SafekipediaMexico City Metro
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
The Mexico City Metro is a rapid transit system that serves the big city of Mexico City and some nearby areas. It is run by something called the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo, or STC. It is the second largest metro system in North America, just a bit smaller than the New York City Subway.
The very first line of the Metro opened to the public on September 4, 1969. It was about 12.7 kilometres long and had 16 stations. Since then, the Metro has grown a lot. By 2015, it had 12 lines, 195 stations, and more than 226 kilometres of tracks. Ten of the lines use a special kind of train that runs on rubber tires instead of steel wheels. This makes the rides quieter and smoother, especially on Mexico City's uneven ground.
The Metro has many stations where you can switch from one line to another. Some stations are named after important people, places, or events in Mexico's history. Most of the stations are underground, but there are also some above ground and on bridges. All the lines run from early morning until midnight. The most recent line, Line 12, opened in 2012 and stretches about 26 kilometres toward the southeast part of the city.
History
Mexico City had big problems with traffic and crowded roads in the middle of the last century. To help with this, a plan was made to build a subway system called the Mexico City Metro.
The first part of the Metro opened on September 4, 1969, between Zaragoza and Insurgentes stations. It was just over 12 kilometers long and had 16 stations. More lines were added over the years, and by 1972, there were three lines with 48 stations and 41 kilometers of tracks.
During building, workers found old ruins, including parts of pyramids, statues, and even bones from ancient animals. The Metro helped make travel easier, especially during a big earthquake in 1985, when roads were hard to use but the Metro stayed safe.
Lines, stations, names, colors, and logos
All metro lines in Mexico City stop at every station along their route. Each line has a number or letter and a special color. These colors and numbers stay the same and appear on signs at stations, maps, and street signs. One line, Line B, uses two colors: green on top and gray on the bottom, making its signs and logos stand out.
Many station names come from important moments and people in Mexican history. For example, some stations remember the Mexican Revolution, like Pino Suárez, named after a leader who was killed in 1913. Other stations honor heroes and events from that time.
Each station has a simple logo designed to help people find their way easily. These logos often show something related to the station's name or location, like a fountain for Salto del Agua. The logo colors match the line's color, making it easier for everyone to navigate the metro, even if they cannot read well. This helpful system has been used since the metro began.
Under construction:
| Line | Northern/Western terminal | Southern/Eastern terminal | Total stations | Color | Passenger track | Inauguration | Ridership (2023) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Line 1 | Observatorio (W) | Pantitlán (E) | 20 | Pink | 16.65 kilometres (10.35 mi) | 4 September 1969 | 63,327,549 |
 | Line 2 | Cuatro Caminos (N) | Tasqueña (S) | 24 | Blue | 20.71 kilometres (12.87 mi) | 1 August 1970 | 198,819,914 |
 | Line 3 | Indios Verdes (N) | Universidad (S) | 21 | Olive green | 21.28 kilometres (13.22 mi) | 20 November 1970 | 172,282,915 |
 | Line 4 | Martín Carrera (N) | Santa Anita (S) | 10 | Cyan | 9.36 kilometres (5.82 mi) | 29 August 1981 | 26,518,485 |
 | Line 5 | Politécnico (N) | Pantitlán (S) | 13 | Yellow | 14.44 kilometres (8.97 mi) | 19 December 1981 | 59,894,845 |
 | Line 6 | El Rosario (W) | Martín Carrera (E) | 11 | Red | 11.43 kilometres (7.10 mi) | 21 December 1983 | 39,983,224 |
 | Line 7 | El Rosario (N) | Barranca del Muerto (S) | 14 | Orange | 17.01 kilometres (10.57 mi) | 20 December 1984 | 78,835,951 |
 | Line 8 | Garibaldi / Lagunilla (N) | Constitución de 1917 (S) | 19 | Green | 17.68 kilometres (10.99 mi) | 20 July 1994 | 128,239,286 |
 | Line 9 | Tacubaya (W) | Pantitlán (E) | 12 | Brown | 13.03 kilometres (8.10 mi) | 26 August 1987 | 95,820,436 |
 | Line A | Pantitlán (W) | La Paz (E) | 10 | Purple | 14.89 kilometres (9.25 mi) | 12 August 1991 | 75,722,373 |
 | Line B | Ciudad Azteca (N) | Buenavista (S) | 21 | Green and gray | 20.28 kilometres (12.60 mi) | 15 December 1999 | 129,696,783 |
 | Line 12 | Mixcoac (W) | Tláhuac (E) | 20 | Gold | 24.11 kilometres (14.98 mi) | 30 October 2012 | 46,018,262 |
| Line | Northern/Western terminal | Southern/Eastern terminal | Total stations | Passenger track | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line 12 western extension | Observatorio (W) | Mixcoac (E) | 3 | 4.2 kilometres (2.6 mi) |
Transfers to other systems
The Mexico City Metro connects to four other big transit systems. These include the Mexico City Metrobús and State of Mexico Mexibús bus rapid transit systems, the Mexico City light rail system, and the Ferrocarril Suburbano (FSZMVM) commuter rail. You need to pay an extra fare to use these systems, as they are not part of the Metro network.
