Quito Metro
{{Short description|Rapid transit system in Quito, Ecuador}}
{{Expand Spanish|Metro de Quito|date=November 2013|topic=transport}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox public transit
| name = Quito Metro
| image = Metro de Quito logo 2023.png
| imagesize = 200px
| image2 = MDQ Tren Estación Universidad Central 01-12-2023.jpg
| imagesize2 = 250px
| caption2 = Train arriving at Universidad Central station
| native_name = Metro de Quito
| owner =
| locale = Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| transit_type = Rapid transit
| lines = 1
| stations = 15
| ridership =
| annual_ridership =
| website = {{url|www.metrodequito.gob.ec|Metro de Quito}} {{in lang|es}}
| began_operation =1 December 2023
| operator =
| vehicles = 18 CAF MQ117 EMUs{{cite web |url=https://www.railjournal.com/rolling-stock/first-quito-metro-train-delivered/ |date=September 6, 2018 |title=First Quito metro train delivered |access-date=November 17, 2018}}
| average_speed = {{convert|37|km/h|}}
| system_length = {{convert|22|km|mi|abbr=on}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.eluniverso.com/2011/06/22/1/1447/linea-metro-quito-sera-subterranea.html|title = La línea del metro de Quito será subterránea|date = 22 June 2011}}
| track_gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| el = {{1,500 V DC}} from overhead catenary
| map = {{switcher
|Show map
|{{Quito Metro}}
|Show route diagram
}}
| map_state =
}}
The Quito Metro ({{langx|es|Metro de Quito}}), abbreviated as MDQ, is a rapid transit system consisting of a single line in Quito, the capital of Ecuador.
History
Construction on the main south and north stations began in December 2012. Construction of the metro line itself began in January 2016.{{cite web | last = Osava | first = Mario | title = Subway Will Modernise – and Further Gentrify – Historic Centre of Quito | publisher = Inter Press Service | date = 30 November 2016 | url = http://www.ipsnews.net/2016/11/subway-will-modernise-and-further-gentrify-historical-centre-of-quito/ | access-date = 20 December 2016}} The metro was projected to be operational by August 2020,{{Cite news |date=6 August 2019 |url=https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/tarifa-metro-quito-pasaje-operadora.html|title=La tarifa es el talón de Aquiles del Metro de Quito |newspaper=El Comercio |language=es |access-date=31 May 2023}} but the opening was delayed numerous times.
The official inauguration was held on 21 December 2022,{{Cite web |url=https://www.laprensalatina.com/phased-opening-of-quito-metro-kicks-off-in-ecuador/ | title=Phased opening of Quito Metro kicks off in Ecuador | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121005350/https://www.laprensalatina.com/phased-opening-of-quito-metro-kicks-off-in-ecuador/ | archive-date=2023-01-21}} and commercial service started with some tests with passengers on 2 May 2023.{{cite web |last1=Schwandl |first1=Robert |title=Quito |url=https://www.urbanrail.net/am/quito/quito.htm |publisher=urbanrail}} After technical problems plagued the launch, service was shut down on 11 May.{{Cite news |date=11 May 2023 |url=https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/quito/razones-metro-quito-suspendio-actividades.html |title=Estas son las razones por las que el Metro de Quito suspendió actividades |newspaper=El Comercio |language=es |access-date=31 May 2023}} Later that year, the Quito metro initiated its commercial operations on 1 December 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.primicias.ec/noticias/quito/metro-inauguracion-tickets-estaciones-recorrido/|title=Así fue el primer día de operación comercial del Metro de Quito|date=December 2023 |publisher=Primicias |language=es |trans-title=This was the first day of commercial operations of Quito Metro |access-date=2023-12-01}}
System
The system's first line, which includes 15 stations, extends from Quitumbe in the south of the city to El Labrador in the north of the city. The 15 stations on this line are, from north to south:{{cite web |url=http://www.metrodequito.gob.ec/metro.php?c=1293 |title=El Proyecto - Introducción |publisher=Metro de Quito |language=es |trans-title=The Project - Introduction |access-date=2015-03-31 |archive-date=2015-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321143949/http://www.metrodequito.gob.ec/metro.php?c=1293 |url-status=dead }}
- El Labrador
- Jipijapa
- Iñaquito
- La Carolina
- Pradera
- Universidad Central
- El Ejido
- La Alameda
- San Francisco
- La Magdalena
- El Recreo
- Cardenal de la Torre
- Solanda
- Morán Valverde
- Quitumbe
The station at Plaza de San Francisco (by the San Francisco monastery), is the only station placed in the historic center of Quito (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978). Due to archaeological remains found at the proposed site of the San Francisco station in late 2016, the station was moved two blocks further south to the Plaza 24th of May, and the remains will not be disturbed further.
Every station is painted in a distinct color to help with passenger orientation.{{cite news |title=La ciudad recibe las estaciones Jipijapa e Iñaquito del Metro de Quito |url=https://metrodequito.gob.ec/2021/05/03/recepcion-estaciones-jipijapa-e-inaquito/ |work=Quito Metro |date=3 May 2021 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |access-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326004139/https://metrodequito.gob.ec/2021/05/03/recepcion-estaciones-jipijapa-e-inaquito/ |url-status=dead }}
The design of Line 1 allows for five infill stations to be built if demand warrants, and for a potential 5 km extension northwards to the Ofelia bus terminal.
File:Construction, Metro de Quito, Parque La Carolina, Ecuador (pic.b)1.jpg
File:Construction, Metro de Quito, Parque La Carolina, Ecuador (pic.b).jpg
File:(Metro de Quito) side of work truck,.jpg
File:Quito Metro, June 2016, Plaza de San Francisco, pic a1 Centro Histórico de Quito.jpg
File:Quito Metro, June 2016, Plaza de San Francisco, pic a3 Centro Histórico de Quito.jpg
File:Quito Metro, June 2016, Plaza de San Francisco, pic a4 Centro Histórico de Quito.jpg
Network map
{{Rapid transit OSM map
| system_qid = Q3333791
| frame-lat = -0.22
| frame-long = -78.53
| frame-width = 540
| frame-height = 540
| zoom = 12
| length = yes
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commonscat|Metro de Quito}}
- {{Official website|http://www.metrodequito.gob.ec|Metro de Quito – official website}} {{in lang|es}}
- [http://www.urbanrail.net/am/quito/quito.htm Quito on UrbanRail.net]
2023 establishments in Ecuador
{{Rapid transit in Latin America}}