Tren Rápido

Tren Rápido (lit. rapid train) is the brand name for in Ventora. The system began operation in 1992 and presently operates at a maximum speed of 310 km/h. The network is 2739.3 km in length, as of 2020, all of which is double track. An additional 449.1 km is under construction with planning underway for another 3445 km. Consideration is also being given to possible additional routes. In 2019, a record 23,488,500 passengers traveled by high-speed rail.

The system is managed by the public-private High-Speed Rail Consortium (: Consortio de Trenes Rápidos, CTR) overseen by the High-Speed Rail Board (Junta de Trenes Rápidos). The board has representatives from the Public Works Commission and the concessionaires which own and operate the various segments of the system.

History
Discussions concerning a new high-speed rail network in Ventora began as early as the 1970s. Planning for the Plenas-Alsore line began in 1983, with construction initiated in 1987. The line began operation in 1992. Construction began in 1989 on segments from Sensutin as part of a plan to link Ascara to Plenas via Escalo. The route opened in 1997 and has seen steady increases in passengers even though the journey takes longer than flights between Ascara and Plenas. CTR attributes this to the convenience and generally lower fares for the high speed rail route.

The Lora to Yacula segment opened in 2001. In 2003, the line between Ascara and Prietas in the west opened. The next extensions, along the south coast, started running in 2008 and 2011. The route connected Alsore to Aguazarca and then on to Yacula.

Work began on the Central Corridor in 2014 and the line between Plenas and Villajane began service in 2016. Construction began almost immediately on the line from Villajane to Cerrillos, with trains running on the segment as of 2019.

Construction is underway on lines running east from Ascara, as part of the Belt Line Corridor, as well as the final segment around the Bay of Bastrop to finish connecting the major cities along the south coast. These routes should begin operations in late 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Routes
The network is largely separate from other passenger and freight rail lines and is built in the Ventoran standard gauge of. In some stations, high speed train sets use standard passenger track. The decision was taken for such an arrangement in some stations to avoid building additional station infrastructure, allow more flexible use of existing station facilities, or to bring high speed rail to a station that might not otherwise have received such service.

Corridors
High-speed rail in Ventora operates within four corridors with a fifth corridor under planning.

Lines in operation
High-speed rail service presently operates over five lines.

Lines under construction
Montaña Rapida began construction in 2018 on nearly 231 km of the line from Ascara to Tumavá toward Villajane as the second segment of the Belt Line corridor. Operational testing on this phase of the network should begin in mid 2023. Construction is also underway to finish the connections of the major south coast cities as well. TAV Sureste has the concession to build, operate, and maintain the 218.5 km line between Lora and Aja. The route around the Bay of Bastrop should be completed in 2024.

Lines in planning
Planning is complete and construction on the Belt Line segment east from Tumavá to connect with the Plenas-Villajane line is slated to begin in mid-2024. When complete, a more direct service between Ascara and Plenas will allow for travel times of 2:49, shaving almost 2 hours off the current routing through Escalo.

Additional route planning is underway and at various stages in all but the South Coast corridors. If all of the routes currently in planning are built, the high speed rail network will exceed 6630 km in route length.

Operation
The High-Speed Rail Board sets policy and standards for and oversees planning, operations, and management of high-speed rail service in Ventora. The Public Works Commission represents the public interest on the board, which also has representatives from each of the private concerns involved in the building, operating, and maintaining of their routes. Each of the private companies has applied for and been granted a concession for a segment of the high-speed rail system. The concessionaires are responsible to meet the standards set by the board and provide service according to policy. This public-private method minimizes public investment while ensuring the operating companies do not face undue competition in order to safeguard the companies' investments and income potential.

In order to ensure smooth operation across the network, the Operations Management Center (Centro de Gestión de Operaciones, CGO) in Plenas monitors and coordinates all train movements across the entire high-speed rail system. The consortium arrangement of the concessionaires and Public Works Commission ensures train movements between operating companies are seemless to passengers. Equipment costing agreements provide for reimbursements of expenses to owners when trainsets cross into another concessionaire's segment. Standardized equipment facilitate crew competencies across the system regardless of owner.

Service levels
As with standard passenger rail, Tren Rápido service offers first class, premium second class, and second class coaches. All trains include a buffet car while long distance trains include lounge and dining cars. Some T100 trainsets have a combined buffet/lounge car. Overnight trains feature cars with sleeping compartments in first class, lie-flat seating in premium second class, and extended reclining seats in standard second class.

Fares are generally competitive with equivalent classes for airline travel with the exception of some discount air carriers. Fares do not increase for overnight trains, despite increased amenities, due to lower demand. Tren Rápido also offers half-rate fares for persons aged 70 and older, disabled Ventorans and an accompanying caregiver, and children age 10 and younger. Group discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more traveling together. A system provides for discounted multi-ride fares for frequent users. Reservations may be made up to 60 days in advance of travel.

In 2019, Tren Rápido began a reduced fare program to compete with. Under the scheme, a certain percentage of tickets can be bought 30 or more days in advance at 25% below the standard second class price. Once sold out, a percentage of tickets is made available at 10% off second class fares if purchased more than 30 days before travel. The following year, the board introduced a 10% surcharge on fares bought on the day of travel. The measure was poorly marketed which made it unpopular and the media began calling it the "convenience tax". It was dropped within three months due to its disproportionate negative publicity.

Rolling stock
Trainsets in high-speed service include two power cars which draw power from at. There are currently three series of trainsets in operation. Operators plan to purchase 40 series trainsets, entering service beginning in 2025, to replace the aging  series. The new units will increase capacity and speed while simultaneously reducing maintenance and operating costs compared with the older vehicles.

Incidents

 * August 11, 2002, train 2112 struck a tree that had fallen on the Ascara-Escalo line after a windstorm. The driver suffered serious injuries and a dozen passengers reported minor injuries. Control car 1030, owned by Vía Oeste, was severely damaged and eventually written off.