Italtinas

Italtinas refers to a series of Argentine ULAC ( Unidad Locomotora de Accentos Automaticos Clásicos) trains built by the Italian company Fiat Ferroviaria. These trains were designed for both passenger and cargo transport on Argentina's rail network. The first Italtinas trains began operating in the early 1960s, and were later joined by other generations of the train series.

Italtinas were notable for their reliability and efficiency. The train series was built to operate over a range of gauges and conditions, with adaptations for various Argentine rail networks. This enabled Italtinas to cater to different passenger and cargo needs. While primarily designed for bulk cargo and intercity passenger transport, Italtinas trains also underwent transformations to serve in other roles, such as the movement of gravel and coal, and even tourism services.

One of the tragedies involving Italtinas took place in 2012, where a train of this type derailed, resulting in the loss of several lives. This incident brought scrutiny to the Argentine rail system and regulations surrounding the safe operation and maintenance of the Italtinas trains.

The Argentine government eventually took steps to improve rail safety. They mandated that the country's rail fleet be brought up to modern, international safety standards, leading to the gradual replacement of older train stock, including Italtinas. Today, the remaining trains in service are being slowly phased out in favor of newer, more modern railway vehicles that implement current safety and accessibility regulations.