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{{Infobox aerial lift line
{{Infobox public transit
|name = Metrocable
| name = Metrocable
|image = metrocablemed.jpg
| image = metrocablemed.jpg
|caption =
| caption =
⚫
| transit_type = [[Gondola lift]]
|type =
|system =
| system =
⚫
| locale = [[Medellín, Colombia]]
|status = Operational
| start =
⚫
|location = [[Medellín]], [[Colombia]]
|start =
| end =
| stations = 19
|end =
|stations =
| lines = 6
⚫
| ridership =
|routes =
⚫
| began_operation = 2004 (Line K)
⚫
|ridership =
| close =
⚫
|open = 2004 (Line K)
|close =
| owner =
| operator = [[Medellín Metro]]
|owner =
| character =
|operator = Metro de Medellín
⚫
| stock =
⚫
|character = [[Gondola lift]]
| system_length = {{convert|14.62|km|abbr=on}}
⚫
|stock =
|line_length = {{convert|2072|m|abbr=on}} (Line K)
| average_speed = {{convert|18|kph|abbr=on}}
| map =
|notes = elevation: {{convert|399|m|abbr=on}}<br>[[Electric motor]] powering cable [[bullwheel]]
| imagesize =
|speed = {{convert|10|mph}}
|elevation =
| alt =
|map =
| area served =
| line_number = [[File:Línea K (Logo Metro de Medellín).svg|15px|Línea K (Logo Metro de Medellín)]] (Acevedo-Santo Domingo)

[[File:Línea J (Logo Metro de Medellín).svg|15px|Línea J (Logo Metro de Medellín)]] (San Javier-La Aurora)

[[File:Línea L (Logo Metro de Medellín).svg|15px|Línea L (Logo Metro de Medellín)]] (Santo Domingo-Arví)

[[File:Línea H (Logo Metro de Medellín).svg|15px|Línea H (Logo Metro de Medellín)]] (Oriente-Villa Sierra)

[[File:Línea M (Logo Metro de Medellín).svg|15px|Línea M (Logo Metro de Medellín)]] (Miraflores-Trece de Noviembre)

[[File:Línea P (Logo Metro de Medellín).svg|15px|Línea P (Logo Metro de Medellín)]] (Acevedo-El Progreso)
| annual_ridership = 16 million (2019)<ref name="etup">[https://www.dane.gov.co/files/investigaciones/boletines/transporte/bol_transp_IVtrim19.pdf "Boletín Técnico Encuesta de Transporte Urbano de Pasajeros (ETUP) Cuarto trimestre de 2019"]. p. 13.</ref>
| chief_executive =
| website =
| vehicles =
| map_state =
}}
}}
{{Short description|First urban transit cablecar}}
⚫
'''Metrocable''' is a [[gondola lift]] system implemented by the City Council of [[Medellín]], [[Colombia]], with the purpose of providing a complementary transportation service to that of [[Metro de Medellín|Medellín's Metro]]. It was designed to reach some of the city's informal settlements on the steep hills that mark its topography. It is largely considered to be the first urban cable propelled transit system in South America.<ref>[http://gondolaproject.com/2010/03/11/medellincaracas-part-1/ The Gondola Project] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921175323/http://gondolaproject.com/2010/03/11/medellincaracas-part-1/ |date=2015-09-21 }} Medellin/Caracas, Part 1 - Retrieved on 2010-03-14</ref> There were plans in the city for some decades before its inception for some form of transportation that took account of the difficult topography of the region. These ideas date back to the use of cable-car technology for exporting coffee starting in the 1930s between the city of [[Manizales]], to the south of Medellín, and the [[Cauca River]] {{convert|2000|m|ft}} below. In its modern incarnation, it was the result of a joint effort between the city's elected mayor, [[Sergio Fajardo]], and the Metro Company.<ref>Dávila, JD (ed.), 2013, [http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1366633/ Urban Mobility and Poverty: Lessons from Medellin and Soacha, Colombia], UCL and Universidad Nacional de Colombia.</ref> For some, the initial conception of this system was indirectly inspired by the [[Caracas Aerial Tramway]] (also known as the Mount Avila Gondola) which was designed primarily to carry passengers to a luxury hotel in the 1950s.
'''Metrocable''' is a [[gondola lift]] system implemented by the City Council of [[Medellín]], [[Colombia]], with the purpose of providing a transportation service that complements the [[Medellín Metro]]. It was designed to reach some of the city's [[informal settlement]]s on the steep hills that mark its topography. It is largely considered to be the first urban cable propelled transit system in South America.
The transportation infrastructure is already established and has been in service since 2004.

