Metro development is widespread in the largest cities of many nations, and continents. In Latin America there is significant capital investment to expand metro systems, such as the enlargements being undertaken in São Paulo, Brazil, in Santiago, Chile, and in Panama. In Brazil, Preferred Bidders were recently named for Lots on São Paulo’s Line 19-Celeste project.
In Chile, the metro network is also rapidly expanding, with a current main focus for procurement on Lines 8 and 9, both of which are dominated by underground infrastructure. Consultants recently won packages of works to help develop the metro lines.
In Panama, a year of tunnelling has taken for Line 3 below the Panama Canal.
BRAZIL – SÃO PAULO
Metro Line 19
São Paulo’s metro authority, Companhia do Metropolitano de São Paulo, has named the Preferred Bidders for three Lots on the city’s new Line 19-Celeste project. The line is to be 17.6km-long with 15 stations.
Lot 1’s Preferred Bidder is PowerChina (Yellow River). The offer was approximately US$0.92 billion (R$5 billion).
The Preferred Bidder for Lots 2 and 3 is ‘Via Celeste’ consortium, comprising Ghella, Odebrecht and Álya. The bids are valued at approximately US$1.23 billion (R$6.7 billion) and US$1.27 billion (R$6.9 billion), respectively. Each lot includes the design and construction of 5.8km of tunnel and five stations.
Via Celeste consortium was third place in the lowest bid rankings for Lot 1, while PowerChina (Yellow River) was similarly placed in the races for Lots 2 and 3.
Fifteen companies participated in the tender, with five proposals submitted for each of the three Lots. The bids, opened electronically in late September, then have a review period by the client with final decisions on the awards anticipated about year-end, which would enable contract signings in early 2026. Construction work on the Lots is scheduled to begin in 2027 and be finished by 2033.
Line 19-Celeste is expected to carry 630,000 passengers per day. It would be the first direct metro connection between Guarulhos– the second most populous city in the state – and central São Paulo. The new line is projected to save commuters around one hour of travel time and generate an estimated 28,000 direct and indirect jobs, along with an annual reduction of 131,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the State Government of São Paulo.
Lot 2’s route is through the northern part of São Paulo, extending from Jardim Julieta to Vila Maria, and will include a maintenance depot for the trains.
Lot 3 runs through the heart of São Paulo, including areas such as São Bento and Anhangabaú, and the new line will need to be upgraded for integration with existing metro lines. The project will also include the installation of auxiliary systems such as escalators, elevators, ventilation, lighting, and safety infrastructure essential for the operation of the new stations. Ghella is already working on the extension of São Paulo’s Line 2-Green, which involves construction of 6km of tunnels and three stations.
CHILE – SANTIAGO
Santiago metro is expanding its metro network with major focus most recently on procurement for Lines 8 and 9, both of which are dominated by underground infrastructure.
Recently, consultancies Systra and Ayesa were awarded contracts to work on development of the expansion.
Systra won a package for design works on Section 2 of the metro’s Line 8 project. Ayesa Engineering is providing project management support in the development of Line 9.
Metro Line 8
Systra Subterra was appointed earlier this year to work on the detailed design contract for the civil works shafts and tunnels on Section 2 of Line 8.
Line 8 will be constructed entirely underground and with a total length of 19km is being built to improve links between the north and south areas of the Chilean capital.
Its route will pass through six municipalities, bringing improved transport options to almost 2 million residents. Systra’s recently-awarded design contract covers 4.3km of Line 8, from Chile Spain station to Los Leones station.
The package of works includes design and planning of the tunnel construction and ventilation shafts; development of galleries to connect different tunnel sections; detailed engineering for the excavation and construction of the tunnels; and, complementary civil works, including all structures and systems for operation of the new metro line.
“This is a key new project for Systra in Chile, where our underground and systems experts are carrying out several major assignments on railway lines and five motorway tunnels,” said Systra Subterra’s CEO, José Miguel Galera. Systra has historic connections with the capital’s metro system, having worked on plans in 1968 and since has been involved in design of most of the lines.
Metro Line 9
Ayesa Engineering was awarded a contract to provide project management support for Santiago Metro’s Line 9.
The company is providing engineering management advisory services, counterpart engineering, environmental and community relations consultancy, works coordination, service change management, expropriation and easement management, as well as project planning and control. The new 27km-long Line 9 will be entirely underground and include 19 stations, depots and maintenance facilities. It will run through the districts of Recoleta, Santiago, San Miguel, San Joaquín, La Granja, San Ramón, La Pintana, and Puente Alto to provide faster, more direct routes into the heart of the city.
Line 9 – backed by a US$2.733bn investment – will include the first four-line hub in the capital’s metro network. The multi-line line hub at Cal y Canto station, located at the edge of the historic city centre, will connecting with Lines 2, 3, and 7, and also easing pressure on Line 4.
“To integrate Line 9 with the existing network, some stations will need to be constructed at depths exceeding 40m, which presents a significant engineering challenge,” said Mariluz Ramírez, Director of Transport LATAM at Ayesa.
“We’ll need to design highly efficient vertical transport systems to manage heavy passenger volumes between Line 9, surface access, and connecting lines.”
The contract award builds on Ayesa’s prior work with the metro. In 2022, Ayesa was appointed to provide technical inspection services for the installation, testing, and commissioning of systems and equipment for the Line 3 extension. The company is currently supervising civil works on Sections 2, 3, and 4 of Line 7.
PANAMA METRO CELEBRATES FIRST YEAR OF TUNNELLING
More than 2km of tunnelling has been completed on Panama Metro’s Line 3, including the section beneath the Panama Canal. The 4.5km-long metro tunnel is the first in passing under the canal, and Panama Metro called the tunnelling achievement “an unprecedented milestone” for the country.
The tunnel passes beneath the Panama Canal at 65m below sea level.
Panama Metro added that progress had reached almost 45% of the project.
Since excavation began a year ago, in H2-2024, more than 1,000 rings have been erected by the 13.51m-diameter TBM, named ‘Panama’, for the metro tunnel. More recently, in September, tunnel advance saw the TBM erect 149 rings, or 298m of the tunnel length in the month.
Following the tunnelling milestone, shield boring continues towards Balboa station, where the Mixshield TBM is to undergo maintenance, scheduled for early 2026.
Following the scheduled maintenance, the Herrenknecht shield is then to restart and complete the final section of the metro tunnel.
The TBM is 93m-long and was designed to adapt to the unique geological conditions of the Canal area
