troncales

Troncales is the plural form of troncal, a term used in Spanish to denote main or trunk lines that form the backbone of a network. The word derives from tronco, meaning trunk, and is applied across different sectors to identify primary routes or conduits that carry large volumes of traffic, energy, or water before distributing to secondary lines.

In public transportation, las troncal lines are the principal arteries of a system. They typically offer high capacity, higher frequency, and priority services, often with segregated rights-of-way or express segments. Feeder or alimentadora routes connect neighborhoods to these troncal lines, creating an integrated network. The designation helps planners emphasize the backbone of service and guides investments in infrastructure, rolling stock, and scheduling. A well-known example is the use of the term in some Latin American cities to describe BRT corridors or metro backbone lines.

In utilities, troncal lines refer to trunk or high-capacity conduits that carry energy, water, or other resources from generation or treatment facilities toward local distribution networks. In electricity, líneas troncales are high-voltage transmission or major feeder lines that connect substations and feed downstream networks. In water systems, trunk mains transmit large water quantities to distribution zones before local networks branch out.

Usage of troncal can vary by country and sector, and in some contexts the terms “línea troncal,” “eje troncal,” or “línea principal” may be used interchangeably. The concept shared across applications is that troncal elements serve as the central, high-capacity infrastructure supporting a broader network.