Operator(s) Metrofor Number of stations 28 Began operation October 24, 2012 | Website Metrô de Fortaleza System length 43.0 km (26.7 mi) Number of lines 2 | |
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Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ⁄8 in) metre gauge | ||
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.
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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.
Operations
The existing Fortaleza rail infrastructure consists of 43 kilometers (27 mi) of rail route, comprising two lines:
Routes
The 24.0-kilometer (14.9 mi) long South Line 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. Its route has been diverted into a 4.0-kilometer (2.5 mi) long tunnel, with 4 underground stations all with 110 m (360 ft) long platforms, in the city center.
The West Line, currently operating as a commuter rail line, is 19.0-kilometer (11.8 mi) long. 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.
Stations
Stations on the metro-standards South Line, from south to north:
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.
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. Current plans are to complete this third metro line as follows:
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. There are also plans for a second shorter light rail line south of Fortaleza.