The Bogotá Metro has been a long-awaited promise for decades by the residents of Colombia’s capital. Today, we are pleased to report that its construction is moving forward steadily, representing a milestone in urban mobility and a significant boost to the local economy.
Construction progress and rail arrival from China
As of the end of 2024, the first metro line reached 46.24% completion, according to the Empresa Metro de Bogotá. This marks a considerable increase from the 28.98% reported at the end of 2023. This progress includes the construction of 1,570 meters of viaduct and the arrival of 6,635 tons of rails imported from China, equivalent to 120 kilometers. These will be used for both the viaduct and the yard workshop (source: Metro de Bogotá).
Each of the 30 trains will consist of six cars with a capacity of 1,800 passengers, of which 252 can be seated. This capacity is equivalent to seven bi-articulated buses or twelve articulated TransMilenio buses, which could significantly ease traffic congestion in the city (source: Bogotá.gov.co).
Chinese contractors and national financial backing
The consortium in charge of construction and operation of the first line is APCA Transmimetro, made up of Chinese companies China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC) and Xi’An Metro Company, holding 85% and 15% shares respectively. This group won the bid in 2019 and signed the contract in November of the same year (source: Wikipedia).
In terms of investment, the National Government allocated $776.139 billion COP in the 2024 budget to support the project. In addition, the government will guarantee a $2.4 trillion COP loan to be taken by Empresa Metro de Bogotá for the adaptation and construction of this first line (sources: Infobae, Bogotá.gov.co).
Technical benefits and support from Mayor Galán
One of the key technical advantages of this project is that it is an elevated metro, which reduces construction costs compared to underground alternatives and allows for faster execution. Additionally, it will have a direct impact on reducing emissions, improving commute times, and generating employment.
The current mayor, Carlos Fernando Galán, has closely monitored the project’s development. In recent statements, he confirmed that the construction is “going very well” and announced that the first train will arrive at the workshop yard in September 2025. The full line is expected to be delivered in early 2028, with the inaugural trip scheduled for March 14 of that year (source: Tropicana).
Is this the beginning of a new era for Bogotá?
Everything indicates that the Bogotá Metro is steadily moving toward becoming a tangible reality for millions of citizens. With significant construction progress, secured funding, and committed political leadership, the main question that remains is whether the timeline will hold—and what the final impact on daily life in Bogotá will be.
