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Santiago Metrorail Project, Santiago Province, Chile [free access]

Developer/ Operator: State-owned Empresa de Transporte de Pasajeros Metro SA (Metro SA) is the system developer and operator.

Project description: Expansion of the metro network in Santiago, the capital of Chile. 

Background: The system comprises six lines, which together span 140.2 km and cover 136 stations.

• Line 1: It spans 20.4 km, covers 27 stations, and provides interchanges with Lines 2, 4, 5, and 6.  
• Line 2: It spans 20.7 km, covers 22 stations, and provides interchanges with Lines 1, 4, 5, and 6.  
• Line 3: It spans 22 km and covers 18 stations, and provides interchanges with all other lines except Line 4A. 
• Line 4: It spans 24.7 km, covers 23 stations, and provides interchanges with Lines 1, 2, and 5.
• Line 4A: It spans 7.7 km, covers six stations, and provides interchanges with Lines 2 and 4.
• Line 5: It spans 29.7 km, covers 30 stations, and provides interchanges with Lines 1, 2, 4, and 6.
• Line 6: It spans 15 km, covers 10 stations, and provides interchanges with Lines 1, 2, and 5.  

Ridership: In 2019, the system had a ridership of 703.70 million passengers. In 2018, the system had a ridership of 721 million passengers.   

Rolling stock and technology: A fleet of 1,339 railcars has been deployed. Suppliers include Alstom and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF). In November 2020, Chile’s Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications/ Ministerio de Transportes y Telecomunicaciones (MTT) deployed four new NS-16 trainsets on Line 5. Each seven-car train has a capacity of 1,342 passengers. Deployment of the NS-16 trains is part of a project that includes 35 trains, out of which 19 were deployed on Line 2 in 2018. The new trainsets have now replaced the 1974 models on Lines 2 and 5. All trains will be delivered by end-2021.

Power is sourced from third rail (750V DC) on Lines 1, 2, 4, 4A, and 5.

Fare system: Passengers can pay fare using Bip!, a contactless smartcard.

Capital projects/Extensions: Three new lines (Lines 7, 8, and 9) and four extensions (extensions of Lines 2, 3, 4, and 6) are planned to be developed at an investment of over USD7.37 billion.

• Line 2 extension: It will span 5.2 km and cover four stations. The project involves an investment of USD476 million. Passenger services are expected to commence in 2023.
• Line 3 extension: It will span 3.8 km and cover three stations. It will be developed at an estimated investment of USD400 million. Passenger services are expected to commence in 2023.
• Line 4 extension: It will span 4 km and cover three stations. Passenger services are expected to commence 2028 onwards.
• Line 6 extension: It will span around 2.5 km and may be underground. It is currently under procurement.
• Line 7: It will span 26 km and cover 19 stations. It will be developed at an estimated investment of USD2.60 billion by 2027. In May 2020, Metro SA invited bids to execute civil works to develop a section of the line. The scope of work also includes construction of tunnels, pits, and galleries. The last date for the submission of bids is August 26, 2020. The contract is scheduled to be awarded by February 2021.
• Line 8: It will span 19 km and cover 14 stations. Passenger services are expected to commence 2028 onwards.
• Line 9: It will span 17 km and cover 12 stations. Passenger services are expected to commence in 2026. 

Open tenders: Metro SA has invited bids to provide services for Line 6 extension and Line 7.

• Bids are invited to draft a modal extension study for Line 6 extension. The last date for the submission of bids is December 11, 2020. The contract is expected to be awarded in January 2021.
• Bids are invited to provide specialised consultancy services for the engineering of Line 6 extension. The last date for the submission of bids is December 22, 2020. The contract is expected to be awarded in February 2021.
• Bids are invited to provide technical inspection services for select sections of Line 7. The last date for the submission of economic offers is December 29, 2020. The contract is expected to be awarded in February 2021.
• Bids are invited to provide environmental consultancy services to develop an extension of Line 6. The last date for the submission of technical and economic offers is January 22, 2021. The contract is expected to be awarded on April 1, 2021.
• Bids are invited to supply as well as provide maintenance services for the electrical and SCADA systems to be deployed on Line 7. The last date for the submission of bids is April 15, 2021.

Recent development: 

• In November 2020, MTT deployed four seven-car NS-16 trainsets on Line 5. These are the first trainsets to be fully assembled in Chile.