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The capital of Venezuela, Caracas, grew very rapidly during the 20th century due to the country's important oil industry. Today it has some 4.5 million inhabitants. The city spreads out along a main valley with several smaller side valleys. This geographical situation predetermined the alignment of the city's first metro line. The initial section of Line 1 opened 2 January 1983 between Propatria and La Hoyada (6.7 km). Two months later it was extended to Chacaíto.

In 1987, the southern section with two branches of Line 2 (La Paz - Las Adjuntas/Zoológico) was finished and in 1988, Line 1 was extended to Dos Caminos. That same year Line 2 was linked to Line 1 at El Silencio. In 1989, Line 1 reached its eastern terminus Palo Verde and finally in 1994, the new Line 3 started revenue service between Plaza Venezuela and El Valle.

Currently Metro de Caracas, operated by CAMETRO, has a total length of 45 km with 40 stations: Line 1 - 22.5 km (20 km underground) - 7-car-trains - max. 33 trains in operation; Line 2 - 18 km (9 km underground) - 6-car-trains - max. 14 trains; Line 3 - 12.8 km - 6-car-trains; the metro is complemented by a metro feeder bus system called Metrobús.

In 2000, construction of the western part of Line 4 (Capuchinos - Plaza Venezuela, 5.7 km) began to alleviate congestion on Line 1. Contracts were awarded to a consortium of Brazilian companies (Metro Línea IV). This section opened in July 2006 and is now operately jointly with Line 2; the Line 2 section between Capuchinos and El Silencio is served by a shuttle train instead.

Metro Los Teques is a suburban line that connects Las Adjuntas (terminal station of Line 2) with the town of Los Teques (El Tambor station) along the San Pedro river with 4-car-trains every 5 minutes (9.5 km - 10 minutes ride). There is no intermediate station.

02 Jan 1983: Line 1 - Propatria - La Hoyada
27 Mar 1983: Line 1 - La Hoyada - Chacaíto
04 Oct 1987: Line 2 - La Paz - Las Adjuntas/Zoológico
23 Apr 1988: Line 1 - Chacaíto - Los Dos Caminos
06 Nov 1988: Line 2 - La Paz - El Silencio
10 Nov 1989: Line 1 - Los Dos Caminos - Palo Verde
18 Dec 1994: Line 3 Plaza Venezuela - El Valle
19 July 2006: Line 4 Capuchinos - Zona Rental (Pl. Venezuela)
15 Oct 2006: Line 3 El Valle - La Rinconada (without intermediate stations)

03 Nov 2006: Metro Los Teques Las Adjuntas - El Tambor

 Projects

In 2006, construction of the eastern part of Line 4 (Zonal Rental to Parque del Este, 6.3 km) began; it will take 6 years to complete the five new stations. This line is also referred to as Line 5.

Further long term projects include lines 5 and 6. Line 5 (La Boyera - Santa Ana) would serve the southeastern parts of the city and it would only intersect with Line 4 at Tamanaco. Line 6 (Catia - La Urbina) would run parallel to line 1 from east to west slightly further north.

Metro Los Teques is being extended through the centre of Los Teques to San Antonio (11.8 km - 5 stations). The intermediate stations are (Estación1), (Estación2), Carrizar and Las Minas.

Metro de Guarenas will be another suburban line starting from metro station Parque del Este and running eastwards to Guarenas and Guatire (approx. 40 km; 2011). The following stations will be within Caracas: Parque del Este, Montecristo, Boleita, Horizonte, La Urbina Sur, La Urbina Norte. On this 7.2 km section a metro-like service will be provided. Four stations will be located in Guarenas and Guatire, and two may be added later. About 50% of the entire route will be underground in mostly bored tunnels.

Similar to that in Medellín, Caracas is building a Metrocable, a cable car linked to the metro system. It will run from Parque Central metro station towards the south (1.7 km), with five stops: Parque Central, Hornos de Cal, La Ceiba, El Manguito and San Agustín.

Photos © Brian Lema

Photos © Rodolfo Cammalleri

OPERATION

Trains run from 5:30 to 23:00, every 90 seconds during peak hours. On Sundays and holidays trains run every 4-6 minutes. Some stations [Caño Amarillo, Colegio de Ingenieros (Línea 1), La Yaguara (Línea 2) & Los Simbolos (Línea 3)] close at 21:00.

- FARES (2008)

Single tickets (Simple) - Bs. 0.50

2-ride (return) ticket - Bs. 0.90

10-ride ticket - Bs. 4.50

Metro de Caracas (C.A.Metro) - official site

Some semi-official info with a map

Line 4 Project Description

Metro Los Teques