Fortaleza Metro
Overview | |||
---|---|---|---|
Native name | Metrô de Fortaleza | ||
Locale | Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil | ||
Transit type | Commuter rail | ||
Number of lines | 2[1] | ||
Number of stations | 28[1] | ||
Website | Metrô de Fortaleza | ||
Operation | |||
Began operation | October 24, 2012 | ||
Operator(s) | Metrofor | ||
Technical | |||
System length | 43.0 km (26.7 mi)[1] | ||
Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge | ||
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The Fortaleza Metro (Portuguese: Metrô de Fortaleza, commonly called Metrofor) is the meter gauge 43-kilometer (27 mi) metropolitan rail system that operates in the city of Fortaleza in Ceará, Brazil. It is operated by Companhia Cearense Metropolitan Transport, which was founded in May 2, 1997, and is responsible for the management, construction and subway system planning in the city of Fortaleza and its metropolitan area. The system is administered by the state government. The Fortaleza Metro system has been in operation since June 15, 2012, with the completion of the South Line, the first line of the system. The planned system will include: South (Central-Chico da Silva - Carlitos Benevides), East (Central-Chico da Silva - Edson Queiroz), West (Central-Chico da Silva - Caucaia), Mucuripe (Parangaba - Iate) and Maranguape (Jereissate - Maranguape). It is integrated with two of the city's seven intermodal terminals: Parangaba and Papicu, with Mucuripe port and the international airport Pinto Martins.
Background
The operator of the Fortaleza Metro, Metrofor, has been in the process of modernizing Fortaleza's rail network since 1999, with plans for improving the network going back to the 1980s. The project involved double tracking and electrification of two of the main passenger rail lines, installation of modern signalling and communications system, construction of new stations, and acquisition of new rolling stock, all with the goal of achieving higher frequency operations on the two lines. The upgraded rail network is expected to serve nearly 700,000 passengers a day.[2]
Operations
The existing Fortaleza rail infrastructure consists of 43 kilometers (27 mi) of rail route, comprising two lines:[1]
Lines
Line | Termini | Opened | Length[1] | Stations[1] | Travel time (min)[1] |
Operation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South (Sul) | Central – Chico da Silva ↔ Carlito Benevides[3] | 2012 | 24.0 km (14.9 mi) | 18[Note 1] | 33 | Opened, and in higher frequency operation.[4] |
West (Oeste) | Caucaia ↔ Central - Chico da Silva[5] | 2014 | 19.0 km (11.8 mi) | 10[Note 2] | 30 | Currently operational, but as a commuter rail line with lower frequencies.[6] |
Routes
The 24.0-kilometer (14.9 mi) long South Line[1] provides passenger services between Carlito Benevides in Maracanaú to Central – Chico da Silva in downtown Fortaleza. The Linha Sul (South Line) is the first of the two lines to be converted to higher frequency service, with headways of 27 minutes.[4] Its route has been diverted into a 4.0-kilometer (2.5 mi) long tunnel,[1] with 4 underground stations[1] all with 110 m (360 ft) long platforms, in the city center.[7]
The West Line, currently operating as a commuter rail line, is 19.0-kilometer (11.8 mi) long.[1] It begins at Caucaia and currently terminates at João Felipe, with plans to extend it to Central – Chico da Silva. It currently operates with train frequencies of 45 minutes.[6]
Stations
Stations on the metro-standards South Line, from south to north:[7]
- Carlito Benevides (formerly Vila das Flores)
- Jereissati
- Maracanaú
- Virgílio Távora (formerly Novo Maracanaú)
- Rachel de Queiroz (formerly Pajuçara)
- Alto Alegre
- Aracapé
- Esperança (formerly Conjunto Esperança)
- Mondubim
- Manoel Sátiro
- Vila Pery
- Parangaba
- Juscelino Kubitschek (not operational)
- Couto Fernandes
- Padre Cícero (not operational)
- Porangabussu
- Benfica
- São Benedito
- José de Alencar (formerly Lagoinha)
- Estação Central – Chico da Silva (formerly João Felipe)
Rolling stock
The AnsaldoBreda rolling stock used on the system is similar to that used on the Circumvesuviana railway, in Naples, Italy. A total of 20 train-sets were expected to be delivered, and in service, by 2012.[2]
Future plans
East Line
A new totally underground line, the East (Leste) line, began construction on February 2014. Tunnel boring machines for the construction were provided by The Robbins Company.[8] Current plans are to complete this third metro line as follows:
Line | Termini | Planned opening |
Length | Stations | Operation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
East (Leste) | Central – Chico da Silva ↔ Fórum Clóvis Beviláqua[9] | 2019 | 12 km (7 mi) | 13 | In the bidding process to award the construction contract. |
Light rail
A third rail line in the Fortaleza area, that runs between Macuripe and Parangaba and that currently operates as a cargo line, is in the process of being converted into a diesel light rail line.[10] There are also plans for a second shorter light rail line south of Fortaleza.
Line | Termini | Planned opening |
Length | Stations | Operation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Parangaba Mucuripe | Parangaba ↔ Mucuripe[11][12] | 2014 | 12.7 km (7.9 mi)[10] | 8[11] | Under construction. |
Maranguape | Jereissati ↔ Maranguape[1][13] | n/a | 7.2 km (4.5 mi) | 2 | Under study. |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Mapa das Linhas - Metrô de Fortaleza" (in Portuguese). Metrô de Fortaleza - METROFOR. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
- 1 2 "Fortaleza Metro Rail Project, Brazil". Railway-Technology.com. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
- ↑ "Metrô de Fortaleza Linha Sul" (in Portuguese). Metrô de Fortaleza - METROFOR. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
- 1 2 "HORÁRIO DA PARTIDA DOS TRENS CARLITO BENEVIDES - CHICO DA SILVA" [DEPARTURE TIME OF TRAINS CARLITO BENEVIDES - CHICO DA SILVA] (pdf) (in Portuguese). Metrô de Fortaleza - METROFOR. Retrieved 2014-10-11.
- ↑ "Metrô de Fortaleza Linha Oeste" (in Portuguese). Metrô de Fortaleza - METROFOR. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
- 1 2 "Horário de Partida dos Trens do Centro para Caucaia a partir do dia 28/05/2012" [Departure Time of Trains Centro to Caucaia from the date 28/05/2012] (pdf) (in Portuguese). Metrô de Fortaleza - METROFOR. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 2014-10-11.
- 1 2 "Fortaleza". UrbanRail.net. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
- ↑ "World rail infrastructure market September 2012". Railway Gazette International. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
- ↑ "Porto e metrô expandidos" [Port and metro expanded]. Negócios Diário do Nordeste (in Portuguese). 25 February 2011. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
- 1 2 "Fortaleza World Cup rail link on schedule". Global Rail News. Rail Media. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
- 1 2 "Metrô de Fortaleza Ramal Parangaba Mucuripe" (in Portuguese). Metrô de Fortaleza - METROFOR. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
- ↑ "Duas novas linhas previstas" [Two new lines planned]. Negócios Diário do Nordeste (in Portuguese). 20 September 2007. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
- ↑ "Plano Estratégico" [Strategic Plan] (in Portuguese). Metrô de Fortaleza - METROFOR. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
External links
Media related to Fortaleza Metro at Wikimedia Commons
- Fortaleza Metro – official website (Portuguese)