Maracaibo Metro

The Maracaibo Metro, also known as Metro del Sol Amado, is a six-station light rail system in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Service between La Vanega and El Varillal (skipping Urdaneta) opened to the public on 25 November 2006, with the last station on the line opened on 9 June 2009.

The line encompasses the suburbs of Maracaibo and Maracaibo itself as drop-off point. Also one station is a transfer point between rail services provided by IAFE. There are a total of six stations along the line – two elevated stations (Urdaneta and Libertador), and four at-grade stations.

The line was built by the city government of Maracaibo and the Venezuelan national government. In March 2009 it was reported that corruption allegations regarding the 1998 signing of the construction contract with Siemens were being investigated.

Line 1
The first stage of line 1 will be 6.9 km long. The totally planned system of four lines shall have 60 km in the future.

German company Siemens is supplying signalling, telecommunication and electrification systems as well as the first 7 metro trains, based on the vehicles running on the Prague Metro line C.

The first of 4 proposed lines, Line 1, has opened some stations while others are still under construction or in the planning/design stages. A feeder 1.1 km support line connects the maintenance and train yard areas to the terminal station Altos de La Vanega.

Stations
Line 1: First Stage


 * Altos de La Vanega
 * El Varillal
 * El Guayabal
 * Sabaneta
 * Urdaneta
 * Libertador

Line 1: Second Stage (Under study)

Probable additional stations are:


 * Padilla
 * Falcón
 * 5 de Julio

Line 2 (Under study)

Probable stations are:


 * 5 de Julio
 * Paraíso
 * Indio Mara
 * Universidad
 * Polideportivo
 * Galerías
 * Panamericano
 * Mercado Periférico
 * La Curva de Molina

Rolling stock
The Maracaibo Metro is served by 7 sets of 3-car Siemens Mobility trains, a modification of the M1 type rolling stock used on the Prague Metro.