Mexico City Metro
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Overview | |||
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Native name | Metro de la Ciudad de México | ||
Locale | Mexico City | ||
Transit type | Rapid transit | ||
Number of lines | 12 | ||
Line number | 1-9, 12, A, B | ||
Number of stations | 195 | ||
Daily ridership | 4,616,264 (2013) | ||
Annual ridership | 1.662 billion (2016) | ||
Website | Metro de la Ciudad de México | ||
Operation | |||
Began operation | September 4, 1969 | ||
Operator(s) | Sistema de Transporte Colectivo (STC) | ||
Number of vehicles | 390 | ||
Technical | |||
System length | 226.5 km (140.7 mi) | ||
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (standard gauge) (2 lines); and roll ways along track (Rubber-tyred metro) (10 lines) | ||
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The Mexico City Metro (Spanish: Metro de la Ciudad de México), officially called Sistema de Transporte Colectivo, often shortened to STC, is a metro system that serves the metropolitan area of Mexico City, including some municipalities in Mexico State. It is the second largest metro system in North America after the New York City Subway. In 2016, the system served 1.662 billion passengers, placing it as the ninth highest ridership in the world.
The inaugural STC Metro line was 12.7 kilometres (7.9 mi) long, serving 16 stations, and opened to the public on September 4, 1969. The system has expanded since then in a series of fits and starts. As of 2015[update], the system has 12 lines, serving 195 stations, and 226.49 kilometres (140.73 mi) of route (including the recently opened Line 12). Ten of the lines are rubber-tyred; instead of traditional steel wheels, they use pneumatic traction, which are quieter and cope better with Mexico City's unstable soils. The system survived the 1985 Mexico City earthquake.
Of the STC Metro's 195 stations, 24 serve two or more lines (correspondencias or transfer stations). Many stations are named for historical figures, places, or events in Mexican history. It has 115 underground stations (the deepest of which are 35 metres (115 ft) below street level); 54 surface stations and 26 elevated stations. All lines operate from 5 a.m. to midnight.
At the end of 2007, the Federal District government announced the construction of the most recent STC Metro line, Line 12, which was built to run approximately 26 kilometres (16 mi) towards the southeastern part of the city, connecting with Lines 7, 3, 2 and 8. This line opened on 30 October 2012.