The system consists of a network of 16 pre-existing gondolas.

⚫
There were plans in the city for some decades before its inception for some form of transportation that took account of the difficult topography of the region. These ideas date back to the use of cable-car technology for exporting coffee ([[Manizales - Mariquita Cableway]]) starting in the 1930s between the city of [[Manizales]], to the south of Medellín, and the [[Cauca River]] {{convert|2000|m|ft}} below. In its modern incarnation, it was the result of a joint effort between the city's elected mayor, Luis Pérez Gutiérrez, and the Metro Company.<ref>Dávila, JD (ed.), 2013, [http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1366633/ Urban Mobility and Poverty: Lessons from Medellin and Soacha, Colombia], UCL and Universidad Nacional de Colombia.</ref> For some, the initial conception of this system was indirectly inspired by the [[Caracas Aerial Tramway]] (also known as the Mount Avila Gondola) which was designed primarily to carry passengers to a luxury hotel in the 1950s.


Line K of the Metrocable connecting the [[Medellín River]] valley to the steep hills in Comunas (districts) 1 and 2, was the first system in the world dedicated to public transport, with a fixed service schedule. Since starting operations in 2004, it carries 30,000 people daily and is operationally integrated into the rest of Medellín's mass transit system, which includes the overground Metro, [[bus rapid transit]] system (BRT) and a tramway line (opened in 2016).
Line K of the Metrocable connecting the [[Medellín River]] valley to the steep hills in Comunas (districts) 1 and 2, was the first system in the world dedicated to public transport, with a fixed service schedule. Since starting operations in 2004, it carries 30,000 people daily and is operationally integrated into the rest of Medellín's mass transit system ([[SITVA]]), which includes the overground Metro, [[bus rapid transit]] system (BRT) and a tramway line (opened in 2016).


As of 2018, the Medellín Metrocable system contained four lines, namely Line H, Line K, Line J, Line L (Cable Arvi) and recently open in 2019. Overall, the system has been received with enthusiasm by the locals, who are mainly low-income users and are prepared to queue for up to 45 minutes at peak times to use it.<ref>Brand, P and Dávila, JD, 2011, Mobility innovation at the urban margins, City 15:6, 647-661.</ref> There is a rapidly growing number of similar systems in cities in Latin America ([[Metrocable (Caracas)]], [[Mi Teleférico|Mi Teleférico (La Paz)]], [[Manizales#Manizales Aerial Tramway|Manizales]], [[Cali#Public transport|Cali]], TransMiCable ([[Bogotá]]), [[Mexicable]] near Mexico City<ref>Burnett, V, 2017, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/world/americas/mexico-city-mexicable.html?_r=0 Near Mexico City, cable car lets commuters glide over traffic], New York Times (28 December).</ref>, among others) and elsewhere.
As of 2021, the Medellín Metrocable system has six lines, namely Line H, Line K, Line J, Line L (Cable Arvi), Line M, and Line P. Overall, the system has been received with enthusiasm by the locals, who are mainly low-income users and are prepared to queue for up to 45 minutes at peak times to use it.<ref>Brand, P and Dávila, JD, 2011, Mobility innovation at the urban margins, City 15:6, 647-661.</ref> There is a rapidly growing number of similar systems in cities in Latin America ([[Metrocable (Caracas)]], [[Mi Teleférico|Mi Teleférico (La Paz)]], [[Manizales#Manizales Aerial Tramway|Manizales]], [[Cali#Public transport|Cali]], [[TransMiCable]] ([[Bogotá]]), [[Mexicable]] near Mexico City,<ref>Burnett, V, 2017, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/world/americas/mexico-city-mexicable.html?_r=0 Near Mexico City, cable car lets commuters glide over traffic], New York Times (28 December).</ref> among others) and elsewhere.


