MEXICO CITY, August 9, 2026 – Construction has officially commenced on Line 5 of Mexico City’s Cablebús, a monumental project poised to become the longest aerial tramway system globally. Spanning 15.4 kilometers, this new line will link the Mixcoac Multimodal Transfer Center (CETRAM) with the boroughs of Álvaro Obregón and La Magdalena Contreras.
Ambitious Project to Transform Urban Mobility
The project envisions 12 stations and two branches converging in the El Tanque area. Its primary objective is to enhance connectivity for 61 neighborhoods across both boroughs and drastically cut down travel times, which currently range from one and a half to two hours. The journey between Oyamel and Mixcoac is projected to take a mere 40 minutes.
The Secretariat of Works and Services (Sobse) confirmed that preparatory work began in December 2025, under the directive of Mexico City’s Head of Government, Clara Brugada. Brugada has emphatically stated that this will be “the longest line in the world” of its kind, distinguishing it as the most extensive in both length and number of stations within the Cablebús network.
Route, Branches, and Stations of Cablebús Line 5
Line 5 will feature two distinct branches that will meet at El Tanque. One branch will extend towards Oyamel in Magdalena Contreras, while the other will reach San Bartolo Ameyalco in Álvaro Obregón.
According to Sobse, the 12 planned stations are:
- Mixcoac (Benito Juárez)
- Olivar del Conde (Álvaro Obregón)
- Santa Lucía (Álvaro Obregón)
- Enrique Cabrera (Álvaro Obregón)
- Pueblo de Tetelpan (Álvaro Obregón)
- Lomas de la Era (Álvaro Obregón)
- San Bartolo Ameyalco (Álvaro Obregón)
- Glaciar (Magdalena Contreras)
- El Tanque (Magdalena Contreras)
- Barros Sierra (Magdalena Contreras)
- Oasis (Magdalena Contreras)
- Oyamel (Magdalena Contreras)
This route will directly connect Metro Mixcoac with the higher-altitude areas of Álvaro Obregón and Magdalena Contreras, thereby integrating these communities more seamlessly into the city’s broader public transport networks.
Project Scale and Time Savings
Line 5 represents a significant expansion compared to previous Cablebús projects. Official information indicates it will double the number of stations and triple the length of Line 3. While Line 3 has six stations over just over five kilometers, the new line will cover 15.2 kilometers and connect 12 points. This scale necessitates a more extensive construction schedule and a greater degree of complexity in system installation.
The electromechanical components are being produced in Austria, and the cabins are manufactured in Switzerland, following the successful model used for other Cablebús lines in the city. These international efforts are proceeding concurrently with the preliminary work already underway in Mexico City.
A central benefit of the project is the dramatic reduction in travel times. The full journey between the Oyamel terminal and Mixcoac is estimated to take 40 minutes, a stark contrast to the current one and a half to two hours for residents in the elevated areas of both boroughs.
Construction Timeline: From Preparations to Completion
Line 5 began its preliminary phase in December 2025, with preparatory work on the route. Official forecasts suggest the line will be fully operational by mid-2028.
Currently, efforts are focused on soil studies, topographical surveys, and the architectural design of the stations. Brugada elaborated, “We started all preparations in early December: stations, soil mechanics, topographies, and architectural design.”
The Cablebús system already functions as a feeder for mass transit in the capital. Its previous lines aimed to connect hard-to-reach areas with networks like the Metro and Metrobús.
Head of Government Clara Brugada affirmed that Mexico City will construct Cablebús Lines 4, 5, and 6 within two to two and a half years. This ambitious undertaking will traverse five boroughs and entail an investment exceeding 17 billion pesos, with the goal of adding 40 kilometers of infrastructure to improve transportation in the capital’s high-altitude and peripheral zones.
Capital authorities estimate that the three new routes will benefit over 200,000 people daily and serve approximately 150 neighborhoods and indigenous communities. The construction involves more than 100,000 square meters of work, with a current progress rate of 20% and an expectation to reach 40% by the end of this year.
Source: Infobae
