The government of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, officially launched Metro Line 17-Ouro on March 31. The line will connect São Paulo’s Congonhas Airport to Metro Line 9-Esmeralda and Line 5-Lilás. The opening ceremony was held at 10:00 a.m. in the southern district of São Paulo, with Tarcísio de Freitas, Governor of the State of São Paulo, in attendance.

According to São Paulo Metro, the line will offer six months of free rides during its initial operation phase. The line uses modern monorail trains supplied by BYD. Each train consists of 5 carriages with a total passenger capacity of 616 people and features fully automated driverless operation. Compared with conventional trains, these models are more compact, with a total length of approximately 60.8 meters.

Initial Operation Arrangements

The first day of service will be in a transitional phase, mainly for technical monitoring and system commissioning to ensure safety and service quality gradually meet standards, ultimately achieving 24-hour-like operation (from 04:40 to midnight).

First-day operating hours: 16:00–20:00Initial regular operating hours: 10:00–15:00 on weekdays (including holidays)Departure interval: approximately 7 to 14 minutesOperation mode: shuttle service

Trains will run between Congonhas Airport and Morumbi Station, with on-board staff for monitoring, which is standard practice for new metro lines.

Stations and Route

Seven out of the eight planned stations will open initially, including:

Morumbi Station (connection to Line 9-Esmeralda)Chucri Zaidan StationVila Cordeiro StationCampo Belo Station (transfer to Line 5-Lilás)Vereador José Diniz StationBrooklin Paulista StationAeroporto de Congonhas (Congonhas Airport Station)

Washington Luís Station will remain temporarily closed to avoid increasing train waiting times. It is scheduled to open in June 2026 following the introduction of new trains.

Supporting Facilities

All stations are equipped with comprehensive accessibility facilities, including:

Elevators and escalatorsTactile paving for the visually impairedAccessible restroomsClear signage systems

Additional amenities include:

Platform screen doorsBicycle parking areas (a dedicated garage at Morumbi Station)Pick-up and drop-off zones for taxis and ride-hailing vehiclesBus transfer connectionsPedestrian bridges and walkways in the airport area open to everyone (regardless of ticket use) for easy access to the airport.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

The use of all-electric monorail trains will:

Reduce approximately 25,937 tons of pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions annuallySave around 11.7 million liters of fuel per yearHelp reduce reliance on private cars

Capacity Expectations

Upon full operational launch in October 2026, the line is expected to carry around 100,000 passengers per day, greatly improving commuting efficiency and enhancing transport connectivity to Congonhas Airport.