==Description==
==Description==
Line 40: Line 62:
[[file:2018 Medellín , Metrocable estación Villa Sierra de la Línea H.jpg|thumb|Villa Sierra station, the eastern terminus of the H Line.]]
[[file:2018 Medellín , Metrocable estación Villa Sierra de la Línea H.jpg|thumb|Villa Sierra station, the eastern terminus of the H Line.]]


At the present time four Metrocable lines have been opened - Line H, Line J, Line K and Line L.
{{As of|2021}}, six Metrocable lines have been opened -Line H, Line J, Line K, Line L, Line M, and Line P.


===Line K===
===Line K===
{{routemap
{{BS-map
|title=K & L
|title=K & L
|collapsible=0
|collapsible=0
|legend=0
|legend=0
|map=
|map=
{{BS3-2|||KBHFa||Arví}}
\\KBHFa~~Arví
{{BS3-2||KXBHFa-L|KXBHFe-R|Santo Domingo (K)|Sto. Domingo (L)}}
Santo Domingo (K)! !\KXBHFa-L\KXBHFe-R~~Sto. Domingo (L)
{{BS3-2||BHF||Popular}}
Popular! !\BHF\
{{BS3-2||BHF||Andalucía}}
Andalucía! !\BHF\
{{BS3-2|uCONTgq|KBHFe|uCONTfq|O2=uBHFq|O22=lINT|[[Acevedo station|Acevedo]]|||''[[Medellín Metro]]''}}
[[Acevedo station|Acevedo]]! !uCONTgq\KBHFe!~uBHFq!~lINT\uCONTfq~~ ~~ ~~''[[Medellín Metro]]''
}}
}}
Line K was the initial line that was built and was first opened in 2004. It has a length of 2.07&nbsp;km and contains the following four stations: Acevedo, Andalucia, Popular, and Santo Domingo.
Line K was the initial line that was built and was first opened in 2004. It has a length of 2.07km and contains the following four stations: Acevedo, Andalucia, Popular, and Santo Domingo. Construction costs are estimated at $26 million USD.



⚫
Construction costs are estimated at $26 million USD.<ref>[http://gondolaproject.com/2010/03/12/medellincaracas-part-2// The Gondola Project] Medellin/Caracas, Part 2 - Retrieved on 2010-03-12</ref>

⚫
<ref>[http://gondolaproject.com/2010/03/12/medellincaracas-part-2// The Gondola Project] Medellin/Caracas, Part 2 - Retrieved on 2010-03-12
</ref>

On the morning of June 26, 2024 a cable car became stuck, causing a collision between 2 cars where a car fell from 6 meters with 10 passengers. Only minor injuries were sustained, and 90 passengers were stuck waiting to be safely rescued.


===Line J===
===Line J===
{{routemap
{{BS-map
|title=J
|title=J
|collapsible=0
|collapsible=0
|legend=0
|legend=0
|map=
|map=
{{BS2-2|KBHFa||La Aurora}}
La Aurora! !KBHFa\
{{BS2-2|BHF||Vallejuelos}}
Vallejuelos! !BHF\
{{BS2-2|BHF||Juan XXIII}}
Juan XXIII! !BHF\
{{BS2-2|KBHFe|uCONTfq|O1=uKBHFaq|O12=lINT|[[San Javier station|San Javier]]|||''[[Medellín Metro]]''}}
[[San Javier station|San Javier]]! !KBHFe!~uKBHFaq!~lINT\uCONTfq~~ ~~ ~~''[[Medellín Metro]]''
}}
}}
Soon after officials saw the enormous success of Line K, plans to proceed with another line - Line J - was immediately on the table. It officially opened in 2008.<ref>[http://gondolaproject.com/2010/03/15/medellincaracas-part-3/ The Gondola Project]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Medellin/Caracas, Part 3 - Retrieved on 2010-03-14</ref> Similar to Line K, it also has four stations: San Javier, Juan XXIII, Vallejuelos and La Aurora. The entire length of Line J runs along 2.7&nbsp;km of cable.
Soon after officials saw the enormous success of Line K, plans to proceed with another line - Line J - was immediately on the table. It officially opened in 2008.<ref>[http://gondolaproject.com/2010/03/15/medellincaracas-part-3/ The Gondola Project]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Medellin/Caracas, Part 3 - Retrieved on 2010-03-14</ref> Similar to Line K, it also has four stations: San Javier, Juan XXIII, Vallejuelos and La Aurora. The entire length of Line J runs along 2.7km of cable.


