Line 3 of Guadalajara Light Rail System is Now Open

The new line has an extension of 21.5 kilometers, and 18 stations, of which 13 are elevated and 5 are underground, which are distributed in the municipalities of Zapopan, Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque.

The third line of Guadalajara’s light rail system formally opened for service on September 12, after being inaugurated by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez.

The 13.3-mile, 18-station (13 elevated; 5 underground) line is expected to carry about 230,000 riders daily through the cities of Zapopan, Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque, with a 33-minute travel time, end to end. An interchange with Line 1 is at Ávila Camacho and with Line 2, at Guadalajara Centro. SITEUR (Sistema del Tren Eléctrico Urbano) is the operator.

Through September 20th, Line 3 of Mi Tren will offer free tours to citizens who begin to use this modern transport characterized by its technological composition, operational capacity, sustainable operation, innovative image and architecture of international level.

Mexico’s Federal Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT) awarded Alstom and CPVM, a subsidiary of Spain’s OHL, a €380 million ($414 million) contract in November 2014 to supply the line’s railway systems. Alstom’s share of the contract, €240 million ($262 million), included 18 three-car Metropolis trains – the first of which was delivered in fall 2016 – as well as communication systems, the high-voltage and traction substations, and traffic control systems based on Urbalis 400 (Alstom’s CBTC system).

Egis, in partnership with Transconsult, handled supervision of work for all line systems and rolling stock. Sener Engineering’s Mexican subsidiary was involved in various aspects of the project from the pre-feasibility study stage in 2012, through to the detailed design, project management and construction phases.

During the opening ceremony Governor Alfaro said that after years of generating inconvenience and difficulties in its construction period finally, and thanks to the support of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Light Rail Line project is today a reality.

“We congratulate everyone involved in the inauguration of this very important project for Jalisco,” added Manuel Gomez Parra, general director of railway and multimodal development of SCT. “Without a doubt, it will greatly benefit all the state’s residents, changing the way they travel and improving their lifestyle.”

Sources: siteur.gob.mx • jalisco.gob.mx • railjournal.com