Metrobús line 1 started in 2005. It follows a path that was once planned for a Metro line that was never built. You can switch between Metrobús and the Metro using the same smart card, but you must get off the station to make the change. Many Metro stations connect to Metrobús lines.
The light rail line from Tasqueña to Xochimilco is called Tren Ligero. At Tasqueña station, you can switch directly, but you need to buy a new ticket.
In 2008, the Suburbano commuter rail began with one line from Cuatitlán to Buenavista. The Metro has two stations where you can switch directly to the Suburbano, but you need an extra ticket and a special smart card.
A new commuter rail line connecting Observatorio station in Mexico City with Toluca is expected to finish in 2023.
| Year | Ridership | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,396,408,190 | - |
| 2003 | 1,375,089,433 | -1.55% |
| 2004 | 1,441,659,626 | +4.84% |
| 2005 | 1,440,744,414 | -0.06% |
| 2006 | 1,416,995,974 | -1.65% |
| 2007 | 1,352,408,424 | -4.56% |
| 2008 | 1,460,144,568 | +7.38% |
| 2009 | 1,414,907,798 | -3.20% |
| 2010 | 1,530,352,732 | +8.16% |
| 2011 | 1,594,903,897 | +4.22% |
| 2012 | 1,608,865,177 | +0.88% |
| 2013 | 1,684,936,618 | +4.73% |
| 2014 | 1,614,333,594 | -4.19% |
| 2015 | 1,623,828,642 | +0.59% |
| 2016 | 1,662,562,714 | +2.39% |
| 2017 | 1,615,652,411 | -2.82% |
| 2018 | 1,647,475,013 | +1.97% |
| 2019 | 1,655,049,615 | +0.46% |
| 2020 | 935,176,702 | -43.50% |
| 2021 | 837,473,413 | -10.45% |
| 2022 | 1,057,461,875 | +26.27% |
| 2023 | 1,115,160,023 | +5.46% |
| Sources: | ||
Fares and pay systems
In the past, a single ticket for 5 Mexican Pesos let riders travel anywhere on the Mexico City Metro, including transfers. Special discounts were available for women who were heads of households, unemployed people, and students with limited money. The metro also offered free rides to elderly people, those with physical challenges, and children under five when accompanied by an adult. Tickets used to be made of paper with a magnetic strip and could be bought at stations, except on Line 12. However, as of February 2024, these paper tickets are no longer used. Now, riders need to get a rechargeable card to travel.
Before 2009, a ticket cost just 2 Mexican Pesos, allowing unlimited travel for one day. The price went up to 3 Mexican Pesos in 2010 and stayed that way until December 2013. In 2012, the city introduced a prepaid card called Tarjeta DF for use on the metro, buses, and other city rail systems.
Rolling stock
As of April 2012, the Mexico City Metro used 14 types of trains, totaling 355 trains. These trains run in groups of 6 or 9 cars. Most of these trains are for fast travel, except for the trains on Line A, which are for lighter, more relaxed rides. Trains for the metro come from four different places: France with Alstom, Canada with Bombardier, Spain with CAF, and Mexico with Concarril.
The fastest trains can go up to 80 km/h (50 mph) for some types and 100 km/h (62 mph) for others. The trains have special air systems to keep the air fresh, and passengers can open the top part of the windows for extra airflow. The trains are numbered based on the year they were designed.
Starting in May 2024, Line 1 will get 29 new trains made by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive in China. These new trains will replace older ones as part of improvements to Line 1, including adding new technology for better train control.
Gallery
- Steel-wheeled rolling stock
FM-86 
FM-95A 
[FE-07](/wiki/FE-07) 
[FE-10](/wiki/FE-10_\(Mexico_City_Metro\)) 
- Rubber-tired rolling stock
[MP-68](/wiki/MP-68_\(Mexico_City_Metro\))  
NM-73    
NM-79    
NC-82  
MP-82 
NM-83    
NE-92 
[NM-02](/wiki/NM-02_\(Mexico_City_Metro\))  
NM-16 
NM-22 
Major incidents
Unfortunately, there have been some serious accidents involving the Mexico City Metro over the years. On October 20, 1975, two trains crashed while moving toward Tasqueña station, and many people were hurt or sadly lost their lives. After this, the Metro added safety signals to all lines to help prevent future accidents.
More recently, on May 3, 2021, a part of the bridge holding a train on Line 12 broke down, causing the train to fall. Many people were hurt, and some sadly did not survive. This accident led to the temporary closing of Line 12 while investigations and repairs were carried out.
Network map
The Mexico City Metro is a big train system that helps people move around the city quickly. It is the second largest train system in North America, just after the one in New York City. The first line opened on September 4, 1969, and it was about 12.7 kilometres long with 16 stops.
Images
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Mexico City Metro, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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