===Line L===
===Line L===
Line L does not serve communal areas, rather, it is a tourist-oriented line which is connected to [[Arví Park]] and is part of a social project to bring retreats and nature to the masses.<ref>[http://gondolaproject.com/2010/03/15/medellincaracas-part-4/ The Gondola Project] Medellin/Caracas, Part 4 - Retrieved on 2010-03-15</ref> Passengers must pay an extra fare - 10,000 Colombian Pesos ($3 USD approx.) one way to ride this line.
Line L does not serve communal areas, rather, it is a tourist-oriented line which is connected to [[Arví Park]] and is part of a social project to bring retreats and nature to the masses.<ref>[http://gondolaproject.com/2010/03/15/medellincaracas-part-4/ The Gondola Project] Medellin/Caracas, Part 4 - Retrieved on 2010-03-15</ref> Passengers must pay an extra fare - 12,500 Colombian Pesos ($2.50 USD approx.) one way to ride this line.


It is connected to Line K's terminus station - Santo Domingo. It is also expected that this new line will help promote and develop tourism in the rural areas around Lake Guarne. It will take 14 minutes to ascend to El Tambo and there will be no intermediate stations.
It is connected to Line K's terminus station - Santo Domingo. It is also expected that this new line will help promote and develop tourism in the rural areas around Lake Guarne. It takes 15 minutes to ascend to El Tambo and there are no intermediate stations.


===Line H===
===Line H===
{{routemap
{{BS-map
|title=H
|title=H
|collapsible=0
|collapsible=0
|legend=0
|legend=0
|map=
|map=
{{BS2-2||KBHFa||Villa Sierra}}
\KBHFa~~Villa Sierra
{{BS2-2||BHF||Las Torres}}
\BHF~~Las Torres
''[[Ayacucho Tram]]''~~ ~~! !uCONTgq\KBHFe!~uKBHFeq!~lINT~~Oriente
⚫
{{BS2-2|uCONTgq|KBHFe|O2=uKBHFeq|O22=lINT||Oriente|''[[Ayacucho Tram]]''}}
}}
}}
Line H was opened in 2016. It has a length of 1.4 km and includes three stations: Oriente, Las Torres and Villa Sierra. The demand is estimated at 1,800 passengers per hour (compared with 3,000 for Line K). In Oriente station, it connects to the [[Ayacucho Tram]] line, which in turns is connected to Line A of the overground metro system.
Line H was opened in 2016. It has a length of 1.4 km and includes three stations: Oriente, Las Torres and Villa Sierra. The demand is estimated at 1,800 passengers per hour (compared with 3,000 for Line K). In Oriente station, it connects to the [[Ayacucho Tram]] line, which in turns is connected to Line A of the overground metro system.


===Line P===
===Line M===
{{routemap
Line P, which will extend west from Acevedo station, is currently under construction.
|title=M
|collapsible=0
|legend=0
|map=
Trece de Noviembre! !\KBHFa\
El Pinal! !\BHF\
⚫
Miraflores! !uCONTgq\KBHFe!~uBHFq!~lINT\uCONTfq~~ ~~ ~~''[[Ayacucho Tram]]''
}}

Line M was opened in 2019. It has a length of 1.05 km and includes three stations: Miraflores, El Pinal and Trece de Noviembre. It has a capacity of 2,500 passengers per hour and in Miraflores station, it connects to the [[Ayacucho Tram]] line, which in turns is connected to Line A of the overground metro system.

