Buenos Aires al Pacífico S.A.


Buenos Aires al Pacífico S. A. was an Argentine company that exploited the operation and infrastructure of the San Martín Railway freight rail transport system.
BAP operated of cargo in the provinces of Buenos Aires, San Juan, San Luis and Mendoza.
The San Martín Railway freight service is currently operated by Belgrano Cargas y Logística after the Government of Argentina rescinded the contract signed with América Latina Logística in 2013.

History

As part of the railway privatisation carried out during the presidency of Carlos Menem, BAP was granted a concession to operate the San Martín freight railway services that had been managed by defunct Ferrocarriles Argentinos since 1949. The company was part of the consortium "Industrias Metarlúgicas Pescamona" that had been also granted the Urquiza Railway system to be operated by sister company "Ferrocarril Mesopotámico-Urquiza".
During its first years of operation the company carried of cargo. Nevertheless, in 1998, Industrias Metarlúgicas Pescamona, owner of BAP and Ferrocarril Mesopotámico, announced that they would retire from the rail transport, selling the 73,5% of BAP and the 70,5% of FM to Brazilian company Ferrovía Sul Atlántico. Nevertheless, the Government of Argentina, owner of the entire railway network granted in concession, did not allow the operation due to the failure of IMPSA to comply with the terms and conditions of the contract of concession, with unpaid charges for over A$ 130 million.
In 2000, the operation of San Martín Railway line was taken over by "ALL Central", a subdivision of Brazilian company América Latina Logística.