* [[Valparaíso]]
|}

=== Merchant marine ===
''total:'' 45 ships ({{GT|1,000|disp=long}} or over) totaling {{GT|580,749}}/{{DWT|860,034|metric|disp=long}}
''[[ship]]s by type:'' (1999 est.)
{|
|-valign=top
|
* [[bulk carrier]]s 11
* [[cargo ship]]s 9
* [[chemical tanker]]s 8
* [[container ship]]s 2
* [[LNG carrier|gas carrying tankers]] 2
| width=40 |
|
* [[Passenger ship]]s 3
* [[petroleum tanker]] 4
* [[roll-on/roll-off]] 4
* [[Ferry|vehicle carrier]] 2
|}

== Aviation ==
=== Airports – with paved runways ===
{{main|List of airports in Chile}}
*''total:'' 62
*''over 3,047 m:'' 6
*''2,438 to 3,047 m:'' 6
*''1,524 to 2,437 m:'' 20
*''914 to 1,523 m:'' 20
*''under 914 m:'' 10 (1999 est.)

[[Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport]], located in [[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]], is Chile's largest aviation facility.

=== Airports – with unpaved runways ===
*''total:'' 310
*''over 3,047 m:'' 1
*''2,438 to 3,047 m:'' 4
*''1,524 to 2,437 m:'' 12
*''914 to 1,523 m:'' 68
*''under 914 m:'' 223 (1999 est.)

=== National airlines ===
*[[LATAM Chile]]
*[[Sky Airline]]
*[[JetSmart]]
*[[Latin American Wings]] (defunct)

==Bridges==
[[File:Chile_relief_map_1974.png|thumb|An enlargeable relief map of [[Chile]] with major roads and rail lines depicted]]

===Chacao Channel===
[[Chacao Channel bridge]] is a planned [[suspension bridge]] that was to link the island of [[Chiloé Island|Chiloé]] with mainland [[Chile]] crossing the [[Chacao Channel]]. It was one of the several projects that were planned to commemorate the Chile's bicentennial in 2010. If completed, it would have been the [[List of largest suspension bridges|largest suspension bridge]] in [[South America]]. Construction started in 2017 with completion expected in 2028.

== Pipelines ==
* [[crude oil]] 755&nbsp;km
* [[petroleum products]] 780&nbsp;km
* [[natural gas]] 320&nbsp;km{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

==Mountain passes==
* [[Cardenal Antonio Samoré Pass]], [[Los Lagos Region]], [[Route 215-CH]]
* [[Carirriñe Pass]], [[Los Ríos Region]]
* [[Chungara–Tambo Quemado]], [[Arica and Parinacota Region]]
* [[Paso de Jama]], [[Antofagasta Region]]
* [[Huahum Pass]], Los Ríos Region
* [[Icalma International Pass]], [[Araucanía Region]]
* [[Paso Internacional Los Libertadores]], [[Valparaíso Region]]
* [[Lilpela Pass]], Los Ríos Region
* [[Paso de Los Patos]], Valparaíso Region
* [[Mamuil Malal Pass]], [[Araucanía Region]]
* [[Pino Hachado Pass]], Araucanía Region
* [[San Francisco Pass]], [[Atacama Region]]
* [[Uspallata Pass]], Valparaíso Region

== See also ==
{{Portal|Chile}}
* [[Transantiago]]
* [[Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado]] (EFE)
* [[Rail transport by country]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{CIA World Factbook}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Transport in Chile}}
* [http://www.efe.cl/ Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado]

{{Americas topic|Transport in}}
{{Chile topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transport In Chile}}
[[Category:Transport in Chile| ]]