The Recife Metro, also known as MetroRec, is an extensive underground public transport system operating in Recife, a major city in Brazil. The system currently comprises a total of 29 stations on five lines with a total length of 71 kilometres. This length includes the VLT system, a surface-level equivalent to light rail. The core metro system, however, spans 39.5 kilometres, divided between three lines.
Inaugurated in 1985, the Recife Metro is a relatively recent development in the context of Brazilian public transport, having begun construction in 1982. The system connects various parts of Recife and extends to neighbouring suburbs in the state of Pernambuco. Over the years, the system has undergone several expansions, the most recent of which took place in 2013, with further expansions planned. The basic fare for the Recife Metro is R$1.60, which is approximately $0.42 USD. Operating hours are from 5 am to 23 pm.
The Recife Metro is a public transport system in Recife, Brazil. The metro system serves approximately 210,000 passengers per day.
The Recife Metro does not operate 24 hours a day and does not provide air conditioning for its passengers. It does not have the ability to walk between platforms or driverless trains. It also has no platform doors.
The system is operated by the Superintendência de Trens Urbanos de Recife. The metro trains can reach a maximum speed of 50km/h. The fare is R $ 2.45.
Recife Metro Map
Map of Recife Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Recife Metro map in PDF format.
About Recife, Brazil
City Profile
Recife, located in the state of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil, is a coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean, built on a rain-fed plain. Much of the city is built on islands, islets and mangroves, earning it the nickname of the Brazilian Venice. Together with its suburbs, Recife is the fourth largest urban agglomeration in Brazil, after São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte.
With a population of over four million, Recife is the most populous city in the Northeast region and the ninth most populous city in Brazil. The city boasts a dynamic and sizeable economy and is home to several important companies, particularly in the oil industry. It is the location of many federal institutions and houses the consulates of several countries.
Rich in historical heritage, Recife was the capital of the Dutch colonial effort in Brazil from 1630 to 1654. This historical background is particularly visible in the city centre. Tourists are attracted to Recife for its many attractions, including major events such as the Carnival of Recife and Olinda.
Transportation in Recife
The Recife Metro serves as an essential urban transport system, linking strategic locations throughout the city. In addition to the underground metro with three lines, it integrates a light rail system with two lines. In total, the metro system includes 29 stations along a 71 kilometre route, of which 39.5 kilometres is underground.
As the variety of lines suggests, the metro has a diverse fleet from several manufacturers. The original rolling stock, the Model 800, was manufactured by a consortium of Brazil’s Santa Matilde and Germany’s Man AG, and is still in service. Recent additions to the fleet in 2012 and 2013 include the Spanish 7500 model from CAF and the Mobile 3 model from Bom Sinal of Brazil and Voith of Germany.
Around 600,000 people use the metro every day. The system is managed by the Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos (CBTU), a subsidiary of the Federal Ministry of Cities.
- Also Known as: Metro or Metrorec
- System Length: 71 km in total, with 39.5 km dedicated to the metro
- Track Gauge: 1600 mm for the metro, and 1000 mm for the VLT
- Number of Lines: 5 in total, including 3 metro lines
- Number of Stations: 29
- Maximum Operating Speed: 80 km/h
- Website: portal.metrorec.com.br
- Operated by: Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos (CBTU)
- Daily Ridership: Approximately 600,000 passengers
- Inaugurated: Officially on February 22, 1984, but commenced operations on March 11, 1985
A Brief History of the Recife Metro
Like many large cities, Recife recognised the need for an efficient public transport system capable of accommodating its huge population and linking the different parts of the city. The initial project was conceived in the 1980s, similar to other Brazilian cities. The federal government created the Metrorec consortium in September 1982, which began construction of the system in January 1983.
The CBTU subsequently replaced the Metrorec consortium. It was set up as a joint stock company in February 1984 with a mandate to modernise, expand and implement various passenger rail transport systems in Brazil. The Recife Metro officially began operations on 11 March 1985.
After the completion of the first phase, the system embarked on several expansion initiatives, mainly by absorbing other existing railway lines and infrastructure connecting Recife with its suburbs, previously owned by the RFFSA. One of the most significant expansions of the system began in 1998. This expansion saw the electrification of the southern line, the extension of the central line and, in 2013, the conversion of the diesel line to the VLT light rail system and the addition of a new station to the central line.
