Santiago Metro and Alstom have presented the first train that will operate on Santiago’s future Metro Line 7.

The presentation took place on 20 January 2026 at Alstom’s manufacturing facility in Taubaté, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, where the trains are being built.

The train is part of a contract under which Alstom will supply 37 Metropolis trains, each formed of five cars. The trains are being manufactured at the Taubaté plant and will enter a testing phase before delivery, which is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.

The Metropolis AS-22-UTO trains are designed for automated, driverless operation. Each train is 102 metres long and has a capacity of up to 1,247 passengers. Two dedicated spaces for people with reduced mobility are included in each train.

Passenger facilities include air conditioning, an advanced passenger information system with route and station updates, USB-C charging ports, and a security system equipped with high-resolution cameras and intercoms that allow communication with the Metro control centre. The cars are fitted with four doors per carriage and wide, interconnected gangways to support passenger circulation.

The stainless-steel car bodies are intended to increase durability and reduce electricity consumption.

For over 70 years, Alstom Brazil has been manufacturing trains that keep South America moving, and today we welcome the latest addition to this proud tradition, with the first train for the future Line 7 of the Santiago Metro. It was an honour to welcome our customers from Chile to present this first train and the teams working diligently on the entire fleet of 37 trains.

In addition to supplying the trains, Alstom will provide the Urbalis CBTC signalling system, which enables automated operation and is intended to support service efficiency and safety. Under the same programme, Alstom has also signed contracts covering the construction of tracks and the overhead power system, as well as the supply of the electrical system. All contracts include 20 years of maintenance, incorporating predictive maintenance systems for trains and infrastructure.

Line 7 of the Santiago Metro is currently under construction. The line will be 26 kilometres long with 19 stations, crossing the municipalities of Renca, Cerro Navia, Quinta Normal, Santiago, Providencia, Vitacura and Las Condes. Renca, Cerro Navia and Vitacura will be connected to the metro network for the first time. The line is expected to serve an estimated population of 1.6 million people.

Once operational, the end-to-end journey on Line 7 is projected to take around 37 minutes, compared with approximately 72 minutes by bus. The line is scheduled to begin operations in 2028. During construction and early operation, the project is expected to generate around 24,000 jobs.

The presentation of the first train represents a very important step in a project that will improve mobility in Chile, offering reliable, safe, and accessible transportation. Line 7 will contribute to improving the commute of approximately 1.6 million people, making it faster, more efficient, and more sustainable. This project builds on Alstom's solid experience in manufacturing railway rolling stock in Latin America and its long-standing partnership with the Santiago Metro.

Santiago Metro estimates that, in its first year of operation, Line 7 will carry an average of 194,000 passengers per weekday, with an annual total of around 60 million journeys. It is also projected to reduce CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption by approximately 33,000 tonnes per year.

The presentation of the first train coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Santiago Metro. Alstom has worked with the metro for several decades and has previously supplied multiple train fleets currently in service. The AS22 trains for Line 7 will join these fleets as part of the continued expansion of the network.

Santiago Metro currently operates seven lines, with 143 stations and 149 kilometres of track. Ongoing and planned expansion projects include new lines and extensions that will increase the size of the network over the coming years, adding new stations and additional route length.