2023-12-01 21:11:39
04:10 PM
Thousands of excited passengers traveled on the subway that began operating on Friday in Quito after a decade of construction and delays, becoming the first in Ecuador and the most modern in Latin America.
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Symbolic opening ceremonies took place at the 15 stations (5 of them intermodal) of the 22 km metro between the north and south of the capital. The first user to appear at each stop cut a ribbon at the entrances to the subway train, made up of six cars and 109 meters long.
“We are facing the most modern mobility system in Latin America,” said Mayor Pabel Muñoz in a municipal broadcast on social networks from the metro control center located at the Quitumbe station, the last one located to the south and which includes garages. and maintenance workshops.
He added that the electric transportation system, operated by the French company Transdev and the Medellín Metro, “is going to be a great revolutionary for the city, it is going to generate many changes” in terms of mobility, public health and urban planning.
“There are a set of benefits for the metro to become the great transformer of Quito (…) which at this moment is the largest and most important strategic work in the country,” said Muñoz.
The metro of the capital of Antioquia affectionately considers its counterpart in Quito, its “line 13” or “line Q”, for its operation there.
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“Starting the operation of the Quito underground Metro is one of the most important achievements of the Medellín Metro in 28 years of history and is the result of the commitment, seriousness and good management that the Antioquian Company has had during these years. This historic milestone becomes part of the Metro’s non-fare income, which is key to the sustainability and survival of the company in the coming years,” said the Medellín transportation system.
The Quito Metro thus takes on the challenge of moving an average of 400,000 people every day, who will be transported in 18 trains, which will run along the underground railway. The operating company Metro de Medellín Transdev will be responsible for the collection and maintenance of the infrastructure of all stations.
Likewise, the Antioquia company sent 30 Metro servers to Ecuador to train traffic operators, drivers, operational security, public risk and collection personnel.
A new experience that will reduce pollution
The work required 2 billion dollars and will reduce 58,000 tons of CO2 in the air annually, according to the Metro de Quito company. The level of pollution will be reduced as the circulation of vehicles on the surface decreases with the operation of the metro.
The Ecuadorian capital emits seven million tons of CO2 per year and 40% corresponds to motorized transport.
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“From here (at the Iñaquito station, in the north, and which connects the financial area) to the south it normally takes me 90 minutes and with the metro it takes less than half an hour,” said the 36-year-old nurse, who was traveling alongside to your daughter.
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Some moved underground for studies and work, but others also to learn about and walk through the electromobility system, like Ruth Bermúdez, 74 years old, who was traveling with her husband and a granddaughter.
An underground world
Danilo Valladares, 36 years old and a logistics operator, was returning by train to his home in the south after attending a medical appointment on the other side of the city. “We will have time to work, produce, spend with family,” he said.
“We have to adapt to new technology. This is an advance for humanity,” she remarked.
The subways of South American cities such as Medellín greeted the inauguration of the Quito subway on social networks.
“Welcome Quito to the underground world!” said the one from Buenos Aires, which this Friday celebrated 110 years of operation and is the oldest network in Latin America.
The one from Santiago noted: “Today a friend starts his first job, where there will be many challenges, but it is also a path full of learning. Welcome aboard, friends of @MetrodeQuito!”
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