Lines and Stations of Recife Metro
The Recife Metro consists of five different lines. Three of these are the actual metro network, while the other two are light rail trains known as VLT (Veículo Leve sobre trilhos, or light vehicle on rails). There are 29 stations in the system, each with its own characteristics. Instead of a numerical classification, the lines of the Recife Metro are named after the area they serve. These are
Central Line 1
This is one of the branches of the Central Line, the original section of the Recife Metro. Like the other lines, it starts from Recife Station, located near the northern coastal area of the city. It serves 15 stations and covers a distance of 18.3 kilometres. The line includes the stations of Joana Bezerra, Afogados, Ipiranga, Mangueira, Santa Luzia, Edgar Werneck, Barro, Tejipió and Coqueiral. There is a junction at Coqueiral station, from where line 1 continues to Alto do Céu, Curado, Rodoviária, Cosme e Damião, and finally to Camaragibe.
The journey from one end to the other takes about 28 minutes. The first section of this line was inaugurated in 1985, extended to Rodoviária in 1986 and extended to Camaragibe in 2002. This line is associated with the colour orange.
Central Line 2
This line is a branch of the Central Line. It shares the route of Central Line 1 from Recife to Coqueiral, and then makes its own way to Cavaleiro, Floriano, Engenho Velho and Jaboatão stations. This line has 14 stations spread over 16 kilometres of track. The journey time between the two terminals is approximately 26 minutes. The extension from Coqueiral to Jaboatão station was completed in 1987. The colour red identifies this line.
South Line
This line, known as the Linha Sul in Portuguese, is 14.3 kilometres long and passes through 12 stations. The journey from start to finish takes about 22 minutes. Like the other metro lines, it starts at Recife station, goes to Joana Bezerra and then branches off towards Largo de Paz. It then passes through Imbiribeira, Antônio Falcão, Recife Shopping Centre, Tancredo Neves, Aeroporto, Porta Larga, Monte dos Guararapes, Prazeres and Cajueiro Seco. This line was inaugurated on 28 February 2005 with a route between Recife and Imbiribeira. It was extended to the Recife Shopping Centre in March 2009, reached Tancredo Neves in February 2010 and was finally extended to its current terminal, Cajueiro Seco, in August 2010. The colour dark blue is associated with this line.
Cajueiro Seco-Cabo Line (VLT)
This is one of the two light rail lines operated by Recife Metro. The line already existed when the metro was planned, but was operated independently until 1988, when it was taken over by Metrorec and rerouted to Cajueiro Seco to connect with the future southern line. This line underwent a major transformation in 2010 when it was upgraded to the modern VLT system. It consists of six stations along a 15.5 km route, with a journey time of approximately 42 minutes. The stations are Cajueiro Seco, Ângelo de Souza, Pontezinha, Ponte dos Carvalhos, Santo Inácio and Cabo. The colour green identifies this line.
Curado-Cajueiro Seco Line (VLT)
This is the other line that has been upgraded to VLT. It originally connected the cities of Recife and Maceió. Metrorec took control of the line in 1988 and rerouted it to Cajueiro Seco station to connect with the future South Line. This line is about 18.4 kilometres long and has four stations, which can be covered in about 31 minutes. This line runs to the north of the city, close to its outskirts. The stations served by this line are: Curado, Jorge Lins, Marcos Freire and Cajueiro Seco. The grey colour identifies this line.
Operating Hours and Timetables
Unlike other transport systems, the Recife Metro operates on fixed timetables, which are fairly consistent across all lines. For Central Line 1, Central Line 2 and South Line, the service is continuous from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. For Central Lines 1 and 2, the interval between trains is between 4 and 7 minutes, depending on the time of day. On the South Line, the interval between trains remains constant at 8 minutes, regardless of demand.
The VLT lines have a different timetable. On the Cajueiro Seco-Cabo line, the first train departs from Cabo station at 5:21 a.m. and the last leaves Cajueiro Seco at 8:47 p.m. This schedule applies from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, the service is available until 3:15 p.m. Frequency on this line is relatively low, with train intervals ranging from about an hour to forty minutes throughout the day.
The Curado-Cajueiro Seco line departs from Cajueiro Seco station at 5.49am. The last train leaves Curado at 8:31 p.m. On Saturdays, the last train leaves the same station at 2:13 p.m. This section of Recife’s metro is particularly infrequent, with almost two hours between trains in the morning, decreasing somewhat during rush hour and increasing again in the afternoon.
Fares, Tickets, and Cards
The fare structure of the Recife Metro is simple. Passengers can opt for a basic ticket, which allows unlimited travel throughout the system, with no time or distance restrictions. This ticket costs R$1.60 (approximately $0.46 USD). In addition, there are other options, including the possibility of integrating metro and bus journeys through integrated tickets.