=== Line P ===
{{routemap
|title=P
|collapsible=0
|legend=0
|map=
El Progreso! !\KBHFa\
Doce de Octubre! !\BHF\
SENA! !\BHF\
[[Acevedo station|Acevedo]]! !uCONTgq\KBHFe!~uBHFq!~lINT\uCONTfq~~ ~~ ~~''[[Medellín Metro]]''
}}Line P was inaugurated Jun 10 2021. It extends west from Acevedo station into districts 5 and 6 (Castilla, Doce de Octubre) arriving at the ecopark "Cerro El Picacho". It has 4 stations, "El Progreso", "Doce de Octubre", "[[National Training Service (Colombia)|SENA]]", and "Acevedo", the last one being the point of connection to Line A of the Metro system and Line K.


==Public transit==
==Public transit==
[[File:Metro cable medellin 1.JPG|250px|thumbnail|left|View of the metrocable crossing the [[Medellín river]]]]
[[File:Metro cable medellin 1.JPG|250px|thumbnail|left|View of Metrocable crossing the [[Medellín river]]]]
[[Aerial lift]]s are not often used as a mass transportation system, although they can be used as such. However, they are becoming more popular with examples which include the [[Metrocable (Caracas)|Metrocable]] system in [[Caracas]], [[Venezuela]], the [[Mexicable]] system in [[Ecatepec]], [[Mexico]], the [[Mi Teleférico]] system in [[La Paz]], [[Bolivia]], the [[Teleférico do Alemão]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]] (currently closed),<ref>[http://www.sportsfeatures.com/presspoint/pressrelease/51964/president-of-rio-2016-visits-complexo-do-alemo-cable-car-system Sports Features] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105031359/http://www.sportsfeatures.com/presspoint/pressrelease/51964/president-of-rio-2016-visits-complexo-do-alemo-cable-car-system |date=2011-01-05 }} President of Rio 2016 visits Complexo do Alemao cable car system - Retrieved on 2010-12-24</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://gondolaproject.com/2010/10/13/the-complexo-do-alemao-teleferico/ | title=Rio to Open Urban Gondola System This Year | accessdate=March 9, 2011 | publisher=The Gondola Project | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422065210/http://gondolaproject.com/2010/10/13/the-complexo-do-alemao-teleferico/ | archive-date=April 22, 2019 | url-status=dead }} Includes route overview.</ref> and, in the United States, the [[Roosevelt Island Tramway]] in [[New York City]] and the [[Portland Aerial Tram]] in [[Portland, Oregon]].
[[Aerial lift]]s are not often used as a mass transportation system, although they can be used as such. However, they are becoming more popular with examples which include the [[Metrocable (Caracas)|Metrocable]] system in [[Caracas]], [[Venezuela]], the [[Mexicable]] system in [[Ecatepec]], [[Mexico]], the [[Mi Teleférico]] system in [[La Paz]], [[Bolivia]], the [[Teleférico do Alemão]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]] (currently closed),<ref>[http://www.sportsfeatures.com/presspoint/pressrelease/51964/president-of-rio-2016-visits-complexo-do-alemo-cable-car-system Sports Features] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105031359/http://www.sportsfeatures.com/presspoint/pressrelease/51964/president-of-rio-2016-visits-complexo-do-alemo-cable-car-system |date=2011-01-05 }} President of Rio 2016 visits Complexo do Alemao cable car system - Retrieved on 2010-12-24</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://gondolaproject.com/2010/10/13/the-complexo-do-alemao-teleferico/ | title=Rio to Open Urban Gondola System This Year | accessdate=March 9, 2011 | publisher=The Gondola Project | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422065210/http://gondolaproject.com/2010/10/13/the-complexo-do-alemao-teleferico/ | archive-date=April 22, 2019 | url-status=dead }} Includes route overview.</ref> and, in the United States, the [[Roosevelt Island Tramway]] in [[New York City]] and the [[Portland Aerial Tram]] in [[Portland, Oregon]].


