Several days ago, the first train for Line 1 of the Bogotá Metro, designed and built by CRRC Corporation Limited at its Changchun plant and delivered to the Metro Línea 1 (ML1) concessionaire, arrived at the port of Cartagena.
Italferr has managed the technical interface process and is now supporting the preliminary activities for the train's arrival at the Patio Taller in Bogotá, where technical tests for establishing the functionality of the railway system on the first section of the line will begin in October.
After unloading, the train will be parked at the port for about four days, while awaiting completion of the customs procedures, post-maritime transport integrity checks and logistical preparations for subsequent transfer by land. The six carriages will be carried to Bogotá by road in stages, on a journey estimated to take seven days in all, using special transport vehicles, accompanied by technical escort vehicles, in accordance with the relevant regulations.
At the same time, coordination activities are under way, including planning for receiving and handling the rolling stock, updating the pre-operational testing schedule, and verifying interfaces with the electrical systems, communication systems, temporary power supply, and civil infrastructure required before starting the static testing process.
The train was manufactured in about ten months, starting in mid-2024, with the assembly of six carriages, the installation and integration of on-board systems, and a complete cycle of static and dynamic tests, all of which were carried out successfully.
The event is a strategic and highly symbolic milestone in the development of the project, since it marks the delivery of the rolling stock to Colombia and the start of the preliminary phase before pre-operational testing.
The arrival of the first train in Bogotá will be a highly significant event for the city and will be marked by an official ceremony, organised and promoted by the Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá, the Mayor’s Office, with the attendance of government representatives, local authorities and project stakeholders.