Santiago Metro Information
Santiago’s metro system was recently voted the best underground system in the Americas. It is one of the largest metro networks in the world and the second largest in Latin America. The metro operates on 5 lines with a total of 108 stations. It is known for its high annual ridership, which reached a staggering 648.7 million in 2012. To meet such a high demand, trains need to run as often as possible. It is therefore not surprising that it ranks 7th in the world in terms of train frequency. The network, which began operating in 1975, is still being expanded. Two new lines are currently under construction. Metro S.A. is the body responsible for the operation of this metro network.
This particular metro system sees an impressive traffic of about 2.1 million passengers per day. It is not a 24-hour operation; its schedule varies throughout the week. From Monday to Thursday, trains run from 5.35am to 11.40pm. On Saturdays the service is a little longer, starting at 6:30am and running until 11:45pm. On Sundays and holidays, the service is slightly shorter, from 8:00 to 23:30.
Unfortunately, this metro doesn’t have air conditioning, but it does offer the convenience of walkways between platforms. However, the trains are not driverless and there are no screen doors on the platforms.
Fares are a flat rate of 0.55 units of local currency, making it an affordable option for commuters. The metro is operated by Empresa de Transporte de Pasajeros Metro S.A.
This information relates to a mass transit system that serves a significant number of passengers (2,100,000 daily). The fare per trip is fixed at 0.55. It’s worth noting, however, that the system does not operate 24 hours a day and has no air conditioning.
On the plus side, passengers are allowed to walk between platforms. However, the system doesn’t have driverless trains or screen doors on the platforms. The network is managed by Empresa de Transporte de Pasajeros Metro S.A.
Operating hours vary throughout the week. From Monday to Thursday, the service runs from 5:35 to 23:40. On Saturdays, the service runs from 6:30 to 23:45. On Sundays and public holidays the service operates from 8:00 to 23:30. The fare in local currency is 740 Chilean pesos.
Santiago Metro Map
Map of Santiago Metro showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Santiago Metro map in PDF format.
Hours of Operation
The Santiago Metro operates according to the day of the week. From Monday to Friday, the metro runs from 5:35am to 12:08am. On Saturdays, the first train starts a little later at 6:30. On Sundays and public holidays, trains run from 8:00 or 9:00 (for line 1) to 23:46.
In order to cope with the high volume of passengers, trains run at very short intervals. In fact, the Santiago Metro ranks 7th in the world in terms of train frequency.
Ticket offices are open from 6:00 to 23:00 on weekdays. On Saturdays they open half an hour later, and on Sundays and holidays they are open from 8:00 to 22:30.
Lines and Stations
The system currently operates 5 lines: Line 1, Line 2, Line 4, Line 4A and Line 5. Santiago Metro trains are similar to those used in Paris and Mexico, but only the trains on Line 1 have air conditioning. The trains on the other lines use forced air circulation for cooling.
Line 1
Line 1 is an east-west line, shown in red on the Santiago Metro map. As the oldest line in the system, it also carries the most passengers, around 1.5 million a day, making it one of the busiest metro lines in the world.
Primarily an underground line, Line 1 connects 27 stations over a distance of 19.3 kilometres. There are connections with lines 2, 4 and 5. It runs from Los Dominicos station to Pajaritos station and covers the districts of Estación Central, Lo Prado, Providencia, Santiago and Las Condes. A complete journey on this line takes approximately 36 minutes.
The main stations on this line are Los Dominicos, El Golf, Tobalaba, Los Leones, Baquedano, Universidad Católica, Universidad de Chile, Los Héroes, Pajaritos, Neptuno and San Pablo.
Line 2
Line 2 is a north-south line, shown in yellow on the Metro map. It covers a distance of 20.7 kilometres and connects 22 stations. It runs from La Cisterna to Vespucio Norte, with connections to lines 1, 4A and 5 at various stations. It is mainly an underground line.
Around 897,000 passengers use this line every day. There is an express service on this line during peak hours on weekdays. The line serves the municipalities of Santiago, Recoleta, La Cisterna and San Miguel. A complete journey on this line takes about 30 minutes.
The main stations on this line are La Cisterna, Franklin, Los Héroes, Santa Ana, Puente Cal y Canto and Vespucio Norte.
Line 4
Line 4, shown in blue on the metro map, is a northeast-southeast line. It is 23.9 kilometres long and connects 23 stations. This line, which is partly underground and partly on a viaduct, runs from Vicente Valdés station to Tobalaba station.
