Los Teques Metro

Los Teques Metro

Los Teques Metro at Las Adjuntas station.
Overview
Locale	Los Teques, Miranda, Venezuela
Transit type	Rapid transit
Number of lines	1
Number of stations	2
Daily ridership	20,000 (approx. daily average)[1]
Operation
Began operation	November 3, 2006[1]
Operator(s)	Metro de Caracas
Technical
System length	9.5 km (5.9 mi)[1]
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (standard gauge)
System map Current and future lines of Los Teques Metro system.

The Los Teques Metro is a suburban mass-transit system that is being built in the city of Los Teques, Venezuela with connections to important surrounding cities and communities. It was opened to public service on November 3, 2006.^[1] The Los Teques Metro currently operates as one line connecting 2 stations; however, additional stations are now under construction.

The system connects the city of Los Teques with the capital of Caracas. The Los Teques Metro is operated by Metro de Caracas – as such, it is effectively a subsidiary/extension of the Caracas Metro, and is widely viewed as part of that system.^[2] It is ascribed to the Venezuelan government and the Ministry of Infrastructure. The government of Miranda State and the mayorship of the Guaicaipuro Municipality are also financing its development.

The currently operating line runs for 9.5 kilometers (5.9 mi),^[1] parallel to the San Pedro River, establishing a link between Las Adjuntas station 900 metres above sea level to the Alí Primera (formerly El Tambor) station 1300 metres above sea level in Los Teques, with a fifteen minutes travel calculated in between, and no intermediate stops.

History

The subway plans date back to 1982, when it was first proposed. However, it wouldn't be until October 19, 1998 when the Metro de Los Teques transit corporation was created (now defunct) in order to carry out management, administrative duties and civil works related to the project. It was supposed to alleviate the congestion of the Panamerican Highway and ease commuting between the two cities, because of their proximity. The operation was subsequently taken over by Metro de Caracas and plans were extended to include expansion to San Antonio and a 3rd line to connect to 2nd point in Caracas.

Construction for the first phase began in 2001 with works including the cannalization of the San Pedro River, the tunnelling and building of the bridges until reaching Las Adjuntas. It is estimated that the project cost was about 800 million US dollars.

The metro system began with restricted operations:

• 1 railway through a single tunnel;
• 1 or 2 trains;
• Monday to Friday service between 5:15 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and later from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.;
• limited weekend service,

on November 3, 2006.

Operations

The second rail within the same tunnel was formally inaugurated October 22, 2007. Trial and testing period continued with additional trains and full 7 day service from 5:10 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. implemented on November 19, 2007.

The 9.5-kilometer (5.9 mi)^[1] ride between Las Adjuntas and Alí Primera as of January 2, 2007 is 1,500 bolívares (1.5 bolívares fuertes, 75 US cents) for a one way ride and the price includes a subway ride within the Caracas Metro network.

Future plans

Construction of the extension formally started March 20, 2007. This extension known as Line 2 to the system will be 12 km (7.5 mi) with 3 new stations within the city, 2 in nearby communities and finally terminating in San Antonio de Los Altos with the central Los Teques stations opening in 2010 and 100% completion is expected by 2015.

Line 2 adds six stations that are currently under construction are:

• La Hoyada, Guaicaipuro, opened on 11 December 2012
• Independencia, Miranda, inauguration in 2013
• Los Cerritos, inauguration in 2014
• Carrizal, inauguration in 2014
• Las Minas, inauguration in 2015
• San Antonio, inauguration in 2015

Line 3 has been proposed 18.5 km (11.5 mi) to be awarded by 2010 and completed by 2015. It will commence from San Antonio and connect some communities before looping towards the La Rinconada Caracas Metro Station.^[3]

• La Morita
• San Diego
• Potrerito
• La Mariposa
• La Rinconada

Timeline of line extensions

See also

• Caracas Metro
• Maracaibo Metro
• Valencia Metro
• List of rapid transit systems
• Transportation in Venezuela
• IAFE Venezuelan National Railway

References

External links

• Metro Los Teques - Official website (Spanish)