The delivery of the first trainset for Metro de Bogotá marks a historic milestone in the history of the Colombian capital. For decades, the construction of a subway was an unfulfilled promise and a symbol of the challenges in urban planning, politics, and infrastructure. Now, however, the first train from Chinese manufacturer CRRC has arrived in Bogotá – a visible sign that the project is becoming a reality. Meanwhile, construction on the line, which will run predominantly as an elevated railway, is progressing more or less on schedule as laid down in the updated project plan.
The first train has already travelled a long way: the carriages were first manufactured in Changchun, China, then shipped to Colombia and finally transported overland to Bogotá. Upon arrival at its destination, the metro train was unloaded amid great public interest, accompanied by representatives of the city, the construction consortium and numerous media outlets. For many, it was a moment of joy and a sign of hope for better mobility.
The first metro line is part of the future Bogotá Metro network, set to run from the southwest of the city into the center. Over a distance of more than 20 kilometers, modern, electrically powered trains are expected to transport hundreds of thousands of passengers every day. This is intended not only to ease Bogotá’s chronic traffic congestion but also to contribute to climate improvement.
The trains on Line 1 of the Bogotá Metro are 135 metres long, 2.90 metres wide (minimum) and 3.90 metres high. Each train consists of six carriages, four of which are motorised and two of which are non-motorised. They have a capacity to carry 1,800 passengers and an average commercial speed of 42.5 km/hour. They will initially operate at 140-second intervals.
The delivery of the first train marks the beginning of an intensive testing phase in the near future: safety, technology, and adaptation to local conditions must all be verified before the metro can begin regular operations. The opening of the first section is planned for March 2028.
In short: with the arrival of the first metro train, Bogotá is one crucial step closer to fulfilling a decades-old dream. It stands as a symbol of modernization, progress, and hope for a more livable and better-connected capital. At the same time, the public transport network will continue to be expanded through the extension of the well-known TransMilenio bus system according to the BRT standard, as well as through the construction of two initial light rail lines with suburban characteristics, making use of the existing railway infrastructure.
We previously reported on the progress of these expansions here:
https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/after-77-years-of-planning-bogota-colombia-will-eventually-get-a-metro/
and here:
https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/bogota-transmilenio-and-the-light-rail-projects/
