Valencia Metro

The Valencia Metro is a major metro system in the city of Valencia, Venezuela. It was officially opened to the public on 18 November 2007 and has 9 stations and two lines. The metro system provides convenient connections to the national railway service and between its own lines, Line 1 and Line 2. Although the metro does not have a direct connection to the airport, there are two stations relatively close to the airport. The standard ticket price for a trip on the Valencia Metro is USD 0.40. Passengers are advised to carry cash as this is the only form of payment accepted. Those travelling with prams should fold them before boarding. An interesting fact about the Valencia metro is that the tunnels were built using a tunnel boring machine, which was also used in a tunnel project in Canada. There are currently plans to build a total of 17 stations to further extend the metro network. The Monumental metro station in particular is surrounded by various shopping centres and points of interest.

The Valencia Metro serves approximately 62,000 passengers per day. Specific information on fares is not included in this summary. However, the system is equipped with air conditioning for passenger comfort. Unfortunately, the Valencia Metro does not operate 24 hours a day. Passengers are not allowed to walk between platforms and the trains are not driverless. There are also no screen doors on the platforms.

Valencia Metro’ operates from 5.30 am to 11.00 pm from Monday to Friday and from 6.00 am to 11.30 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The fare is €1.

Metro Map of Valencia, Venezuela

Map of Valencia Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Valencia metro map in PDF format.

Metros in Venezuela: The Valencia Metro

Valencia, the capital of the state of Carabobo, Venezuela, stands out as a city with a significant industrial presence in the country. In addition to its industrial importance, Valencia has historical significance as the site of a crucial battle for Venezuelan independence. Despite its urban setting, the city is dotted with numerous parks and is home to one of Venezuela’s most prominent lakes, Lake Valencia. Valencia is surrounded by picturesque hills and mountains.

Public transport in Valencia includes buses, national railway trains and the metro. Taxis are also readily available. Valencia used to have a tram service, but it was closed on 31 March 1947. The Valencia Metro is managed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and serves over 1,450,000 people in the city.

History

Construction of the Valencia metro began in 1994, but progress was halted due to financial constraints. Discussions about restarting the project began in 1997. Initially the tunnels were dug by hand using shovels, but in 2000 a tunnel boring machine was purchased to speed up the process. Full funding for the metro was secured in 2000, amounting to approximately US$800 million.

Line 1 of the Valencia metro opened on 18 November 2006, initially with only three stations and free travel for the first year. The official inauguration of the Valencia Metro took place on 18 November 2007, with the opening of additional stations. At present, passengers must buy tickets to use the metro.

At the time of its inauguration, seven stations were operational, covering approximately five kilometres of track. Subsequently, in 2015, additional stations were inaugurated, extending the Valencia metro by more than 1.4 kilometres. However, Line 2 of the metro system remains unfinished. Construction of its stations began in July 2007, but was halted in December 2009. Construction resumed on 24 October 2011, with plans to extend Line 2 by over 4 kilometres when completed.

Lines and Stations

The Valencia metro has two lines and a total of 9 stations, with each platform 120 metres long. Siemens is supplying all the electrical equipment for the metro. The construction of the tunnels followed a trench-like shape, with all stations located underground. Each station has six escalators and two underground levels. The first level is for ticket sales, while the second level houses the platforms. The metro system operates with a fleet of 12 carriages. Below are the stations for each line:

Line 1: This line serves the municipalities of Valencia and Naguanagua, starting at Monumental station and ending at Cedeño station. The line has the following 9 stations:

