Santiago Metro Line 3


Line 3 is a rapid transit line of the Santiago Metro. Traveling from La Reina in the [northeastern zone of Santiago (commune)|Santiago de Chile|east] towards the center, and Quilicura in the North, Line 3 was originally intended to open in the late 1980s, but the 1985 Algarrobo Earthquake hampered its construction, and a subsequent urban explosion in Puente Alto and Maipú further put its construction on hold, until in the early 2010s construction started. The first phase of the project includes 18 stations, which were completed and opened to the public on 22 January 2019 at a cost of US$1.79 billion. The second phase, composed of a three-station extension towards the main square of Quilicura, which was inaugurated on September 25, 2023 with a total project cost of US$378 million. Its distinctive color on the network line map is chocolate brown.

History

Line 3 was initially planned for construction after Lines 1 and 2 but the 1985 Algarrobo earthquake near Santiago meant work on the new line had to be postponed so that the resources could be used to rebuild the damage caused by the earthquake. In the 1990s, Santiago's transportation needs changed dramatically with a population explosion in the south of the city, especially the communes of La Florida, Chile and Puente Alto, and the plans for Line 3 were postponed again in favour of Line 5, Line 4 and Line 4A in the south.
Despite this, there are pockets of Line 3 works hidden around Santiago, such as the Ghost Station under Puente Cal y Canto station, located to the east of the line 2 side of the station, where works were carried out for years.
In 2010, another new line was announced, Line 6, which once again saw the construction of Line 3 pushed back. Criticism of this delay led finally to the announcement of a new Line 3 construction project by the Chilean government on October 5, 2010. An initial length of track and 18 stations were announced in July 2011, with an extension of announced in May 2012, connecting to an extra station at the Military Hospital. This will provide access to the hospital itself, to Eulogio Sánchez Airport, and to the commune of La Reina, and close to Peñalolén.
Line 3 connects with all Santiago Metro lines except for Line 4A. It connects with Line 1 at Universidad de Chile station, with Line 2 and the future Line 7 at Puente Cal y Canto station, with Line 4 at Plaza Egaña station and with Line 5 at Plaza de Armas station and Irarrázaval station. It also connects with Line 6 at Ñuñoa station once Line 3.
Three more stations are scheduled to be open in 2023, in the commune of Quilicura on the north; however, the expansion to Hospital Militar in La Reina was again dismissed. On January 22, the president Piñera announced that the Hospital Militar station will be constructed after the Lines 7, 8 and 9, are completed in 2028.

Innovations

Line 3 complies with high security and passenger comfort standards. The new security measures include cameras inside the trains, an overhead electric transmission line, automatic train operation, platform screen doors, air conditioning in the trains and connections with suburban trains.
Although Line 3 did not suffer any damage in the October 2019 protests, Line 3 was nonetheless closed on the weekend of October 18, 2019, due to security issues. Service on Line 3 was partially resumed on October 23, with full service to all stations being established in 2020.

Communes">Communes of Chile">Communes served by Line 3

Line 3 serves the following Santiago communes from north to east:

Stations

Line 3 stations, from west to east, are:
StationMetro transferAddressOpenedCommunesNotes
Plaza QuilicuraManuel Antonio Matta/Bernardo O'Higgins25 September 2023Quilicura
Lo CruzatManuel Antonio Matta/Lo Cruzat25 September 2023Quilicura
FerrocarrilAv. Manuel Antonio Matta/Pasaje 425 September 2023Quilicura
Los LibertadoresLos Libertadores Freeway/San Pedro de Atacama Street22 January 2019Quilicura, Huechuraba and Conchalí
Cardenal CaroIndependencia/José María Caro Avenues22 January 2019Conchalí
VivacetaIndependencia/Zapadores Avenues22 January 2019Conchalí
ConchalíIndependencia/Dorsal Avenues22 January 2019Conchalí
Plaza ChacabucoIndependencia Avenue/Julio Martínez Street22 January 2019Independencia
HospitalesIndependencia Avenue/Bezanilla Street22 January 2019Independencia
Puente Cal y CantoBandera/General Mackenna Streets22 January 2019SantiagoThis station will be a transfer with line in 2028 and in 2032
Plaza de ArmasBandera/Catedral Streets22 January 2019Santiago
Universidad de ChileSan Diego Street/Bernardo O'Higgins Avenue22 January 2019Santiago
Parque AlmagroSan Diego Street/Santa Isabel Avenue22 January 2019Santiago
MattaMatta/Santa Rosa Avenues22 January 2019SantiagoThis station will be a transfer with line in 2032
IrarrázavalGrecia/General Bustamante Avenues22 January 2019Ñuñoa
Monseñor EyzaguirreIrarrázaval/Manuel Montt Avenues22 January 2019Ñuñoa
ÑuñoaIrarrázaval/Pedro de Valdivia Avenues22 January 2019Ñuñoa
Chile EspañaIrarrázaval/Chile España Avenues22 January 2019ÑuñoaThis station will be a transfer with line in 2030
Villa FreiIrarrázaval/Ramón Cruz Avenues22 January 2019Ñuñoa
Plaza EgañaIrarrázaval/Ossa Avenues22 January 2019Ñuñoa, La Reina
Fernando Castillo VelascoLarraín/Tobalaba Avenues22 January 2019La Reina

Line 3 data sheet

Communes:
  • * Quilicura
  • * Conchalí
  • * Independencia
  • * Santiago
  • * Ñuñoa
  • * La ReinaTrack:
  • * Manuel Antonio Matta Avenue : 3 stations
  • * Américo Vespucio Avenue: 1 station
  • * Independencia Avenue: 6 stations
  • * Bandera Avenue: 2 station
  • * San Diego Avenue: 1 stations
  • * Manuel Antonio Matta Avenue : 1 station
  • * Irarrázaval Avenue: 6 stations
  • * Larraín Avenue: 1 stationsConstruction Method:
  • * UndergroundOpening Dates:
  • * 2019
  • * 2023 Rolling stock: CAF-Thales AS-2014