According to Infobae México, the government of Mexico City plans to renovate Line 3 of the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metro (STC) in four stages, with the aim of keeping service running for most of the works. Head of government Clara Brugada Molina said the project will begin next year on the route between Indios Verdes and Universidad. The project was announced on July 14.
The renovation covers the whole line and is intended to avoid long suspensions for the thousands of passengers who use it every day. The line is the main route for students of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). The works are needed because of wear on the tracks, trains, and electrical, control and accessibility systems, as well as a fault detected in the northern section.
A special case between Indios Verdes and La Raza
Héctor Ulises García Nieto, secretary of Mobility, told the Mexico City Congress Mobility Commission that the section between Indios Verdes and La Raza will require a larger intervention because of a geological fault. Soil conditions and land subsidence in the area have mainly affected service and tracks. The fault is similar to the one on Calzada Ignacio Zaragoza, where Line A operates, so this area is expected to be one of the main challenges.
According to the secretary, the renovation could cost around $40,000 million, although no final amount has been set. The project includes replacing all systems, building two large workshop areas, rehabilitating stations, purchasing 45 new trains, and improving accessibility with elevators and escalators.
Night work and weekend phases
According to Semovi, the work will be carried out on four simultaneous fronts. Some tasks will take place at night, others on weekends and, when appropriate, during holiday periods, so that regular train operation is not affected. The line combines sections built as open cut, tunnel and surface, so each zone will need different solutions.
The city government plans to close some stations before midnight to carry out the works and reopen them in the morning. If service at a station must be suspended temporarily, users will be notified in advance. Authorities say they will start with the ends of the line before working on the rest.
Financing and Line A
According to the information released, financing for Line 3 is planned through a co-investment scheme designed by the city's Secretariat of Administration and Finance, and the financial scope is still being analyzed. Separately, Line A has structural faults on Calzada Ignacio Zaragoza that go beyond ordinary maintenance. The annual budget for major maintenance of Lines A and 12 exceeds $600 million, but Line A will need additional resources.