Fortaleza Metro

The Metropolitan of Fortaleza, also known popularly as Metro of Fortaleza or Metrofor, is a system of metropolitan transport that operates in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza, operated by Companhia Cearense de Transportes Metropolitanos, company of social capital, captained by the Government of the State of Ceará, in Brazil, and has as current president Eduardo Hotz. Founded on May 2, 1997, the company is responsible for administration, construction and metro planning in the state of Ceará, being present in the systems of Sobral and Cariri, having its main activity in Fortaleza and its metropolitan region.

Fortaleza Metro
Overview
Native nameMetrô de Fortaleza
LocaleFortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
Transit type
Number of lines
  • 2[1]
  • 1 (light rail)
Number of stations
Annual ridership10.9 (2022)[4]
WebsiteMetrô de Fortaleza
Operation
Began operationOctober 24, 2012
Operator(s)Metrofor
Technical
System length
  • 43.6 km (27.1 mi)[2][3]
  • 13.2 km (8.2 mi) (light rail)
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
System map
Map of the Fortaleza Metro network (including planned lines).

According to data released in December 2016, the system is the sixth largest in Brazil among the 12 Brazilian metropolitan regions that have passenger rail transport, having in the period 43.6 km (27.1 mi), behind São Paulo (334.9 km (208.1 mi)), Rio de Janeiro (262.1 km (162.9 mi)), Recife (71.4 km (44.4 mi)), Natal (56.2 km (34.9 mi)), and Porto Alegre (43.9 km (27.3 mi)). The FMR lines represent 4.3% of the total network of subways and trains of Brazil that, in 2015, was of 1,062 km (660 mi) of extension. The Metro was used by 13.2 million passengers in 2018.

The Fortaleza Metro started its operations on June 15, 2012, in assisted operation. With the start of commercial operation on October 1, 2014, a R$2.40 fare started being charged, which gradually increased to R$3.60 as of April 2021. There is fare integration with the Integrated Transport System of Fortaleza (SIT-FOR). Currently in operation are 20 stations on the South Line, 10 stations of West Line light rail (in the future to be converted into a metro system), and 10 stations on the Parangaba-Mucuripe light rail, operating in assisted operation with passenger transportation in the period from 6 am until noon without charge for tickets. Possessing a projected extension of 69.4 kilometers (43.1 mi) distributed in 4 lines, connected by 52 stations, mostly under construction or in design on the East Line (Tirol-Moura Brasil ↔ Edson Queiroz). The system was designed to integrate with two of the city's seven bus terminals, Parangaba and Papicu, and to connect to the passenger terminals at Mucuripe Port and Fortaleza International Airport.

Background

The operator of the Fortaleza Metro, Metrofor, has been in the process of modernizing Fortaleza's rail network since 1999, with plans for improving the network going back to the 1980s. The project involved double tracking and electrification of two of the main passenger rail lines, installation of modern signalling and communications system, construction of new stations, and acquisition of new rolling stock, all with the goal of achieving higher frequency operations on the two lines. The upgraded rail network is expected to serve nearly 700,000 passengers a day.[5]

Operations

The existing Fortaleza rail infrastructure consists of 43 kilometers (27 mi) of rail route, comprising two lines:[1]

Lines
Line Termini Opened Length[2][3] Stations[2][3] Travel
time
(min)[1]		 Operation
South (Sul) Central – Chico da Silva ↔ Carlito Benevides[6] 2012 24.1 km (15.0 mi) 20 33 Opened, and in higher frequency operation.[7]
West (Oeste) Caucaia ↔ Central – Chico da Silva[8] 2014 19.5 km (12.1 mi) 10[Note 1] 30 Currently operational, but as a commuter rail line with lower frequencies.[9]
  1. Additional stations are under construction.

