The São Paulo State Government of Brazil recently announced that the São Paulo Metro Line 17, originally planned to open during the 2014 World Cup, is scheduled to begin trial operations in March 2026.

According to reports, this monorail line spans 6.7 kilometers with 8 stations and is currently undergoing testing in the southern region of São Paulo. The line passes through Congonhas Airport (Aeroporto de Congonhas), where passengers can access the terminals through a 65-meter underground passage that is nearing completion.

The construction of São Paulo Metro Line 17 has faced various challenges. Since 2010, the project has encountered issues such as contract terminations, design changes, and budget adjustments. The current budget for the project stands at 5.8 billion Brazilian reais, with the construction progress estimated at around 85%. Once operational, the trial operations will be managed by ViaMobilidade, a subsidiary of the car rental and management group Movida. Initially, service will only run on weekends and for limited hours.

Two trains have already undergone testing at the Água Espraiada train dispatch yard in Campo Belo, São Paulo, with a total of 14 trains set to be put into operation. These trains, manufactured by the Chinese company BYD, utilize cutting-edge technology and are the only monorail trains equipped with rechargeable batteries, offering a range of up to 8 kilometers.

One of the main highlights of the new line is its direct connection to Congonhas Airport. The airport station is located across Avenida Washington Luís and is linked to the airport terminals via an underground passage. Even when the metro is not operational, the tunnel will remain open 24 hours a day for pedestrian access, replacing the existing pedestrian bridges.

The Line 17 metro stations are equipped with elevators, escalators, and self-service machines, with no physical ticket counters. Additionally, the stations have bicycle parking racks and are connected to bike lanes, linking to existing bike racks and lanes on Avenida Jornalista Roberto Marinho.

Engineer Marcelo Tobias stated that progress is being made daily, with all construction work and power communication systems expected to be completed by December 2025. The full operation of the line is planned to commence in the third quarter of 2026.

The completion of Metro Line 17 will fulfill years of delayed promises and help alleviate traffic congestion in the southern region of the city. By connecting the metro line to the airport terminals, this line will integrate the metro, railway, and air transport systems, greatly enhancing airport transportation convenience.