- OPERATION

Trains run from 5:00 until 24:00 every 2-3 minutes.

At the busy central transfer station Sé there are separate platforms for boarding and alighting.

- FARES (2007)

Single Fare R$ 2.30 metro only, R$ 4.00 including bus transfer

- All fares subject to change -

With some 9.8 million inhabitants (16 million in the metropolitan area), São Paulo is the biggest city in Brazil and in South America.

The São Paulo Metrô is among the younger metros in the world and it's considered being one of the most modern although today's extension does not cover all areas of this populous city. Today's network is 79 km long and consists of 5 lines, which run underground through the city centre but on elevated structures or at grade in outer areas. To reduce the cost of new construction a decision was taken to upgrade suburban railway lines to metro standard to provide more frequent service. This was already finished along Line 6 which serves the eastern neighbourhoods of the city and operates like an express metro parallel to Line 3.

Line 1/Blue (20.2 km - 23 stations - Jabaquara - Tiradentes underground) - Construction work began in December 1968 and the first section started operation in 1974 (Jabaquara - Vila Mariana). One year later it was extended northwards (1975 - Vila Mariana - Santana) and on 29 April 1998 it reached its terminus Tucuruví.

Line 2/Green (8 km, underground) was put into service in three stages: 1991 - Paraíso - Consolação; 1992 - Clínicas and Ana Rosa; 21/11/1998 - Sumaré and Vila Madalena. An extension to the east to Oratório is planned.

Line 3/Red (22.2 km - 18 stations- underground between Belém and Marechal Deodoro) is actually older than Line 2 and opened in various stages in the 1980's: 1979 - Sé - Brás; 1980 - Bresser; 1981 - Tatuapé; 1982 - República; 1983 - Anhangabaú station added; 1986 - Penha; 1988 - Corinthians-Itaquera and - Barra Funda.

The southwestern section of Line 5/Purple (Capão Redondo - Largo Treze) opened on 20 Oct 2002 (9.4 km - 7 elevated, 0.8 km underground, 1.6 km at grade).

Line 6/Orange (22 km) is operated by CPTM (Metropolitan Trains - Line E) and opened on 27 May 2000 from Brás to Guaianases, with three new stations in eastern São Paulo: Dom Bosco, José Bonifácio and Guaianases. 8 stations along the former suburban line were closed to create an express metro line running parallel to Line 3. Since 2003, this line has been running to Luz in the city centre.

Line 7/Light Blue (22 km) operated by CPTM (Line C) was fully converted to metro standard in April 2001. The 3-car-trains built by CAF (Spain) run on 1600 mm tracks (formerly metre gauge) with catenary at 3000 V.

Line 4/Yellow (12.8 km underground) is under construction and will connect the city centre to the southwest, and Line 6/Orange should be extended west to Barra Funda to relieve the busy Line 3.