Routes

The 24.1-kilometer (15.0 mi) long South Line[2] provides passenger services between Carlito Benevides in Maracanaú to Central – Chico da Silva in downtown Fortaleza. The Linha Sul (South Line) is the first of the two lines to be converted to higher frequency service, with headways of 27 minutes.[7] Its route has been diverted into a 4.0-kilometer (2.5 mi) long tunnel,[1] with 4 underground stations[1] all with 110 m (360 ft) long platforms, in the city center.[10]

The West Line, currently operating as a commuter rail line, is 19.5-kilometer (12.1 mi) long.[3] It begins at Caucaia and currently terminates at João Felipe, with plans to extend it to Central – Chico da Silva. It currently operates with train frequencies of 45 minutes.[9]

Stations

Stations on the metro-standards South Line, from south to north:[10]

  • Carlito Benevides (formerly Vila das Flores)
  • Jereissati
  • Maracanaú
  • Virgílio Távora (formerly Novo Maracanaú)
  • Rachel de Queiroz (formerly Pajuçara)
  • Alto Alegre
  • Aracapé
  • Esperança (formerly Conjunto Esperança)
  • Mondubim
  • Manoel Sátiro
  • Vila Pery
  • Parangaba
  • Juscelino Kubitschek
  • Couto Fernandes
  • Padre Cícero
  • Porangabussu
  • Benfica
  • São Benedito
  • José de Alencar (formerly Lagoinha)
  • Estação Central – Chico da Silva (formerly João Felipe)

Rolling stock

The AnsaldoBreda rolling stock used on the system is similar to that used on the Circumvesuviana railway, in Naples, Italy. A total of 20 train-sets were expected to be delivered, and in service, by 2012.[5]

Light rail

A third rail line in the Fortaleza area, which runs between Parangaba and Macuripe and which had operated as a cargo line, was converted into a diesel light rail line.[11] The line partly opened in July 2017, was extended in July 2018, and was then extended to its current 10-station length with the opening of Iate station in September 2020.[12]

Line Termini Opened Length Stations Operation
Parangaba Mucuripe Parangaba ↔ Iate[13][14] 2017 13.2 km (8.2 mi)[13] 10[13] In operation

Future plans: East Line

A new totally underground line, the East (Leste) line, was expected to begin construction in 2018,[15] with the contract for its constructions awarded to Sacyr and Ferrera Guedes,[16] with an estimated construction time of 48 months. Tunnel boring machines for the construction were announced to be provided by The Robbins Company in 2012, but construction stalled.[17] Current plans are to complete this third metro line as follows:

Line Termini Planned
opening		 Length Stations Operation
East (Leste) Central – Chico da Silva ↔ Fórum Clóvis Beviláqua[18] TBD 12 km (7 mi) 13 Under construction

See also

References
  1. "Mapa das Linhas - Metrô de Fortaleza" (in Portuguese). Metrô de Fortaleza - METROFOR. Archived from the original on 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  2. "Linha Sul".
  3. "Linha Oeste".
  4. "Carta Anual de Governança Corporativa" [Metro system] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Metrofor. June 2023. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
  5. "Fortaleza Metro Rail Project, Brazil". Railway-Technology.com. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  6. "Metrô de Fortaleza Linha Sul" (in Portuguese). Metrô de Fortaleza - METROFOR. Archived from the original on 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  7. "HORÁRIO DA PARTIDA DOS TRENS CARLITO BENEVIDES - CHICO DA SILVA" [DEPARTURE TIME OF TRAINS CARLITO BENEVIDES - CHICO DA SILVA] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Metrô de Fortaleza - METROFOR. Retrieved 2014-10-11.
  8. "Metrô de Fortaleza Linha Oeste" (in Portuguese). Metrô de Fortaleza - METROFOR. Archived from the original on 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  9. "Horário de Partida dos Trens do Centro para Caucaia a partir do dia 28/05/2012" [Departure Time of Trains Centro to Caucaia from the date 28/05/2012] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Metrô de Fortaleza - METROFOR. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 2014-10-11.
  10. "Fortaleza". UrbanRail.net. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  11. "Fortaleza World Cup rail link on schedule". Global Rail News. Rail Media. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  12. "Com duas novas estações, VLT que liga Parangaba ao Mucuripe é concluído em Fortaleza - Metro". 16 September 2020.
  13. "VLT Parangaba-Mucuripe".
  14. "Duas novas linhas previstas" [Two new lines planned]. Negócios Diário do Nordeste (in Portuguese). 20 September 2007. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  15. "Sacyr and Ferrera Guedes awarded Fortaleza Metro contract". International Railway Journal. 11 July 2018.
  16. "Contract awarded for Fortaleza Eastern metro line". Railway Pro. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  17. "World rail infrastructure market September 2012". Railway Gazette International. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  18. "Porto e metrô expandidos" [Port and metro expanded]. Negócios Diário do Nordeste (in Portuguese). 25 February 2011. Retrieved 2014-06-20.

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