The metro of Quito makes the first test tour with passengers

Ecuadornews:

On Monday, March 18, the Metro de Quito carried out the first test trip with passengers, which included the participation of the President of the Republic, Lenin Moreno, and Mayor Mauricio Rodas. The train in which the test was carried out moved from Iñaquito station (North edge of La Carolina park) to Jipijapa station (located further north) and vice versa, at controlled speed.

The displacement took about five minutes in one direction and the same time in the other. When the system is operational, the trip between the El Labrador stop (the one located to the north of the route) and Quitumbe (south) will take about 34 minutes, according to forecasts. This will mean a saving of about half an hour compared to what it currently takes to cover that journey on board the Trolleybus.

In a ceremony before the tour, Rodas referred to the “series of challenges” that his administration had to overcome to reach this stage. He stressed that the construction of the Metro is fulfilling its schedule and its budget, because “the original amount of the contract has not raised a single cent”.

For his part, the President of the Republic stressed that his government will continue to support the project as it has done from the beginning. And he stressed that the execution of works of the size of the Metro require cooperation from the different levels of the State.

The president added that the final tests will be within 3 months and the Metro will begin to operate by the end of this 2019. He indicated that this means of transport is ductile and will allow the malleability of time. “I already imagine approximately 400 thousand Quito residents using the Metro daily, almost 1500 every 5 minutes,” said Moreno.

Los dos primeros operadores de los trenes del @MetrodeQuito son ecuatorianos y se encuentran en proceso de capacitación dentro y fuera del país. Son los responsables de las pruebas dinámicas y de este primer viaje histórico #ElViajeComienza pic.twitter.com/F3DGyukmFk

— Mauricio Rodas (@MauricioRodasEC) 18 de marzo de 2019

He explained that the capital has 500 thousand vehicles and the number continues to grow, which is why this means of transport is necessary. The Iñaquito and Jipijapa stations practically finished their work and have finished and electrical installations. According to Rodas, the first two operators of the Metro trains are Ecuadorian.

He also explained that the work has an advance of 80% in its construction, while the civil works of the 15 stations are completed. Quito Metro plans to benefit around 400 thousand daily users and help decongest mobility problems in the capital. The event was also attended by Vice President Otto Sonnenholzner, the head of the Citizen Participation and Transitory Social Control Council, Julio César Trujillo, the Archbishop of Quito, Faustro Trávez, María Fernanda Pacheco, President of the San José Board, among other dignities. (I)

Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/quito/1/metro-quito-recorrido-prueba-pasajeros