Metrorrey, the urban transport system of Monterrey, is a light rail system with mainly above-ground stations, but also some underground and street-level stations. Currently, Metrorrey operates two lines with 32 stations.
The system crosses Monterrey from north to south and east to west, extending to the municipalities of Guadalupe and Escobedo. Inaugurated in 1989, Metrorrey’s expansion has been on hold for some time. It covers 33 kilometres and the basic fare for passengers is 4.50 pesos ($0.24 USD). Metrorrey operates from 4:45 am to 12:00 am.
The system serves approximately 370,000 passengers daily. Fares can be purchased at gates or with smart cards. It does not operate 24 hours a day and has no air conditioning. It is not possible to walk between platforms and the trains are not driverless.
There are no screen doors on the platforms. The system is operated by the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metrorrey. Operating hours are from 5:00 to 00:00 from Monday to Sunday. The fare is MXN 4.50.
Metro Map of Monterrey
Map of Monterrey Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Monterrey Metro map in PDF format.
Subways in Mexico: Monterrey
The City
Located in northern Mexico, Monterrey is the capital of the state of Nuevo Leon, which borders the United States. The third largest city in the country, with a total population of 4.4 million in the metropolitan area, Monterrey is a major financial centre in Mexico and is home to major corporations such as Cemex and FEMSA.
Known as the “City of Mountains” due to the surrounding mountain ranges and highlands, Monterrey boasts prominent tourist attractions such as the Paseo Santa Lucía, Latin America’s longest man-made river, and the Barrio Antiguo, a hub of museums that attracts millions of tourists annually.
Monterrey is also home to the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, the state’s public university, and several professional sports teams, making it a culturally vibrant city. The city experiences extreme weather, with winter temperatures dropping to 14-16°C and summer temperatures soaring to 26-28°C.
Transportation
The Metrorrey Collective Transport System, or Metrorrey, is one of the city’s main public transport systems. It runs from east to west through Guadalupe and from north to south through Escobedo.
Metrorrey has 32 stations spread over two lines with a total length of 33 kilometres. A third line is under construction. The system uses 84 rail cars, with each train consisting of three or four cars. Trains have a capacity of about 300 passengers, and last year Metrorrey carried about 180,446,000 passengers, an average of about 500,000 per day. Metrorrey operations are managed by the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metrorrey, a government agency.
- Known as: Metrorrey
- Length: 33 kilometers
- Number of lines: 3
- Number of stations: 32
- Maximum speed: 80 km/h
- Operated by: Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metrorrey
- Daily passengers: Approximately 500,000
- Founded: April 25, 1991
History
Metrorrey was founded on 9 November 1987, when the Nuevo León State Congress created the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metrorrey. This institution was charged with the construction, management and operation of the metro system. It operates independently and generates its own capital, although it is a government body. Construction of the first line began on 25 April 1988 and Metrorrey was inaugurated on 25 April 1991.
Construction of Line 2 began in February 1993 and the first segment opened on 30 November 1994. After more than two decades of operation, expansion has been slow, with the second half of Line 2 only beginning construction in 2005, and Line 3 still under construction.
Lines and Stations
Currently, Metrorrey operates 32 stations on two different lines with a total length of 33 kilometres. The design of the stations varies: there are 24 surface stations, 7 underground stations and 1 street level station. Of the total, 27 are regular stations, 4 are terminals and only one is a connecting station. The two lines are as follows:
Line 1
Line 1 was the first line of the Metrorrey system to be inaugurated on 25 April 1991. With 19 stations and 17.833 kilometres, it runs from the northeast of the city to the east through downtown Monterrey. All stations are above ground except for Talleres, which is at street level. Line 1 originally consisted of 18 stations from San Bernabé to Exposición. However, the line was extended in 2002 with the addition of Cuauhtémoc station, which connects Line 1 and Line 2. The stations on Line 1, marked in yellow from west to east, are Talleres, San Bernabé, Unidad Modelo, Aztlán, Penitenciaría, Alfonso Reyes, Mitras, Simón Bolívar, Hospital, Edison, Central, Cuauhtémoc, Del Golfo, Félix Uresti Gómez, Parque Fundidora, Y Griega, Eloy Cavazos, Lerdo de Tejada and Exposición.
Line 2
Line 2 of the Metrorrey, identified by the colour green, runs 13.036 kilometres from north to south through Monterrey. It was inaugurated on 30 November 1994, initially with only 7 stations. Today it has 13 stations, with those from Sendero to Niños Héroes above ground and those from Regina to General Zaragoza underground. The line was extended in 2007 with the addition of stations from Universidad to General Anaya, and in 2008 it was further extended from Sendero to Anáhuac. The stations on Line 2 are Sendero, Santiago Tapia, San Nicolás, Anáhuac, Universidad, Niños Héroes, Regina, General Anaya, Cuauhtémoc, Alameda, Fundadores, Padre Mier and General Zaragoza.
