Bogotá Metro Line 1 financing has reached $US 1.06bn, mayor Carlos Fernando Galán said, giving the Colombian capital full financial coverage to keep construction moving through 2026, as outlined by Bogotá.gov.co.

Bogotá Metro Line 1 financing: $US 1.06bn secured for 2026
Photo: Bogotá Metro

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The package brings together two separate loans—one from the World Bank and another from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). With existing support from the European Investment Bank (EIB) also in place, the funding is intended to fully cover next year’s construction programme and should allow the project to reach 90% completion, as reported by International Railway Journal.

Political backdrop for Bogotá’s metro funding

The announcement adds certainty for Colombia’s largest urban rail project after recent political unrest. It follows the collapse of a tax reform proposal in Congress, after which president Gustavo Petro indicated that budget cuts would target investment projects, including the Bogotá Metro.

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Petro also said constitutional constraints prevent reductions to debt servicing or welfare spending, leaving public investment as the main area where savings could be made. In that context, the confirmation of international backing is expected to reinforce confidence in keeping the work on schedule.

Progress on the 24km Bogotá Metro Line 1

As of the end of November, the 24km Line 1 had reached 68.64% completion. The line is planned to run between El Dorado International Airport and the southern district of Suba, serving 16 stations.

Operation is scheduled to commence during the first half of 2028.

Why the World Bank and IDB loans matter?

The Bogotá Metro Line 1 project has previously faced financing challenges that threatened construction schedules. By securing the World Bank loan and the IDB loan—supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB)—the project now has clearer funding continuity for the next phase.

The project is widely described as one of Latin America’s most significant metro developments, and Railway Supply has recent project coverage on the wider Line 1 programme.

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