1. Las Ferias: Located on Las Ferias Avenue, this station was inaugurated on 18th November 2007 and serves the community of Valencia.
2. Monumental: One of the terminal stations, located in Plaza de Toros, it was one of the first stations to be opened to the public when the metro was inaugurated. Monumental is one of the busiest stations in the metro network.
3. Francisco de Miranda: Although not fully completed, this station offers partial transport services, mainly for the citizens of the municipality of Naguanagua. It was inaugurated on 29 April 2015, making it one of the newest stations in the metro system.
4. Cedeño: The second terminal station, also inaugurated during the inauguration of the metro, is located at the intersection of Bolivar and Cedeño Avenues.
5. Santa Rosa: This station, inaugurated on 18th November 2007, is located on Las Ferias Avenue and serves passengers from the city of Valencia.
6. Palotal: Like Santa Rosa, Palotal station is located on Las Ferias Avenue. It was one of the few stations to open on the day the metro was inaugurated.
7. Rafael Urdaneta: This station, which is operational but still under construction, serves the community of Naguanagua. It was opened to the public on 29 April 2015.
8. Lara: Operational since 2007, this station is located on Lara Avenue.
9. Michelena: Located at the intersection of Las Ferias Avenue and 91 Street in Michelena, this station has been in operation since 2007.

Line 2: At the moment there is only one station on line 2.

1. Lara: This is the same station as Line 1.

Connections

Lara station is a convenient transfer point between Line 1 and Line 2 of the Valencia Metro.

In the future, one of the future stations will offer connections to trains of the national railway service, the Great Venezuela Railway.

Access to the airport

Arturo Michelena Valencia International Airport is the only airport in Valencia. For travellers wishing to take the metro to the airport, the closest metro station is San Diego station, which is approximately 15 minutes away by car. Another station close to the airport is Las Ferias.

Timetable, calendar and maps

The Valencia Metro operates from Monday to Friday, except on public holidays. Service starts at 6:00 and continues until 23:00. Trains run every 10 minutes during rush hour and every 20 minutes during off-peak hours. The journey time between Valencia city centre and Monumental station is approximately 12 minutes.

Prices, tickets and cards

There are two types of tickets for the Valencia Metro: regular tickets and student tickets. Regular tickets cost 4 bolivares ($0.40), while student tickets cost 1.2 bolivares ($0.12). Children under the age of four travel for free, and senior citizens and people with disabilities also travel free on the metro. There are currently no cards available for the Valencia metro and all transactions are made in cash.

Tips

1. Explore Venezuelan history by visiting Campo Carabobo.
2. For safety reasons, travel in groups and during the day when visiting the city centre.
3. Don’t miss the chance to try the famous local snack “Panelas de San Joaquín”.
4. Try local dishes such as cachapas and tizanas.
5. Places to visit in the city centre include the Celis House, Plaza Bolivar and the Cathedral.
6. For a panoramic view of the city, visit Mount Casupo.
7. If you are travelling out of Valencia, make sure you have cash to pay the toll, as cash is the only form of payment accepted.
8. Avoid travelling between 16:00 and 18:00 due to heavy traffic during rush hours.
9. The Metro only accepts cash, so make sure you have the exact amount needed for your ticket.
10. Keep an eye on your belongings as pickpockets are common.
11. For customer service enquiries you can contact them by telephone on 058 0241 874 0400 or 058 0241 874 0406 or by email at atencionciudadano@metrovalencia.gob.ve. Their offices are located on Avenida Sesquicentenaria, Parque Recreacional Sur, Parte Sur Oeste, Parroquia Miguel Peña, Municipio Valencia, State of Carabobo.

Rules

Some of the rules for the Valencia metro are standard for most metro services, such as no smoking in metro facilities and no assaulting passengers or staff. Other rules include staying behind the yellow line on platforms to avoid accidents, buying a ticket for passengers aged five and over, and only allowing police dogs and guide dogs to accompany passengers. Seats near the entrance are reserved for the elderly, pregnant women and disabled people, and prams should be folded before being brought onto the metro.

Other rules prohibit the carrying of explosives, flammable materials or dangerous chemicals on the Underground, and passengers are advised to stay by their children’s side at all times. Hanging arms out of train windows is strictly forbidden and running on the metro or in stations is discouraged. Passengers are advised to hold on to the handrails if they choose not to sit during the journey to avoid falling. It is strictly forbidden to enter the metro under the influence of drugs or alcohol and to walk on the tracks or in the tunnels. Elevators in stations are reserved for the elderly, disabled and pregnant women, unless necessary.