Hours of Operation and Frequency
Metrorrey runs from 4.45am to midnight. However, there are no exact times for train arrivals and departures. The time between trains during peak periods is approximately 4 minutes 12 seconds on Line 1 and 4 minutes on Line 2. These times may be longer at off-peak times. Peak times are usually between 6.30-9.30am and 5.00-8.00pm.
Fares, Tickets and Cards
The Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metrorrey offers several payment methods for passengers. Tickets are available in the form of prepaid cards, which passengers can top up using automatic machines at each station. A basic one-way ticket costs 4.50 Mexican pesos ($0.24 USD), while a round-trip ticket costs 8.50 Mexican pesos ($0.44 USD). Tickets are valid on the Metro, Transmetro and Ecovía, with an additional cost of 8 Mexican pesos ($0.42 USD) to use the Metrobús.
In parallel with the extension of Line 2, Metrorrey has introduced a new payment method: the Tarjeta MIA, a smart card that allows passengers to pay in advance for journeys on the various STC Metrorrey transport systems. The card costs 20 Mexican pesos ($1.05 USD) and includes four rides. Credit can be added in increments of one (USD 0.05) to 100 Mexican pesos (USD 5.23), with a maximum credit limit of 300 Mexican pesos (USD 15.68). Use of the MIA Card also offers credit bonuses for prepaid tickets, providing additional savings for passengers.
Connections to the Airport
The General Mariano Escobedo International Airport, also known as Monterrey International Airport, is located about 20 kilometres from the city of Monterrey, in the municipality of Apodaca. Several private bus companies provide transportation from the airport to the central bus station, Camionera de Monterrey. From there, passengers can walk to the Central and Cuauhtémoc metro stations. Alternatively, passengers can take the VivaBus to its own terminal and then catch the metro at Y Griega station.
Connections to Other Systems
Monterrey has a variety of public transport options, many of which are interlinked. These include numerous bus lines, known as camiones, which cover most of the city. These routes are divided into radial, peripheral, intercity and suburban categories, and fares average 11.71 Mexican pesos ($0.61 USD).
Metrobús, another part of the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metrorrey, currently operates on 22 routes with a fleet of 425 buses. This system is fully integrated with the Metrorrey metro and they connect at several points, including San Bernabé, Mitras, Hospital, Y Griega and Exposición stations on Line 1 and Cuauhtémoc station on Line 2.
The TransMetro, formerly known as PreMetro, covers 19 kilometres through the municipalities of Guadalupe, Apodaca, San Nicolás de los Garza and General Escobedo, as well as Monterrey. It is a BTR system with 54 stations on ten lines. It connects to the Metrorrey at several points on both Lines 1 and 2.
Another integrated system, MetroEnlace, combines several suburban bus lines with a common fare. It operates on eight lines, six within the state of Nuevo León and two in the state of Coahuila.
Ecovía is a BTR public transport system inaugurated in 2014. It has a single line with 40 stations and connects to the Metrorrey at Mitras station on Line 1 and Regina station on Line 2.
Future Expansions
Metrorrey is currently working on a third line. This new line, which has been planned for many years, will be 7.5 kilometres long and have nine stations. Its starting point will be the General Zaragoza station, close to the city’s main square, the Macroplaza, where it will connect with Line 2 and other transport systems. It is expected that the TransMetro will also add 34 kilometres of lines, benefiting more than 280,000 inhabitants in the municipalities of San Nicolás de los Garza, Apodaca and the city of Monterrey.
Tips and Advice
As with any public transport system, it is advisable to follow some basic tips to ensure a safe and successful journey:
- Plan your route in advance, including any necessary transfers to other public transport.
- Avoid carrying large bags or suitcases as they can affect the safety and comfort of other passengers.
- Choose and purchase your ticket in advance to save time and money.
Fun Facts
Each Metrorrey station has a unique design to help the illiterate identify its location.
There are only seven elevators in the entire Metrorrey system, located in six different stations.
Metrorrey is an environmentally friendly public transport system, with 82% of its energy coming from bioenergy and biogas.
Metrorrey is connected to several other transport systems, including MetroEnlace, TransMetro, Ecovía and Metrobús.
What to See from the Metrorrey
Monterrey is a popular tourist destination known for its rich history and beautiful scenery. Some of the attractions accessible by Metrorrey are:
- Paseo de Santa Lucía: This is the longest man-made river in Latin America. Located a short walk north-east of General Zaragoza Station, visitors can enjoy boat rides and scenic walks along the river.
- Fundidora Park: The most important park in the city, it houses the Museo del Acero Horno, a children’s museum, an ice rink and a historical archive. It can be reached from the Parque Fundidora metro station.
- Museum of Contemporary Art (MARCO): Located just outside the General Zaragoza Metrorrey station, this contemporary art museum displays the city’s most important works by local artists.