Quito opens its metro to passengers

In the capital of Ecuador, revenue passenger service on the 22.6km standard-gauge north–south metro line 1 between El Labrador and Quitumbe finally started on 2 May after trial service since 21 December 2022, though initially service was only at peak periods, 07.00-10.00 and 16.40-19.30 and only six of the 15 stations were open.  

 

The fare is USD 0.45 (the Ecuadorian currency is the US dollar). Construction started in late 2012 and was supposed to be complete by 2016. Originally costed at USD 1.5bn the project eventually cost USD 2.09bn, with a loan of EUR 200M from the European Investment Bank. Advice came from the Madrid metro and construction was in the hands of Spanish company Acciona Infrastructure.  

 

CAF has supplied 18 six-car trains, delivered in 2018-2019. Operation is in the hands of a consortium formed by Metro Medellín and Transdev.  

 

Quito is located in the Andes mountains almost 3000m above sea level and has a population of 2.8 million, with public transport featuring a bus rapid transit system.