Ecatepec de Morelos, a city of millions and part of the metropolitan area around Mexico City, is a global pioneer in the integration of cable cars into urban transportation networks. The success story began seven years ago with the construction of the “Mexicable 1 – Linea Roja”, a five-kilometer cable car line built by LEITNER.

Since its opening, over 41 million trips have been recorded, with a 99.8 percent availability rate. The cable car saves time compared to driving and provides a connection to the public transportation network of the metropolis in just 19 minutes.

Addition to the public transportation network

The “Linea Verde” is an important addition to the public transportation network. The facility consists of three interconnected cable cars and transports approximately 35,000 people daily from the Municipios Ecatepec de Morelos and Tlalnepantla de Baz to Mexico City, while also preserving the natural areas of Zacatenco in the Gustavo A. Madero district with its quiet crossings.

The route is well thought out, starting at the second station of the “Linea Roja” and taking passengers in approximately 300 cabins over a distance of 8.5 kilometers and seven stations to the Indios Verdes subway station. The residents of the area benefit from a comfortable, safe, and fast access to the subway network.

The connection is made via three interconnected facilities, each with an intermediate station and a total of seven stations. The use of three independent systems ensures maximum availability of transportation services.

Overcoming special challenges

The topographic and urban situation on site presented a special challenge. Material deliveries had to be handled in some cases at night using small cranes and transport vehicles.

To overcome the crossing of one of the busiest highways in Mexico City, drones were used to lay the guide rope between the individual supports. In the Iztapalapa district, since 2021, a LEITNER cable car has provided significant relief to urban traffic.

The “Cablebus 2” is a more than ten-kilometer facility that provides the 1.8 million inhabitants in the catchment area with better connections to jobs, schools, and leisure activities. Travel time along the route has been more than halved by the cable car to just 36 minutes.