While gondolas used as transit offer many advantages such as the ability of build on terrain that precludes other surface transportations, cost-effectiveness, low emissions and energy efficiency, one of the disadvantages of gondolas is the risk of power outages. In case of a hazard or an emergency it is not possible to exit the cabins. However, Medellín Metro is ameliorating this problem by providing a communication system in every vehicle should an emergency occur.
While gondolas used as transit offer many advantages such as the ability of build on terrain that precludes other surface transportations, cost-effectiveness, low emissions and energy efficiency, one of the disadvantages of gondolas is the risk of power outages. In case of a hazard or an emergency it is not possible to exit the cabins. However, Medellín Metro is ameliorating this problem by providing a communication system in every vehicle should an emergency occur.


Studies have suggested strong correlations between the intervention of the Metrocables and dramatic reductions in crime associated with the areas where Medellín Metrocable has been introduced.<ref>{{cite journal | pmc = 3353133 | pmid=22472117 | doi=10.1093/aje/kwr428 | volume=175 | title=Reducing violence by transforming neighborhoods: a natural experiment in Medellín, Colombia | year=2012 | journal=Am. J. Epidemiol. | pages=1045–53 | last1 = Cerdá | first1 = M | last2 = Morenoff | first2 = JD | last3 = Hansen | first3 = BB | last4 = Tessari Hicks | first4 = KJ | last5 = Duque | first5 = LF | last6 = Restrepo | first6 = A | last7 = Diez-Roux | first7 = AV}}</ref>
Studies have suggested strong correlations between the intervention of the Metrocables and dramatic reductions in crime associated with the areas where Medellín Metrocable has been introduced.<ref>{{cite journal | pmc = 3353133 | pmid=22472117 | doi=10.1093/aje/kwr428 | volume=175 | title=Reducing violence by transforming neighborhoods: a natural experiment in Medellín, Colombia | year=2012 | journal=Am. J. Epidemiol. | pages=1045–53 | last1 = Cerdá | first1 = M | last2 = Morenoff | first2 = JD | last3 = Hansen | first3 = BB | last4 = Tessari Hicks | first4 = KJ | last5 = Duque | first5 = LF | last6 = Restrepo | first6 = A | last7 = Diez-Roux | first7 = AV| issue=10 }}</ref>
{{clear}}

⚫
==References==
⚫
{{Reflist|2}}


== See also ==
== See also ==
{{commons-inline|category:Metrocable|Metrocable}}
{{commons-inline|category:Metrocable|Metrocable}}
*[[Metro de Medellín]]
*[[Medellín Metro]]
*[[Metrocable (Caracas)]]
*[[Metrocable (Caracas)]]
*[[Aerovia (Guayaquil)]]

⚫
==References==
⚫
{{Reflist}}

{{coord missing|Colombia}}
{{coord missing|Colombia}}


Latest revision as of 13:41, 31 October 2024

Metrocable
Overview
LocaleMedellín, Colombia
Transit typeGondola lift
Number of lines6
Line numberLínea K (Logo Metro de Medellín) (Acevedo-Santo Domingo)

Línea J (Logo Metro de Medellín) (San Javier-La Aurora)

Línea L (Logo Metro de Medellín) (Santo Domingo-Arví)

Línea H (Logo Metro de Medellín) (Oriente-Villa Sierra)

Línea M (Logo Metro de Medellín) (Miraflores-Trece de Noviembre)

Línea P (Logo Metro de Medellín) (Acevedo-El Progreso)
Number of stations19
Annual ridership16 million (2019)[1]
Operation
Began operation2004 (Line K)
Operator(s)Medellín Metro
Technical
System length14.62 km (9.08 mi)
Average speed18 km/h (11 mph)

Metrocable is a gondola lift system implemented by the City Council of Medellín, Colombia, with the purpose of providing a transportation service that complements the Medellín Metro. It was designed to reach some of the city's informal settlements on the steep hills that mark its topography. It is largely considered to be the first urban cable propelled transit system in South America. The transportation infrastructure is already established and has been in service since 2004.