All passengers can buy integrated tickets if they wish. Both types of ticket serve the same purpose, but differ in the distance a user travels. The first ticket covers all stations within a designated ring, marked ‘A’, and costs R$2.15 ($0.56 USD). The second ticket allows for more extensive travel and covers all stations within the “B” ring. This ticket costs R$3.25 (about $0.85 USD).
Integration with Other Transport Systems
Given the size of Recife, different transport systems are needed to connect all its regions. The Recife Metro therefore has numerous connections with an extensive bus network operated by around 18 different companies. Together, these companies manage around 4800 buses that travel around the city. The entire operation is overseen by a public body, the Grande Recife Consórcio de Transporte.
Some metro stations, such as Recife, Joana Bezerra, Afogados, Santa Luzia, Edgar Werneck, Barro, Tejipió, Cosme e Damião, Camaragibe, Jaboatão, Largo da Paz, Tancredo Neves, Aeroporto, Prazeres, Cajueiro Seco and Rodoviária, have adjacent bus terminals. The Rodoviária station even offers bus services to most parts of Brazil.
In addition to the bus system, the transport consortium also manages the BRT Via Libre, a bus rapid transit system that includes two corridors in the city and was inaugurated in 2014. The first corridor runs along a north-south axis and serves around 66,000 users a day at its 25 stations. This corridor connects the municipalities of Igarassu, Abreu e Lima, Paulista and Olinda with Recife. The East/West corridor serves more than 50,000 users daily through its fifteen stations. One of these stations, Camaragibe, is also the terminus of Line 1 of the Recife Metro.
Connections to the Airport
The main hub for air travel to and from Recife is Recife/Guararapes International Airport, also known as Gilberto Freyre. Located in the municipality of Jaboatão dos Guararapes, it is the busiest airport in the entire northeast region. Relatively close to the city (12 kilometres), the metro provides a direct link to the terminal, which can be conveniently reached via a passenger bridge to the Aeroporto station on the South line.
Future Expansions
Since the last expansion of the system in 2010, Recife Metro has mainly focused on modernising its existing facilities and systems, in particular the VLT lines project. However, there are several plans to further expand the system. One major proposal is an 11-kilometre extension to connect several VLT systems in the municipality of Ipojuca. Thus, in the short term, we can expect to see the extension and development of the VLT lines through different areas of the city, connected to the existing metro lines.
Tips for Travelers
As with any public transport system, a few basic tips can ensure a pleasant and safe journey. In the case of the Recife Metro, these are:
- Although the fare system is simple, it’s important to choose the right ticket if you plan to use an integrated ticket (valid for both metro and bus lines), as the fare varies depending on the distance you plan to travel.
- Note that the system operates on a regular schedule during the week, but has much shorter operating hours on Saturdays. Bear this in mind when planning your trips around the city.
- If you’re taking the metro to or from the airport, it’s best not to travel with excess baggage as it may inconvenience other passengers.
Fun Facts
Every transport system has its unique aspects that can be fascinating for frequent travellers. The Recife Metro is no exception and has many interesting elements. Some of these are:
- Due to the high illiteracy rate in the region (over 10.55% in 2000), the Recife Metro introduced a pictogram system. This helped those who could not read to identify each station, making it easier for them to navigate the system.
- Recife Metro was the third metro system in Brazil, after Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
- The metro network includes several train systems: a conventional metro, a former diesel line and two light rail lines.
Tourism and Sightseeing
As a coastal city, crisscrossed by many rivers and smaller bodies of water, Recife is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. Its islands and islets are major attractions. In addition, Recife’s rich history can be discovered in numerous places throughout the city’s historic centre. The city’s economic influence on the northeastern region has also resulted in a recognisable skyline. Some of the most visited places, easily accessible via the Recife Metro, include:
Museum of the City of Recife – Fort of Five Points: Located a few blocks south of the Recife train station, this museum is housed in the Forte de São Tiago das Cinco Pontas. This Portuguese stone building was built on top of an older Dutch fort. It is one of the most important historical museums in the city and regularly hosts exhibitions and events about Recife’s past.
Guararapes National Historical Park: This 3.6 square kilometre park is located in the community of Jaboatão dos Guararapes. Inside the park is the Morro de los Guararapes, a hill known as the central area of the Battle of Guararapes, which resulted in the defeat and expulsion of the Dutch from the city. To get there, passengers can get off at Porta Larga station or Monte dos Guararapes station, both of which are closer and served by the southern line.
Desert Dock Museum (Cais do Sertão): Located near Recife’s train station, this is one of the city’s newest museums, inaugurated in 2014. It is a thematic museum dedicated to the Sertão region, a semi-desert area in the northeast with deep-rooted musical and social traditions. The museum has many references to Luiz Gonzaga, a famous singer considered one of the greatest exponents of the baião genre.