Fun Facts

• The trains used in the Valencia metro are manufactured by the Spanish company Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF).
• The Monumental station, also known as Plaza de Toros, has a unique design inspired by the nearby tourist building “Plaza de Toros”.
• The tunnel boring machine used to excavate the tunnels of the Valencia metro was the same one used for a railway line in Saint Clair River, Canada, known as “Topa Beatriz” (Beatriz, The Mole).
• The metro has a daily ridership of around 60,000 passengers and a total track length of over six kilometres.
• Between its opening and February 2017, the metro has been used by over 170 million passengers.
• The future station connecting the metro to the Great Venezuelan Railway will be located near the University of Carabobo, making it easier for students from other states to travel there.
• Each train can carry up to 545 passengers and has an average speed of around 25 kilometres per hour, with a top speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
• The Valencia Metro trains are SD-460 family light rail vehicles manufactured by the German company Siemens. Each train consists of two carriages about 30 metres long and weighing about 41,000 kilograms. The trains consume 600 kilowatts of power and draw electricity from overhead wires through pantographs.
• The trains’ wheels are removable, an innovation when they were introduced in 2006.

Future Expansions

Four stations are currently under construction and 17 more are planned. In addition, two unfinished stations are already open to the public. The stations currently under construction are El Viñedo, Los Sauces, Guaparo and Majay. In the near future, Rafael Urdaneta and Francisco de Miranda stations will be completed. The following stations are in the planning stage:

Line 1: The line will be divided into three parts, of which only the first part is currently completed. The remaining two sections will have the following stations:

1. Simón Bolívar.
2. Paramacay.
3. Caprenco.
4. La Campiña.
5. La Granja.
6. Tarapio.

Line 2: The stations planned for this line are as follows:

1. La Guacamaya.
2. Bomberos.
3. Henry Ford.
4. Cementerio.
5. Aranzazu.
6. Uslar.
7. La Florida.
8. Estadio.
9. Lara II.
10. Branger.
11. Hospital.

All of these stations are scheduled for completion by 2020. There are also plans to build new lines and additional stations beyond 2020. One of the proposed new lines is Line 3.

While all the stations are currently underground, there are plans to build stations on the surface. This is possible because the trains will receive their electricity from an overhead line. This eliminates the need for a third rail, which could be dangerous for pedestrians, and keeps the trains mainly underground. As a result, Valencia Metro trains will have the flexibility to run on surface lines.

Once all the stations on Line 2 are built, the line is expected to carry more than 145,000 passengers per day. In particular, a Line 2 station will be available in San Diego, providing an additional transfer point to National Rail Service trains.

Nearby Attractions

Valencia has a wealth of attractions, including national parks, shopping centres and other points of interest. Monumental station, one of the busiest stations on the Valencia Metro, is a useful reference point. Here are some of the nearby tourist attractions:

1. Negra Hipólita Park: From Monumental, take the metro to Cedeño station. Travel 5 stops and get off at Cedeño station. From there it’s a 3 kilometre walk to the park. You can also take a taxi. The address of the park is: Parque Negra Hipólita, Valencia 2001.
2. Casa de los Celis: From Monumental take the metro to Lara station. From Lara station, walk down Avenida Lara/Calle 95 A towards Avenida 100 Bolivar Sur. Your destination is approximately 690 metres away. Finally, walk to Calle 98 Comercio.
3. Atenéo de Valencia: From Monumental, take the metro to Cedeño station. Once at Cedeño, walk about 410 metres. Take Calle 105 Cedeño and continue to Avenida 100 Constitución. Walk towards Avenida 100 Bolivar Norte. Your destination is between Colombia 100 and Salom 108.
4. Casa Páez: From Monumental, take the metro to Lara station. Once you arrive at Lara station, you’ll need to walk about 600 metres. First walk down Avenida Lara/Calle 95A and then walk down Avenida San Jose de Tarbes. Finally, walk towards Avenida 98 Boyacá and Calle 99 Páez.
5. La Fundación Mendoza Shopping Centre: From Monumental, take the train to Las Ferias station. Once you get to Las Ferias, it’s about 890 metres on foot. Start walking towards Avenida 100 Bolivar Sur and continue to Avenida Principal. Finally, walk to the Centro Comercial La Fundación Mendoza, 2001.