Santiago Metro: 80 stations damaged or destroyed during protests

Violent demonstrations that rocked Santiago over the weekend caused damage of at least US$300mn to the metro system in the Chilean capital, after a fare hike triggered protests.

As of late Sunday, subway operator Metro de Santiago estimated that 80 of the network’s 136 stations had been damaged, with 11 of them being “completely destroyed” after being set ablaze, while a similar number were also damaged by fires, a company spokesperson told BNamericas.

Following the weekend chaos, only line No. 1 was operating partially during Monday, with various stations closed and trains running at lower frequencies than normal. No decision has yet been taken to open other lines, Metro CEO Rubén Alvarado told journalists on Monday.

“We won’t expose our workers or passengers to unsafe conditions,” Alvarado stated, adding that some of the opened stations have limited access to ensure security. 

In the same vein, he said that two stations that had opened in the morning had to be closed later due to protests.

As for the system’s other six lines, Alvarado said that the reopening of lines 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5 and 6 is still being evaluated. 

“We are carrying out an evaluation of the other lines and we’re coordinating with authorities, so we will inform later regarding to what is coming for tomorrow or the following days,” he explained.

Line 1 represents 36% of the operating income of the subway system and Metro de Santiago said that full operations will likely only return sometime “before March 2020,” according to a filing sent to financial regulator CMF. 

It was also stated that the price tag of US$300mn for the damage could easily rise in the coming days, as assessments are still ongoing.

The protests also affected other transport infrastructure, with buses burned and TAG toll gates being attacked, although not seriously damaged, the public works ministry (MOP) said on Monday.