Line 12 Scheduled for 2022: Claudia Sheinbaum

In press conference, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said that repair works at Metro Line 12, which collapsed in May 2021, will be ready by the end of 2022. Guillermo Calderón, Metro System Director, highlighted that over 4.5 of the 11.9km of existing rails will be replaced in the underground segment between the Atlalilco and Parque de Los Venados stations. 

The project entails the rehabilitation of 18km of rails on both sides of the track, 20 tons of degraded ballast, replacement of seven curves, as well as sleepers. “Since 2014-2015, the specialized company Systra, hired by the government administration at that time, diagnosed that those curves had shorter radiuses and required a stronger rail. Replacements were done in the elevated section between 2014 and 2015 but not in subterranean segment of the line.” Calderón declared. 

In the case of the seven curves to be repaired, the rail must be replaced to avoid maintenance expenses and ondulatory damage to the rail or excessive train wheel abrasion.

Calderón said that to retire the degraded and deteriorated material and to move in machinery and new materials they will have to demolish a wall, which means that a segment of Tlahuac avenue will be closed. 

According to Sheinbaum, most of the project expenses will be paid by construction companies, which means that finishing on time is their responsibility. According to the head of Mexico City’s Attorney General’s Office (FGJ), Ernestina Godoy, the investigation report established that the collapse was caused by deficiencies in the design and construction of the structure, as well as the deficient quality of the materials used in the project. 

Reconstruction works began in February 2022 and will include an expansion to the line of 4km to connect it with Line 1’s Observatorio station. Companies TSO NGE Mexico and Ingeniería y Servicios Aplicados (ISSA), in charge of preventive and corrective maintenance to the line since 2016, will participate. The total investment and the exact date of the reopening of Line 12 remain unknown.