Contract signing with Quito metro operator delayed by regulatory changes

Changes in the regulations of Ecuador’s public procurement law caused delays to the signing of the contract with the group that will operate the Quito metro, which was scheduled for October 5. 

However, the start of operations is still scheduled for December, according to Quito mayor Santiago Guarderas.

"On the legal side, we have made progress with all the reports and authorizations that are required [with the changes to the regulations] prior to signing the contract. There has been a delay, but that will not affect the start of operations scheduled for December," Guarderas told reporters.

On September 5, Metro de Quito chose the consortium made up of France’s Transdev and Metro de Medellín to operate line No. 1.

According to the schedule, operations will begin with 8-10 trains running for 4-6 hours in the first days until reaching full capacity at the beginning of next year of up to 450,000 passengers per day.