After the construction of the first line of a full 3-line metro network began in the late 1970's the project was suspended in 1983 due to fear that historical buildings might be damaged in the city centre of the capital of Andalusia.

With metro construction booming in Spain (especially Madrid and Bilbao) during the late 1990's, Seville has rediscovered the need for improved public transport and is now planning the construction of a light rail network, similar to a Premetro/Sneltram system with certain routes in tunnel (especially that built in the early 1980's in eastern Seville) but other stretches running at street level.

Construction of Line 1 (19 km, 23 stations) was finally awarded to Dragados in March 2003, works began in 2003, and after some delays the opening of Line 1 is now scheduled for 2008/09. An extension from the eastern terminus Olivar del Quinto to the town of Dos Hermanos might be added to the initial project.

Line 1 begins at the interchange station of Mairena del Aljarafe. It runs mostly on the surface through Cavaleri (underground station), San Juan Barrio Alto y Barrio Bajo, before arriving in Seville, where the first station Blas Infante, is still above ground. From here the city is crossed underground from west to east using the tunnel built in the 1980's between Nervión and La Plata. Although initially planned to to run on the surface, the eastern segment through the municipality of Montequinto is now being built underground.

Trains are being built by CAF. At least 17 articulated low-floor vehicles are needed: 31m long, 2.6m wide, 3.3m high. 1435mm gauge, overhead power supply, 750V; 6 doors on either side; air conditioning; capacity: 192 passengers/vehicle (60 seated, 132 standing).

The Seville Metro will be operating every 3.5 minutes between Blas Infante and Cocheras, and every 7 minutes on outer stretches. Operating hours will be 6:00-23:00 Mon-Fri, 6:00-0:30 Sat, 7:00-23:30 Sun.

Stations have been designed by the architects Enrique Abascal García, Miguel Díaz Zulategui and Ángel Díaz Domínguez with a lot of natural light in underground stations. Concrete, metal and glass will be the basic materials used.

A short 1.4 km surface tram line (promoted as MetroCentro) through the historic city centre opened on 28 Oct 2007. This line uses the same vehicles as those ordered for the light rail line.

1999 - Metro de Sevilla founded

Oct. 2003 - construction start

30 Sept 2008 - scheduled opening

 Projects

Not too many details are available at the moment. See link below for latest news.

Line 1 - Pablo de Olavide-Los Príncipes (west - southeast)
Line 2 - Torreblanca-Sevilla Este-Puerto Triana (east - west)
Line 3 - Pino Montano-Los Bermejales (north - south)
Line 4 - Cartuja-Tamarguillo-Reina Mercedes (circular)