The Federal District Government (GDF) in Brazil has officially launched the expansion of the DF Metro with an investment of BRL 319 million (USD 56 million). The expansion will add 3.6 km to the existing Line 1, extending from Terminal Samambaia to the western subcentre of the neighbourhood, close to 1st Avenue South. This expansion will connect Samambaia Norte and Samambaia Sul, and include two new stations, three viaducts, and four pedestrian walkways.
The new stations, located near the Emergency Care Unit (UPA) and the Olympic Centre, will each cover 7,000 square metres. The station near the Olympic Centre will serve as the terminal for the Samambaia section. The project is expected to benefit around 12,000 to 15,000 daily commuters, improving transportation and mobility in the area.
Vice Governor Celina Leão, who signed the service order for the expansion, highlighted the importance of public transportation as a fundamental right. She also announced that the GDF had approved feasibility studies for an additional metro line connecting Gama and Santa Maria. Additionally, the government is trialling a zero-fare model on Sundays and public holidays.
During the ceremony, Vice Governor Leão received a historic photograph of former President Juscelino Kubitschek from Metrô-DF CEO Handerson Cabral, symbolising the ongoing transformation of the Federal District, akin to the construction of Brasília under Kubitschek’s leadership.
The expansion project forms part of the broader Brasília Metro System Expansion Programme. The works include the construction of new drainage systems, paving, energy systems, and the construction of semi-buried railways. The CG-JFJ consortium, comprising CG Construções LTDA and JFJ Tecnologia em Instalações Elétricas, has been awarded the contract, with an estimated completion time of 2.5 to 4 years.
In addition to the Samambaia expansion, Metrô-DF is reviewing expansion plans for the Ceilândia branch, which will add 2.3 km to the line and create two new stations, expected to increase capacity by 22,000 passengers per day.
Furthermore, the bidding process has been initiated for feasibility studies regarding Line 2, which will connect Gama, Santa Maria, and other administrative regions to central Brasília. The studies are expected to be completed by mid-2026.
The expansion is also accompanied by the purchase of 15 new trains, with the goal of increasing metro capacity to 420,000 passengers per day over the next five years. Handerson Cabral confirmed that financing for the project is underway, with plans to have the trains operational by the time the Samambaia and Ceilândia extensions are completed.
The DF Metro currently spans 42.38 km and serves between 160,000 and 180,000 passengers daily, connecting key regions within the Federal District.
Share on:
