Traslated by Andrés Martínez Forero
In ‘Bogotá, My City, My Home’, promises come true! Line 1 of the Bogotá Metro keeps moving forward, reaching new milestones that bring the project closer to commercial service. The arrival of the first train sparked headlines not only in Colombia but also in major cities around the globe.
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On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the Port of Cartagena welcomed the first of 30 trains that will make up Line 1. Soon after, transport systems from London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Madrid, Quito, Santo Domingo, and more shared their congratulations online.
Here’s how they celebrated Bogotá’s achievement:
Metro de Madrid (Spain): “¡Enhorabuena! Comienza el futuro!” (Congratulations! The future begins!)
Metro de Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic): “¡Enhorabuena, Metro de Bogotá! ¡Felicidades por este gran avance en la movilidad y el desarrollo del país!”
Los Angeles Metro (USA): “¡Muchísimas felicidades, amigos! Estamos muy contentos por ustedes, no cabe duda que será todo un éxito.” (Many congratulations, friends! We’re thrilled for you—this will surely be a success.)
San Francisco Metro (USA): “Looking good. Congratulations on a big milestone in your project.”
London Transport (UK): “Woohoo! Beautiful train, Bogotá!”
Metro de Quito (Ecuador): “Felicitaciones, Metro de Bogotá. On September 2 Bogotá receives its first Line 1 train, a steel companion that traveled from China to make a decades-long dream come true. Dreams come true with persistence, and the rails bring a bright future for the city.”
Bogotá Metro Picks Up Speed
Along with the train’s arrival in Cartagena, construction moved ahead at a record pace. On September 2, Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán announced that in August alone the project advanced 2.52%, bringing total completion to 62.18%.
“August was a milestone month. A 2.52% advance in just one-month marks the strongest progress we’ve had so far. Our goal is to keep this momentum and surpass 70% by the end of 2025,” said Mayor Galán.
The First Train Begins Its Journey to Bogotá
After traveling 17,000 kilometers by ship from China, the first Line 1 train now continues another 980 kilometers overland from Cartagena to Bogotá.
The six-car train will head to the Bosa Yard and Workshop in the city’s southwest. Once there, teams will begin static and dynamic testing on 1,000 meters of track.
Starting in May 2026, this and other arriving trains will run on a 5.7-kilometer stretch of elevated track between Bosa Yard and Station 4 to test electrical systems and rail operations.
“Line 1’s first fleet includes 30 trains. They’ll arrive between now and October next year, at a pace of one or two per month. We expect five more before the end of this year. Right now, 16 trains are under construction in China,” said Leonidas Narváez, General Manager of Empresa Metro de Bogotá (EMB).
Line 1 Trains: At a Glance
- Size: 134 meters long, 2.9 meters wide, 3.9 meters tall.
- Cars: Six in total—two end cars (type S) and four central cars (type M).
- Speed: Average commercial speed of 42.5 km/h.
- Seating: 252 seats, including 36 priority seats for pregnant women, seniors, and parents with small children.
- Safety: Train and station doors meet the highest international safety standards.
- Accessibility: 24 doors per train (four on each side of every car) for smooth boarding.
- Materials: Flame-retardant seats to increase safety.
- Smart sensors: Weight sensors monitor safe boarding conditions for all passengers.
Bogotá expects to receive all 30 trains by October 2026, marking a decisive step toward the long-awaited opening of the Metro.
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Relive the moment: Watch the first Line 1 train’s arrival on the Bogotá Mayor’s Office YouTube channel:
*This article was created using information provided by the Bogotá’s International Relations Office and curated by a journalist from Portal Bogotá. For suggestions, questions, or more information, visit Bogotá Te Escucha: https://bogota.gov.co/sdqs/
