The French Development Agency (AFD) is lending US$178.3 million for the massive overhaul of Metro Line 2, transitioning it from a regional line into a high-capacity urban artery.
According to the Office for the Reorganization of Transport (OPRET) and the French Development Agency (AFD), the funds are specifically earmarked for the following technical and structural expansions:
Rolling stock & train capacity. A primary objective of this loan is to transition the fleet from three-car sets to six-car configurations.
• New acquisitions: The funding supports the purchase of 14 new metro trains (specifically the Alstom Metropolis model).
• Capacity doubling: By coupling existing units and adding the new cars, OPRET aims to double the passenger capacity per trip. This is designed to eliminate the long queues seen during peak hours at major transfer hubs.
Infrastructure & platform upgrades. To accommodate the longer six-car trains, the physical infrastructure of the stations must be modified:
• Platform extensions: Works include extending platforms at multiple stations on Line 2 from 60 meters to 120 meters.
• Signaling systems: The loan covers the modernization of the on-board and trackside signaling systems to handle the higher frequency and longer train lengths securely.
• Energy infrastructure: Upgrades to the electrical substations and catenary systems are required to power the increased number of active cars on the line.
Connection to Line 2-C (Los Alcarrizos)
The loan is intrinsically linked to the recent operational launch of Line 2-C on 24 February 2026.
• Stretch: The 7.3 km extension connects the María Montez station (Km 9 of Duarte Highway) to Los Alcarrizos.
• Intermodal Integration: The expansion ensures that the “core” of Line 2 can handle the influx of over 100,000 new daily users coming from the Los Alcarrizos extension and the new cable car (Teleférico) system.
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Opret
30 March 2026