(recast with corrections in lead) Chinese trains highlight Argentina transport renovation: Argentine minister

The Chinese trains used on a line in the southern outskirts of the capital city have highlighted renovation and modernization of services, the Argentine transport minister said on Friday.

The Constitucion-Claypole line, with 300 brand-new trains from China, has doubled capacity and improved frequency, Florencio Randazzo said in a press release.

"We have renovated the complete fleet on the line," Randazzo said about adding new trains to the Roca Line, which includes the Constitucion-Claypole line.

"In the past, the biggest problem was that during the rush hour, passengers arriving at Temperley station in the old electric trains have to change to diesel-powered trains. Now, with this change, passengers can travel the whole journey in only one train and they don't need to make transfers anymore," he added.

"The passengers are very satisfied with the service and more people opt for trains. The transporting capacity rose from 142,000 passengers in July to 431,000 passengers in October," the minister said.

Randazzo said that to start using the 300 new trains is part of an unprecedented railway renewal that "we have promoted over the last four years." Endi