people since last week and several blocks of queue

It’s Monday and Guadalupe is sitting in a lounge chair. She lives in Villa Fiorito and has five children. She shares her cell phone with her husband to pass the hours of waiting. She laughs and at the station they remember her from last year. As “it was chaos” This year she decided to be the first. Last Wednesday it was installed in Plaza constitution.

This Tuesday, November 21 at 6 in the morning, Trenes Argentinos will put long-distance tickets to Mar del Plata and Pinamar on sale; on November 24 to Córdoba, Tucumán and Rosario; and on November 25 to Bragado, Pehuajó, Junín, Justo Daract and Palmira to travel during December, January and February, the most sought-after dates.

Buying them online has a 10 percent discountbut last year the demand was so much that the page crashed and many were left without tickets for the high season. Tickets cost approximately 12 percent of the value published by the bus companies that leave Retiro.

That’s why they are so valued, especially for large families.

Guadalupe He will travel to Mar del Plata with his family. He already reserved a house. There are ten of them and, otherwise, they would not be able to access their vacations. “Without these tickets we would not be able to go. I am a worker, there are many of us, and in micro it would be impossible”he tells her Clarion. This Sunday his son turned 17 and “it is the second time he has celebrated in Constitución. Last year was the same, there was quite a mess, so That’s why I wanted to be the first this time.”he explained.

Most people waiting organized “guards” with several friendly or neighboring families. Others went alone and made friends in line, to talk, pass the hours and take care of the stalls.

“My sister-in-law came home from work on Friday and saw that there were already some people, so he told me and when I got off work, I came here. I stayed all weekend and tomorrow they open at 6. At 1 p.m. I start work, so I hope to arrive on time,” says María de los Angeles, who is from Lanús and will travel with her family. She is an employee of private homes. and there are a total of 14 in her family. While she stands guard, her relatives bring her food, water, and accompany her, especially at night.

He sleeps in a lounge chair, with a travel pillow and a blanket that he neatly put away when he woke up. He is looking for tickets to Mar del Plata but his final destination is Santa Clara del Mar.

“I go every year, I’ve been traveling by train for 15 years. I always bought online, but last year it was really complicated. I logged into the computer at 6 and was only able to get it at 14 and everyone was loose, separated. That’s why “I decided to come and stand in line in person.”account.

Next door, another couple sleeps on mattresses located right next to a cafe.

María de los Ángeles is 51 and drinks mate with her next-door neighbor, Claudia, who is also 51 and this is the first time she has traveled by train.

“There is a lot of difference, on the internet you put January 1st and the ticket costs 28 thousand pesos, one way. Here, taking Pullman, you spend 6,400 round trip. If I had to pay for the bus, I wouldn’t be able to take my grandchildren or my children. This year I went on vacation alone with my husband, I am a housewife and I collect a pension. This way “We can all go together, it’s nicer.”he tells Clarion. She is from Villa Dominico and also arrived in Constitución on Thursday.

According to the official website of Argentine Trains There are three ticket options: First, at $2,696; Pullman at $3,230 and an option with a cabin, which will have a frequency of once a week, at $9,430.

As soon as you enter the bus ticket purchase pages, companies offer values ​​ranging from $21,500 to $30,000, depending on the date and time, whether it is a bed, semi-bed or suite. In addition to service costs and, in some cases, insurance.

“This may be the last time we can go on vacation.”. With the result of the elections we are afraid of not being able to travel again. If they take away this possibility, we will not be able to go again, so “Yesterday after voting I came to stand in line without hesitation.”entrusts him to Clarion another woman, who is 60 years old and is from Avellaneda.

Her name is also Claudia and she wants to travel with her husband, her three children and a grandson to Pinamar. The woman was left on the outside of the Constitución Train Station, on the sidewalk, on Brasil Street, when they no longer allowed more people to settle indoors. She put her beach tent on the sidewalk and takes turns with her family so they can spend the night. She needs six tickets and she, she says she, They offered him money for his position.

According to what they counted, between the families who take turns and the first ones left on the sidewalk on Brasil Street, they have about 200 people ahead. Each one can get up to eight tickets, according to Trenes Argentinos on its official website.

Since Sunday the line has grown and already goes around General Hornos Street. Images of the lines began to spread on social networks and the campers multiplied.

The employees estimate that this Monday after noon there were 300 meter line and all who wait acknowledge that they were treated “with kindness and respect.” Also that they helped them charge cell phones and with hot water.

They even ordered the lines and took photos of the first to make sure there were no “infiltrators.”

To guarantee that those who bought the ticket actually travel, Trenes Argentinos established a reservation confirmation that must be made between 24 and 72 hours before the travel date. If they do not do so, that ticket is released and is offered again on the webventas.sofse.gob.ar page. And there arise new opportunities for those who did not succeed.

This measure was implemented last year, since in previous seasons it happened that tickets were sold out but the trains left with space.

Children from 3 to 12 years old pay 50 percent of the ticket price. And retirees have a 40 percent discount on all long distance services. People with disabilities and a companion travel for free by presenting their document and the Single Disability Certificate.

Since Monday, December 18, the service between Plaza Constitución and Mar del Plata begins to operate, which this year added a service with a cabin.

They will depart from Monday to Friday at 6:08 a.m., at 9:35 a.m., and from Monday to Thursday at 5:10 p.m. with a direct service. On Fridays, another direct service will leave at 1:51 p.m. and another with a cabin car at 5:10 p.m.

On Saturdays it will depart at 6, 9.27 and 17.12. On Sundays and holidays it will leave 6:05, 9:41 and 17:23.

In the opposite direction, from Mar del Plata to Buenos Aires, there will be trains from Monday to Friday at 9:59, 14:12, and 16:31. On Mondays or after holidays, a direct service with a cabin car will leave at 1:22. On Saturdays it will depart at 9:54, 1409 and 16:39. Sundays at 9:58 a.m., 2:13 p.m. and 4:51 p.m.