Medellin - Metro

The Medellin Metro system is something both the city and its inhabitants are proud of. Even though it has no more than two lines, it is something not to be seen in South America too often. Here you can see the basic scheme of this infrastructure:(map photographed at the station - click to enlarge)
Metro (i.e. metropolitan railway) does not suggest that its corridors are under the ground. On contrary, the lines are tracted either on the surface, or on elevated estacades (in the city centre). (station near city center)
The line A follows historic route of "Ferrocaril de Antioquia" in between center area nad both end terminals. Thus, it is located on the edge of the Medellin river.
As you can see on the map, the B-line (orange) is terminated in the city center (San
The whole system was built relatively recently and is in a very good condition, it looks like new. There is one type of train serving the system.Antonio station). Furthermore, the tracks are on the elevated estacades above busy street - so it looks like a good location for some action movie (batman, you have got to stop the train!)
I have noted just one Depo, near Niquia, and technically it is possible to house all the trains there.
The infrastrucutre was built relatively recently abnd is in an excellent condition, almost like new. Ststions are modern, spatious, semi-open, built from steel and concrete. Nothing like the claustrophobic N.Y.C. underground (sorry, N.Y.C.)....and their design is quite uniform including the acessories...
The whole infrastructure is served by one type of train.(below)
which is quite spationus and light inside (below)
But perhaps the most significant feature is how METRO is identified with host of other social and cultural services and with improved quality of life as a whole. Therefore, slogans "La Cultura Metro" and "Metro Calidad de Vida" are widely promoted in uniform style by multiple chanels, including airport-like announcements and brochures like these: (below) And really - its not just about rhetorics. Besides providing safeguarded, organized and clean environment (a bit contrasting with the "barrios populares"), Metor succeeds in facilitating other then transport function, the most notable perhaps being project "Biblio Metro" where small libraries are placed at some terminal stations. There, passengers can order and later pickup books or use internet conveniently within their daily errands.(Biblio Metro ad)(small library at Niquia terminal)(and its interior with computers)
If you want more information, visit: http://www.metrodemedellin.gov.co/