The system consists of a network of 16 pre-existing gondolas.

There were plans in the city for some decades before its inception for some form of transportation that took account of the difficult topography of the region. These ideas date back to the use of cable-car technology for exporting coffee (Manizales - Mariquita Cableway) starting in the 1930s between the city of Manizales, to the south of Medellín, and the Cauca River 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) below. In its modern incarnation, it was the result of a joint effort between the city's elected mayor, Luis Pérez Gutiérrez, and the Metro Company.[2] For some, the initial conception of this system was indirectly inspired by the Caracas Aerial Tramway (also known as the Mount Avila Gondola) which was designed primarily to carry passengers to a luxury hotel in the 1950s.

Line K of the Metrocable connecting the Medellín River valley to the steep hills in Comunas (districts) 1 and 2, was the first system in the world dedicated to public transport, with a fixed service schedule. Since starting operations in 2004, it carries 30,000 people daily and is operationally integrated into the rest of Medellín's mass transit system (SITVA), which includes the overground Metro, bus rapid transit system (BRT) and a tramway line (opened in 2016).

As of 2021, the Medellín Metrocable system has six lines, namely Line H, Line K, Line J, Line L (Cable Arvi), Line M, and Line P. Overall, the system has been received with enthusiasm by the locals, who are mainly low-income users and are prepared to queue for up to 45 minutes at peak times to use it.[3] There is a rapidly growing number of similar systems in cities in Latin America (Metrocable (Caracas), Mi Teleférico (La Paz), Manizales, Cali, TransMiCable (Bogotá), Mexicable near Mexico City,[4] among others) and elsewhere.

Description

[edit]

Medellín is located in the Aburrá Valley and is surrounded by hills. Many of those hills are home to underdeveloped barrios (asentamientos informales), which due to their location cannot be reached by Medellín's biggest mass transportation system Metro. Many of these barrios are in fact located in very steep grounds to the extent that not even a regular bus system could be either useful or commercially profitable. Before the implementation of the Metrocable Line K, residents of the Santo Domingo Savio barrio spent upwards of 21⁄2 hours commuting to work each way.

The Metrocable system is a branch of Medellín's metro and it is managed by the corporation Metro of Medellín. The system uses Monocable Detachable Gondola technology which consists of cable cars connected to a fixed cable through means of a detachable grip. The haulage cable is pulled by large wheels allowing the cabins to move at an average speed of 10 miles per hour (16 km/h).

The system was built by the French company Poma.

Routes

[edit]
Villa Sierra station, the eastern terminus of the H Line.

As of 2021, six Metrocable lines have been opened -Line H, Line J, Line K, Line L, Line M, and Line P.

Line K

[edit]
K & L
 Arví
Santo Domingo (K)
Sto. Domingo (L)
Popular
Andalucía
Acevedo
Medellín Metro

Line K was the initial line that was built and was first opened in 2004. It has a length of 2.07km and contains the following four stations: Acevedo, Andalucia, Popular, and Santo Domingo. Construction costs are estimated at $26 million USD.


[5]

On the morning of June 26, 2024 a cable car became stuck, causing a collision between 2 cars where a car fell from 6 meters with 10 passengers. Only minor injuries were sustained, and 90 passengers were stuck waiting to be safely rescued.

Line J

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J
La Aurora
Vallejuelos
Juan XXIII
San Javier
Medellín Metro

Soon after officials saw the enormous success of Line K, plans to proceed with another line - Line J - was immediately on the table. It officially opened in 2008.[6] Similar to Line K, it also has four stations: San Javier, Juan XXIII, Vallejuelos and La Aurora. The entire length of Line J runs along 2.7km of cable.

Line L

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Line L does not serve communal areas, rather, it is a tourist-oriented line which is connected to Arví Park and is part of a social project to bring retreats and nature to the masses.[7] Passengers must pay an extra fare - 12,500 Colombian Pesos ($2.50 USD approx.) one way to ride this line.

