Metro Line 12 Partially Reopens

Over 19 months after the closure of Line 12 following the fatal collapse of an overground section, Mexico City’s Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum announced the partial restart of the line’s operation, which is expected to benefit 175,000 users every day. 

After the collapse killed 26 people and injured hundreds, the city’s government decided to close the entire line since its review encountered various irregularities. To tackle the issue, Sheinbaum’s government launched a refurbishment program to change rails and revise seven curves along the 11.8km track. The local government also said it started legal procedures against some Metro officers involved in the construction of the line and accused them of corruption. 

This Sunday, Sheinbaum announced the partial reopening of the line, offering free service for the day instead of the usual MX$5 (US$0.27) fee. Line 12 will only operate in underground stations starting from Atlalico station to Mixcoac terminal, a total of 9 stations. During a ceremony at Mixcoac station, Sheinbaum reported that her administration would refurbish the system’s infrastructure, specifically seven curves with radii of less than 300m. The government will change rail tracks and ballast, as well as construct a sump to prevent water leaks. Sheinbaum said works for the restoration of the remaining elevated section are continuing but she did not provide a tentative date for a complete reopening. 

Sheinbaum highlighted that the reopening was certified by the Germany-based technical services provider TÜV Rheinland and the Metro’s Consultative Council. The renewed line did not have the expected number of users. Nonetheless, once users return to use Line 12, it is expected to host over 175,000/d since it has 13 trains enabling a reduced travel time of 20 minutes. Before Line 12 closed down, around 370,000 users would travel on it daily.

According to Sheinbaum, the metro’s budget has increased during her administration and if needed, she will allocate further resources. She also said the city would review operational strategies to accelerate the Metro network’s maintenance since over the last few months the subway has reported a series of dangerous incidents. “We are revising all the administrative processes inside Metro, which will allow us to accelerate workers' access to the required tools to give the maintenance of the units,” she added. 

Mexico City’s Metro has faced public scrutiny over the past months since a series of incidents like crashes, fires and interruptions laid the system’s lack of maintenance bare, an issue experts associate with budgetary reductions and corruption.