Technical details
Client
Metro S.A.
Dates

1967 – Present

Missions
Project Management; preliminary studies; design studies; systems studies; construction supervision; consultancy; studies review; preparation of technical documentation
Location
Chile
Activity
Metros

Over the years, SYSTRA has established itself as one of the most committed engineering firms working on the Santiago metro. Our teams contributed to the creation of the network in the 1960s and have since participated in the automation of line 1, the creation and extension of lines 3 and 6, and the design studies and construction supervision of line 7.

Following our initial contributions to the Santiago metro in 1967 and in the decades that followed, in 2012, SYSTRA was awarded a new contract to support Metro S.A., the manager and operator of the Santiago network, in installing the new metro lines 3 and 6.

SYSTRA was involved in all stages of the line 3 and line 6 projects, from preliminary design to testing & commissioning, for all systems and rolling stock.

Comprehensive support from SYSTRA on Lines 3 and 6

SYSTRA carried out the design, testing and commissioning of the systems and rolling stock for Lines 3 (Plaza Quilicura – Fernando Castillo Velasco) and 6 (Cerrillos – Los Leones).

Line 3

Running entirely underground for 20.18km with 10 stations, interconnected with the entire network and serving 1.1 million residents, it halves the journey time for many routes. Commissioned in 2019, it operates 23 AS-2014 trains with CBTC, at a commercial speed of 80km/h.

Line 6

Chile’s first driverless line, running 15.42km underground with 10 stations, it crosses eight districts and serves over one million residents. Commissioned in 2017, it operates 14 AS-2014 trains with CBTC, at a commercial speed of 80 km/h.

SYSTRA still present alongside its client

Metro S.A. entrusted us with two assignments in 2024 and 2025:

  • In 2024, preliminary studies for the systems on Line 9. This contract covers engineering, consulting, review of studies and preparation of all technical documentation.
  • In 2025, preparations began for Line 8 of the metro, which will enter service in 2032. The result was a new contract for SYSTRA Subterra, which is designing the tunnels and evacuation shafts for the project, set to include 14 stations spread over 19km.

SYSTRA at the cutting-edge of technology

Several lines of the Santiago metro present cutting-edge innovations initiated and designed by SYSTRA:

  • Trains running on pneumatic tyres on lines 1, 2 and 5, to the benefit of passenger comfort and operating speed
  • U-shaped viaduct, little elevated infrastructure in concrete and patented by SYSTRA as a world first on line 5,
  • Reduction of noise and vibrations on lines 4 and 5, for those living close to the
  • network,
  • UTO automatic train control systems (100% automatic) for lines 3 and 6 starting with the inauguration, and migration of line 1 done without interrupting operation.

Today, the Santiago metro is the third busiest network in Latin America after those in Mexico City, Mexico, and São Paulo, Brazil.