The Office for the Reorganization of Transportation (Opret) announced this Friday that the new six-car trains will begin operating on lines 1 and 2 of the Santo Domingo Metro starting in August.
The director of OPRET, Rafael Santos Pérez, stated that the installation of the cars marks the culmination of a capacity expansion process, which will allow for a more agile, spacious and comfortable service to be offered to the hundreds of thousands of passengers who use the Metro every day.
He emphasized that this addition represents a doubling of the number of cars per train - going from three to six - which will allow for the transport of a greater number of passengers per trip, reduce congestion during peak hours, and provide a more comfortable experience for users.
“This change represents a significant step in the modernization of the Metro. By doubling the number of cars per train, we not only increase the capacity of each unit, but also substantially improve the quality of service, reducing overcrowding and improving the daily mobility of citizens,” he said.
The official explained that the new trains will initially coexist with the existing ones, and their incorporation will be adjusted gradually according to operational demand.
The director of OPRET also reported that one of the most important infrastructures of the project is now ready: the new interconnection tunnel at the Juan Pablo Duarte station, which links lines 1 and 2.
He explained that this project will facilitate the flow of passengers between both lines, reducing transfer times and contributing to a more efficient operation of the system.
Santos Pérez also announced that, as part of the necessary work, the civil adaptations at the elevated stations of Line 1 have already been completed, including the expansion of the platforms in Villa Mella from 60 to 120 meters in length.
“While the city slept, a team of men and women worked tirelessly to make this expansion possible, without interrupting the regular Metro service. Today, those works are complete and represent a very important technical and human achievement,” he added.
He explained that as part of the final adjustments, the signaling and telecommunications system will be reconfigured from July 16 to 20, which will require the temporary suspension of service at the elevated stations in Villa Mella, between Mamá Tingó and Hermanas Mirabal. He assured that during this period, OMSA will offer free service along the same route, guaranteeing passenger mobility.