It is connected to Line K's terminus station - Santo Domingo. It is also expected that this new line will help promote and develop tourism in the rural areas around Lake Guarne. It takes 15 minutes to ascend to El Tambo and there are no intermediate stations.

Line H

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H
 Villa Sierra
Las Torres
Ayacucho Tram
Oriente

Line H was opened in 2016. It has a length of 1.4 km and includes three stations: Oriente, Las Torres and Villa Sierra. The demand is estimated at 1,800 passengers per hour (compared with 3,000 for Line K). In Oriente station, it connects to the Ayacucho Tram line, which in turns is connected to Line A of the overground metro system.

Line M

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M
Trece de Noviembre
El Pinal
Miraflores
Ayacucho Tram

Line M was opened in 2019. It has a length of 1.05 km and includes three stations: Miraflores, El Pinal and Trece de Noviembre. It has a capacity of 2,500 passengers per hour and in Miraflores station, it connects to the Ayacucho Tram line, which in turns is connected to Line A of the overground metro system.

Line P

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P
El Progreso
Doce de Octubre
SENA
Acevedo
Medellín Metro

Line P was inaugurated Jun 10 2021. It extends west from Acevedo station into districts 5 and 6 (Castilla, Doce de Octubre) arriving at the ecopark "Cerro El Picacho". It has 4 stations, "El Progreso", "Doce de Octubre", "SENA", and "Acevedo", the last one being the point of connection to Line A of the Metro system and Line K.

Public transit

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View of Metrocable crossing the Medellín river

Aerial lifts are not often used as a mass transportation system, although they can be used as such. However, they are becoming more popular with examples which include the Metrocable system in Caracas, Venezuela, the Mexicable system in Ecatepec, Mexico, the Mi Teleférico system in La Paz, Bolivia, the Teleférico do Alemão in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (currently closed),[8][9] and, in the United States, the Roosevelt Island Tramway in New York City and the Portland Aerial Tram in Portland, Oregon.

While gondolas used as transit offer many advantages such as the ability of build on terrain that precludes other surface transportations, cost-effectiveness, low emissions and energy efficiency, one of the disadvantages of gondolas is the risk of power outages. In case of a hazard or an emergency it is not possible to exit the cabins. However, Medellín Metro is ameliorating this problem by providing a communication system in every vehicle should an emergency occur.

Studies have suggested strong correlations between the intervention of the Metrocables and dramatic reductions in crime associated with the areas where Medellín Metrocable has been introduced.[10]

See also

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Media related to Metrocable at Wikimedia Commons

References

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  1. ^ "Boletín Técnico Encuesta de Transporte Urbano de Pasajeros (ETUP) Cuarto trimestre de 2019". p. 13.
  2. ^ Dávila, JD (ed.), 2013, Urban Mobility and Poverty: Lessons from Medellin and Soacha, Colombia, UCL and Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
  3. ^ Brand, P and Dávila, JD, 2011, Mobility innovation at the urban margins, City 15:6, 647-661.
  4. ^ Burnett, V, 2017, Near Mexico City, cable car lets commuters glide over traffic, New York Times (28 December).
  5. ^ The Gondola Project Medellin/Caracas, Part 2 - Retrieved on 2010-03-12
  6. ^ The Gondola Project[permanent dead link‍] Medellin/Caracas, Part 3 - Retrieved on 2010-03-14
  7. ^ The Gondola Project Medellin/Caracas, Part 4 - Retrieved on 2010-03-15
  8. ^ Sports Features Archived 2011-01-05 at the Wayback Machine President of Rio 2016 visits Complexo do Alemao cable car system - Retrieved on 2010-12-24
  9. ^ "Rio to Open Urban Gondola System This Year". The Gondola Project. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2011. Includes route overview.
  10. ^ Cerdá, M; Morenoff, JD; Hansen, BB; Tessari Hicks, KJ; Duque, LF; Restrepo, A; Diez-Roux, AV (2012). "Reducing violence by transforming neighborhoods: a natural experiment in Medellín, Colombia". Am. J. Epidemiol. 175 (10): 1045–53. doi:10.1093/aje/kwr428. PMC 3353133. PMID 22472117.

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