Kronika: Mendoza

Beginning in September 2023, the trolleybus overhead lines are being dismantled. Thus, the Mendoza trolleybus system is finally closed.

The first three of 39 Siemens SD100 light rail vehicles have arrived in Mendoza. They were donated by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and are to serve future line extensions from Godoy Cruz to Luján and from Las Heras to the Airport.

Operation of the last remaining trolleybus Line 130 has ceased in mid-February 2021. The last operable vehicles were Materfer Aguila 01 and 07.

12 BYD K9 and 6 Zhongtong LCK6122EVG5 electric buses were presented to the public. This is the first electric bus fleet in Argentina.

5.4 km extension of the Metrotranvia to Avellaneda station has been inaugurated. The new line has 9 stations, which are served on a 10-minute interval. Further extension to the airport is planned.

Following a transportation scheme redesign in the city, trolleybus service has been resumed on the former route 1, now renumbered to 130. It was announced that no other trolleybus routes will be returned to operation. 9 Materfer trolleybuses were refurbished for service on route 130. The trolleybuses have been renumbered 01-09 (formerly 405,402-404,407,406,411,408,409). Trolleybus 09 (409) sustained motor failure and is sidelined.

The Mendoza State Governor Alfredo Cornejo proposed closing the trolleybus system and removing about 180 km of trolleybus overhead in favor of hybrid and electric buses, which will be pruchased by the national government. The new public corporation under state control will replace the current EPTM (Empresa Provincial de Transporte de Mendoza) trolleybus carrier. It will employ 200 out of EPTM's current staff of 480. The light rail Metrotranvia line will continue to be operated by the STM (Servico Transporte Mendoza).

Currently four trolleybus services remain in operation: 1 Parque (operated with 7 units), 3 Dorrego (4 units), 4 Pellegrini (7 units) and 6 UNC (3 units). The services 2 Villanueva and the longest route 5 Godoy Cruz — Las Heras are operated with 23 diesel buses (13 EPTM buses and 10 rented buses) due to roadworks and trolleybus rolling stock shortages. There are currently about 25 ex-Vancouver Flyer E901 trolleybuses (only about 13 operable) and 13 locally built new Materfer Águila trolleybuses (9 operable) on the property.

The offer by the Russian TrolZa trolleybus manufacturer to purchase 20 to 60 Optima trolleybuses at $210.000/unit (delivery included) with the low 3,5% interest rate 7-year loan from Roseximbank was rejected.

The new light rail has started regular passenger operation following a lengthy trial period. Trams operate from 06:00 until 22:00 on a 20-minute interval. The line is 12.5 km long and has 15 stations.