Central Station (Santiago)

This article is about the Santiago railway station. For other uses, see Alameda (disambiguation).

Central Station (Spanish: Estación Central), also known as Alameda station, is a major railway station in Santiago, Chile. It serves the south of the country and is the city's primary railway hub. After the closure of Mapocho, it became the only major railway station in Santiago. It is on the Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, facing Matucana avenue.

Central Station
Terminal
The station photographed in 2012.
General information
Location	Avenida Bernardo O'Higgins 3170, Estación Central, Santiago, Chile
Coordinates	33°27′07″S 70°40′44″W
Owned by	Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado
Line(s)	Red Sur EFE, Ramal Cartagena
Tracks	8
History
Opened	1885
Rebuilt	1897
Services
Preceding station Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado Following station Terminus TerraSur San Bernardo towards Chillán Santiago-San Fernando San Bernardo towards San Fernando Santiago-Rancagua Pedro Aguirre Cerda towards Rancagua Santiago-Nos Pedro Aguirre Cerda towards Nos Alameda-Temuco Curicó Daytime towards Temuco Rancagua Nighttime towards Temuco Santiago-Concepción San Rosendo towards Concepción
Former services Preceding station Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado Following station Terminus Expreso Maule 2012-2015 Graneros towards Linares
Future services Preceding station Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado Following station Estación Central 2 towards Melipilla Melitrén Terminus
Location

Overview

The station opened in 1885, with the building designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1897 and its metallic structure built by the French firm Schneider of Le Creusot. In 1983, it was declared a National Monument by the Chilean government,^[1] protecting it by law from demolition or remodeling. It has long been a reference point for travellers and locals; becoming so well known that it gave the name to the municipality and commune where it is located, Estación Central.

In recent years, the station has undergone a revival as the government-owned railway Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado has been modernized to restore the bygone appeal for train travel. These efforts have been met with moderate success.

On 24 May 2021, EFE officially renamed the station from "Alameda" to "Central Station".^[2]

The station is a key transportation hub, with the underground Santiago Metro Line 1 Estación Central metro station located at its central gates. Three intercity bus terminals are also within walking distance, and numerous local bus lines serve the station. A medium-sized shopping center is adjacent to the station, and the nearby San Borja Bus Terminal is also within walking distance, connected by an additional complex of shopping centers.

Lines and trains

The following lines and trains terminate here:

• EFE Central
  • TerraSur inter-city service (Alameda - Chillán)
  • Tren Alameda - Nos commuter service (Alameda - Nos)
  • Tren Estación Central - Rancagua commuter/regional service (Alameda - Rancagua)
  • Tren Estación Central - San Fernando (Pilot of extension of Tren Estación Central - Rancagua)
• Touristic Trains
  • Tren del Recuerdo (Estación Central-San Antonio, Chile)
  • Tren Del Recuerdo (Estación Central - Limache)
  • Tren Sabores Del Valle
• Occasional Services
  • Tren nocturno Santiago-Concepción inter-city service (Alameda - Concepción)
  • TerraSur Temuco inter-city service (Alameda - Temuco)

Nearby Landmarks

• University of Santiago
• San Borja Bus Terminal
• Estación Central metro station
• Mall Plaza Alameda (shopping center)
  • Falabella, Ripley, La Polar & Johnsons retail stores.
• Paseo Arauco Estación (shopping center)
  • Almacenes París and Fashion's Park retail stores, Sodimac (warehouse store).
• Cinemundo, a 6 screens Movie theater.
• Planetarium "Universidad de Santiago".

Adjacent stations

←		Service		→
Estación Pedro Aguirre Cerda		Red Sur EFE		Terminus
Estación Maipú		Ramal Cartagena (Cargo)		Terminus

Gallery

• 
  The station in 1897
• 
  Main hall
• 
  Night view
• 
  Platforms
• 
  External view