Salvador (Bahia) has an estimated population of 3 million.

The first metro line had been under construction for some 14 years before it finally opened, though with a very limited service, in time for the FIFA World Cup in June 2014. The metro system is now officially called the 'Sistema Metroviário de Salvador e Lauro de Freitas.' The first line is operated by CCR Metrô Bahia.

Construction began in April 2000. Opening of the first section was initially scheduled for 2003, but was delayed again and again. The line has 1435 mm standard gauge, uses a 3kV overhead power supply and is operated with a fleet of 6 4-car-trains supplied by Hyundai/Rotem, with 5 more to follow soon. As of 2024, line 1 is 16.4 km long (1.4 in tunne) with 10 stations.

11 June 2014: Lapa - Acesso Norte (6 km) - limited service
25 Aug 2014: Acesso Norte - Retiro (1.6 km) - limited service
23 Apr 2015: Retiro - Bom Juá (2.1 km)
13 Nov 2015: Bonocô station added
22 Dec 2015: Bom Juá - Pirajá (2.2 km)
02 Jan 2016: revenue service started between Lapa and Bom Juá (limited service continues between Bom Juá and Pirajá until May 2016)
15 May 2016: full revenue service (05:00-24:00) between Lapa and Pirajá)
14 Jun 2023: Pirajá - Campinas (1.5 km)
26 Dec 2023: Campinas - Águas Claras (3 km)

Acesso Norte - Aeroporto, 19.6 km, 12 stations

05 Dec 2016: Acesso Norte - Rodoviária (2.3 km)
23 May 2017: Rodoviária - Pituaçu (6.3 km)
11 Sept 2017: Pituaçu - Mussurunga (7.5 km)
26 Apr 2018: Mussurunga - Aeroporto (3.5 km)

 Projects

Line 2 may be extended further east from the airport to Lauro de Freitas.

The suburban rail line from Calçada to Paripe was closed on 14 Feb 2021 to be replaced by a monorail line, "Skyrail", to be build by Chinese company BYD; 24 km from Comércio to Ilha de São João, with a branch to metro station Acesso Norte. The contract, however, was cancelled in Aug 2023. [Project Website]

CCR Metrô Bahia (Official site)

Companhia de Transportes do Estado da Bahia

Allen Morrison's Latin America's Metros and Electric City Transport Site

Metro Salvador at Wikipedia.pt