The Mexico City Metro is a rapid transit system that serves the metropolitan area of Mexico City, including some municipalities in the State of Mexico. Operated by the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo (STC), it is the second largest metro system in North America after the New York City Subway. Here are some key details about the Mexico City Metro:
–Inaugural Line: The first STC Metro line was 12.7 kilometers (7.9 miles) long, serving 16 stations, and it opened to the public on September 4, 19691.
–Expansion: Since its inception, the system has expanded in a series of fits and starts. As of 2015, it comprises 12 lines, serving 195 stations, with a total route length of 226.49 kilometers (140.73 miles). Ten of these lines use rubber-tired technology instead of traditional steel wheels, which provides a quieter and smoother ride on Mexico City’s unstable soils.
–Transfer Stations: Of the STC Metro’s 195 stations, 44 serve two or more lines (known as “correspondencias” or transfer stations). These transfer points allow passengers to switch between different lines seamlessly.
–Architecture: The metro system features a mix of underground, surface, and elevated stations. Some stations are named after historical figures, places, or events in Mexican history1.
–Surviving the Earthquake: The Mexico City Metro system remarkably survived the devastating 1985 Mexico City earthquake.
Line 12 of the Mexico City Metro, also known as the Golden Line, is one of the most recent and extensive lines in the system. Here are some key facts:
–Inauguration: The line was inaugurated on October 30, 2012, and connects the stations Tláhuac and Mixcoac.
–Length and Stations: It has a length of 25.1 kilometers and includes 20 stations. The line passes through the boroughs of Tláhuac, Iztapalapa, and Benito Juárez.