From line 4 you can transfer to lines 1, 4A and 5. It serves the municipalities of La Florida, Puente Alto, Macul, Peñalolen, La Reina, Nuñoa, Las Condes and Providencia. A full journey on this line takes approximately 35 minutes. Express services are also available on this line.
The main stations on this line are Plaza de Puente Alto, Hospital Sótero del Rio, Vicente Valdés, Vicuña Mackenna, Plaza Egaña, Príncipe de Gales and Tobalaba.
Line 4A
Line 4A is a south-southeast line, shown in light blue on the metro map. It runs from Vicuña Mackenna station to La Cisterna station. It is 7.7 kilometres long and there are 6 stations along the line. This line crosses lines 2 and 4 and serves as a connection between them.
As expected, this line carries less traffic than other metro lines. A full journey on this line, which covers the towns of La Granja, La Florida, La Cisterna and San Ramón, takes about 10 minutes.
Stations on this line include San Ramón, Santa Julia, Santa Rosa, Vicuña Mackenna, La Cisterna and La Granja.
Line 5
Line 5 is a southeast-southwest line, shown in green on the metro map. It runs from Vicente Valdés to Plaza de Maipú, connecting 30 stations over 30 kilometres. Transfers are available from this line to lines 1, 2 and 4. It carries 39.5% of the metro’s daily traffic.
This line is partly underground and partly on a viaduct. A full journey on this line takes about 45 minutes. There is also an express service on this line. It serves La Florida, Santiago, La Prado, Maipú and other communities.
The main stations on this line are Vicente Valdés, Bellavista de La Florida, Ñuble, Irarrázaval, Baquedano, Santa Ana, San Pablo, Laguna Sur and Plaza de Maipú.
Expansion
The metro system is constantly being expanded. Two additional lines are currently under construction.
Line 6 will connect Providencia and Cerrillos, with 11 stations along a 15.3 kilometre route. Line 3 will connect La Reina and Huechuraba via a 21.7 kilometre line with 19 stations. There are also plans to extend Line 3 to the north-west to Quilicura and Line 2 by a further 8.8 kilometres to the south. These extensions are expected to be operational by 2020. Another proposed east-west line, Line 7, is currently under consideration, but no final decisions have been made.
Fares and Tickets
As part of Transantiago, an integrated public transport network, the Santiago Metro uses a fare system that allows seamless transfers from the metro to other forms of public transport in the city. Transfers from the metro to a bus are free, but the reverse transfer costs $20 during off-peak hours and $100 during peak hours. The transfer should be made within 2 hours of the start of the initial journey and a maximum of two transfers are allowed.
These transfers are facilitated by a smart card called the Bip! Card. This card can be purchased at ticket counters for around $1300 and can be loaded with up to $20,000.
Single tickets are also available, but these do not allow for transfers. The cost of a single ticket does not depend on the distance travelled, but on the time of travel. The fare is $740 during peak hours, $660 during off-peak hours, weekends and holidays, and $610 during late and early off-peak hours. Concessionary fares are available for students and senior citizens, who pay as little as $210.
Facilities and Services
The Metro provides a range of facilities and services for the convenience of passengers:
- Bicycle hire centres are available at some stations.
- Stations are aesthetically decorated with artwork and murals.
- Each station is equipped with public telephones and information panels. Some stations also have televisions with entertainment programmes.
- Security personnel, both police and private security guards, are present at all stations.
- Some stations have libraries where passengers can borrow books on presentation of their national identity card or foreign passport.
- Park and Ride services are available at the stations.
- Free Wi-Fi service is available at selected stations.
Regulations
Before using the service, please familiarise yourself with the rules of the Santiago Metro:
- Passengers should always stay behind the yellow line drawn on the platforms, except when boarding trains.
- Pets are allowed, but must be transported in appropriate containers.
- Senior citizens are entitled to discounts on tickets only at off-peak times.
- Smoking, drinking and eating are prohibited in stations except in designated areas.
Tips
Here are a few tips to make your metro experience more enjoyable:
- Theft and pickpocketing are common on the Santiago Metro. Keep an eye on your belongings at all times. It is advisable to hold your rucksack in front of you.
- If you’re short of cash, there are BancoEstado or Banco de Chile cash machines at every station.