Santiago’s first urban cable car system will cross the San Cristóbal Hill in 13 minutes, connecting Providencia and Huechuraba across a 3.4-kilometer route.
Technical dry run begins November 10
The Teleférico Bicentenario is scheduled to record its first official milestone on Tuesday, November 10, following months of technical trials, according to reporting by La Tercera.
Presidente José Antonio Kast is expected to make a first test journey alongside state ministers during morning activities, while afternoon sessions will involve transport authorities and the Sociedad Concesionaria Teleférico Bicentenario at Avenida del Parque in Ciudad Empresarial, as reported.
This initial technical dry run does not open the system to the general public. Public operations remain scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, emerging from development that spanned more than a decade and five presidential administrations.
Did You Know? The project was originally announced publicly on September 16, 2010, by then-president Sebastián Piñera before finally being awarded in March 2018 under the oversight of the Ministry of Public Works, with an approximate investment of 80 million dollars.
Stations and infrastructure support the 3.4-kilometer route
The route features three distinct stops across its extension. These include Estación Canal San Carlos, situated between Nueva Tobalaba and Nueva Tajamar in Providencia; Estación Parque Metropolitano, located at Avenida El Cerro 750; and Estación Santa Clara, positioned on Avenida del Parque within the Ciudad Empresarial sector of Huechuraba.
Supporting the 3.4-kilometer alignment are 19 support towers distributed along the topography of the Cerro San Cristóbal. The network relies on a fleet of 121 Doppelmayr Omega V cabins manufactured in Switzerland using D-Line technology, equipped with interior lighting, Wi-Fi connectivity, intercom systems, and video surveillance tied directly to a command center.
Cabins transport up to 6,000 passengers per hour
Each Swiss-built cabin seats up to 10 passengers, operating at a speed of 21 kilometers per hour with a departure frequency of every 12 seconds. The system delivers a total transport capacity of up to 3,000 passengers per hour in each direction, and up to 6,000 persons per hour in both directions, according to project specifications.
The end-to-end trip takes approximately 13 minutes, offering a notable alternative to land transport that can take up to 45 minutes during peak hours. Boarding accommodates up to four cabins simultaneously per platform interval.
Tariff Integration Debate
The impending technical launch has reignited intense debate regarding whether the cable car will integrate with the capital’s broader Red Movilidad transit network and the Bip! card.
Municipal mayors from Providencia and Huechuraba have publicly urged authorities to establish tariff integration from the very first day of commercial service, requesting that it not be postergated by up to three years, which is the deadline fixed in the concession document for the Ministry of Transport to request such a measure from the MOP.
Consulted on the matter, both the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Transport preferred not to refer to the topic.
Original concession bidding rules did not mandate automatic integration, and industry sources indicate the Executive may defer integration for at least six months following inauguration to protect contract terms, although concession clauses allow the Ministry of Transport to request changes from the MOP by the third year of operation.
Rafael Delpiano, un investigador y académico de la Universidad de los Andes, advirtió que sin integración tarifaria los pasajeros se enfrentarían a cobros adicionales equivalentes a varios pasajes, lo que podría limitar su uso diario principalmente a personas de mayores ingresos.
Si no hay integración, tú tienes dos alternativas: pagar un pasaje y llegar en micro en 40 minutos, o pagar el equivalente a tres pasajes, porque pagas la tarifa integrada de Red Movilidad y después el pasaje del teleférico, pero llegas en 12 minutos
, señaló.
Questions about Teleférico Bicentenario opening and capacity
When will the Teleférico Bicentenario open to the general public?
General passenger service is scheduled to begin during the first quarter of 2027, following a technical dry run and months of ongoing testing.
How many passengers can travel in each cabin?
Each of the 121 Swiss-made Doppelmayr cabins accommodates a maximum of 10 passengers, all seated.
What are the three stations on the route?
The three stops are Estación Canal San Carlos in Providencia, Estación Parque Metropolitano on Avenida El Cerro, and Estación Santa Clara in Ciudad Empresarial.
How will commuters balance the cost of separate fares against the time saved crossing the San Cristóbal Hill?
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