Quito Metro Line 1
First metro line of Quito, Ecuador
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Line 1 of the Quito Metro is the first metro line of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. It connects the southern terminal at Quitumbe with the northern station at El Labrador, spanning 22.6 km entirely underground. It has 15 stations and is the backbone of the city's rapid transit system.[1]
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
 La Carolina station on Line 1 | |
| Overview | |
| Native name | Línea 1 |
| Status | Operating |
| Owner | Municipality of Quito |
| Locale | Quito, Ecuador |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 15 |
| Website | metrodequito |
| Service | |
| Type | Rapid transit |
| System | Quito Metro |
| Operator(s) | Empresa Pública Metropolitana Metro de Quito |
| Rolling stock | CAF EMUs |
| Daily ridership | 350,000 (projected) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1 December 2023 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 22.6 km (14.0 mi) |
| Number of tracks | 2 |
| Character | Underground |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Electrification | Overhead catenary |
Overview
Line 1 is part of Quito's long-term effort to improve public transportation and reduce traffic congestion. It integrates with other systems such as the Ecovía and Trolebús, and is operated by the municipal company Empresa Pública Metropolitana Metro de Quito.
History
Planning began in the late 2000s as part of a mobility master plan for the city. Construction started in 2013 and included tunnel boring and excavation through the historic center. Although the tunnels were completed by 2019, full commercial operations only began on December 1, 2023.[1]
The project was financed with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB),[2] the World Bank,[3] the European Investment Bank, and CAF.
Stations
The following is a list of the 15 stations on Line 1:
| Station | Neighborhood | Connections |
|---|---|---|
| Quitumbe | Quitumbe | Southern intercity bus terminal |
| Morán Valverde | Chillogallo | Urban buses |
| Solanda | Solanda | Feeder bus lines |
| Cardenal de la Torre | Chimbacalle | Trolleybus |
| El Recreo | La Magdalena | Ecovía |
| La Magdalena | La Magdalena | Local buses |
| San Francisco | Historic Center | Tourist zone |
| La Alameda | Itchimbía | Trolleybus |
| El Ejido | Mariscal | Trolleybus, universities |
| Universidad Central | Universidad | Central University of Ecuador |
| Pradera | Iñaquito | Business and hotel district |
| La Carolina | Iñaquito | Carolina Park, shopping centers |
| Iñaquito | Iñaquito | Public offices |
| Jipijapa | Jipijapa | Local buses |
| El Labrador | El Labrador | Planned intermodal terminal |
Rolling stock
Line 1 operates 18 trains manufactured by CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles). Each train has six cars and can carry up to 1,500 passengers. The trains are equipped with air conditioning, CCTV, and accessibility features.
Operations
Service runs approximately every 5 to 10 minutes. The full journey from Quitumbe to El Labrador takes about 34 minutes. The system uses a contactless fare card integrated with the city’s bus networks.