The first train destined to Line 1 of the Bogotá Metro arrived at the Bosa maintenance facility, located at the southern end of the line currently under construction. The convoy completed a long intercontinental journey: first by sea from China to the port of Cartagena, then over 1,200 km by land to the Colombian capital.
The delicate unloading, transport, and assembly operations were carried out with telescopic cranes and special convoys, in full compliance with the strictest safety standards.
During the official ceremony, Bogotá’s Mayor, Carlos Fernando Galán, stated: “This infrastructure will transform mobility in Bogotá and represents a shared commitment that is advancing with concrete results”, while confirming that the line’s commercial service is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2028.
The arrival of the first train marks a historic milestone for the city, which has awaited the construction of its metro system for over 83 years. The event, attended by a wide representation of institutions and citizens, is not only a technical achievement but also a tangible sign of the ongoing urban and social transformation. Along the route to the capital, the train was welcomed with enthusiasm by residents and local authorities, symbolizing the start of a new era for urban mobility.
The entry of the train into the depot was made possible thanks to complex preparatory work, which included the adaptation of access areas, preparation of handling zones, installation of temporary power lines and communication systems, as well as the necessary conduits to safely launch static tests. These activities, coordinated by the Interventoría with the contribution of Italferr, ensured the full readiness of the maintenance facility and laid the groundwork for the upcoming integrated testing campaign.
At this crucial stage, the Interventoría, entrusted to the Consorcio Supervisor PLMB, relies on Italferr as a key technical partner for supervision activities. Leveraging its consolidated international experience in the development of metro and railway systems, Italferr provides specialized expertise that strengthens the overall quality of the project, in full alignment with best practices and current regulations.
The Mayor also emphasized the value of institutional collaboration among Empresa Metro de Bogotá (EMB), the ML1 Concessionaire, and the Consorcio Supervisor, highlighting that only strong and transparent joint efforts can ensure the metro is delivered on time.
Project Progress
5 September 2025: read more
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.