Santiago’s first urban cable-car transit network is advancing toward its public launch following technical tests and a technical soft opening. The Teleférico Bicentenario links the communes of Providencia and Huechuraba while crossing the Parque Metropolitano, offering an alternative to surface gridlock.
Infrastructure Route and Swiss-Built Cabin Specifications
The project spans a 3.4-kilometer track supported by 19 towers distributed along the entire route. The system operates with a fleet of 121 Doppelmayr Omega V cabins built in Switzerland using D-Line technology. Each cabin holds a maximum of 10 seated passengers and includes interior lighting, Wi-Fi connectivity, an intercom system, and videovigilance connected directly to a command center. Supercapacitor batteries power these onboard systems, and an exclusive storage depot sits at the Huechuraba station.
Operating capacity reaches up to 3,000 passengers per hour in each direction, with individual cabins departing every 12 seconds. Boarding zones handle up to four cabins simultaneously—roughly 40 people—with boarding intervals lasting between 12 and 15 seconds per platform. The end-to-end trip takes approximately 13 minutes.
Did You Know? The project was originally announced publicly on September 16, 2010, by then-president Sebastián Piñera, before being awarded in March 2018 under the Ministry of Public Works.
Municipal leaders debate transit fare integration
As technical trials proceed, debate continues regarding fare integration with the broader Red Movilidad transit network.
Municipal leaders in Providencia and Huechuraba have pushed for fare integration, but current concession terms did not originally include that alternative. Rafael Delpiano, un investigador citado por Meganoticias, explicó que los usuarios podrían enfrentarse al equivalente a tres tarifas si pagan el transporte en autobús estándar por separado de la tarifa del teleférico.
Timeline Toward Commercial Operations
Following the initial technical milestones, the concession schedule points toward a general public opening in the first months of 2027. Operators continue daily morning testing routines to calibrate line velocity and cabin movement along the Cerro San Cristóbal crossing. While ministries of public works and transport have largely declined immediate comment on fare structures, technical evaluations of the route remain active.
Cable car route connects three stations in thirteen minutes
What are the three stations on the Teleférico Bicentenario line?
The route features three stops: Estación Tobalaba (also referred to as Canal San Carlos in regional coverage) in Providencia, Estación Parque Metropolitano on Avenida El Cerro, and Estación Huechuraba (Santa Clara) in Ciudad Empresarial.
How long does the cable-car trip take compared to driving?
The complete journey between terminal stations takes approximately 13 minutes. Ground-level travel by car or bus can take up to 45 minutes during peak hours, according to transport studies cited by La Tercera.
When will regular passengers be able to ride the system?
Public operations are scheduled to begin during the first quarter of 2027, following ongoing technical checkouts and preliminary trials.
How will local commuters factor the time savings of a 13-minute aerial transit line against potential extra ticketing costs once the system opens in 2027?