Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about the Mexico City Metro, and related transportation questions. If your question is not answered here, please call LOCATEL at the number above, and we’ll try to add questions as they come up.
Q: Why the rubber tires?
The ground on which the Metro trains run is, especially in the city center, too soft to allow the steel wheels/steel rails that you see on similar subway or railroad systems. Also, as starting any train from a standstill is where it will lose the most energy, the rubber tires contribute a great deal toward making the system more energy efficient.
The rubber tires also reduce noise, making for a more comfortable ride.
Q: What’s with all the icons? Who designed them?
Mexico City residents have always been proud of the design that’s gone into making the Metro navigable and understandable. In fact, the original signage was developed by an American graphic designer, Lance Wyman, who had designed the logo for the 1968 Olympics.
Q: How much does it cost?
The fare for riding the Metro is five pesos for one trip. This can be paid at the ticket window in each station, or by using a Metro Card available in stations or at vending machines in Metrobus stations.
Q: What hours does the Metro run each day?
• Working days/weekdays from 5 a.m. to midnight
• Saturdays from 6 a.m. to midnight
• Sundays & Holidays from 7 a.m. to midnight
Q: How old is the Mexico City Metro?
The first section of the Mexico City Metro opened on 4 September, 1969, and the most recent section, line 12, became fully operational in 2012. The city and the system celebrated 50 years of continuous operation in September of 2019.
Q: How do I know which direction to go?
Check the map in any station for the names of the terminal stations on the line you intend to travel. The final station on that line in a given direction is indicated on the boarding platform. You must check that your intended destination is between your location and the terminal station, and proceed on the Metro in that direction.
Q: Can I get a Metro Card if the ticket booth in my station isn’t selling them?
Metro cards are sold in both the ticket booths, and in the machines at the airport and in Metrobus stations.
As Metro station ticket sellers do sell out of Metro Cards from time to time, it is worth it to check another ticket booth in the same Metro station, or in a nearby Metrobus station.
• You may also want to purchase one 5 peso regular ticket for a one-time trip, and then check for a Metro card at the station to which you arrive.
Q: Can I transfer between the Metro and Metrobús for free?
NO. However you can transfer between Metrobús lines, and you can “transbordar,” for free, between intersecting lines of the Metro.
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