A view of a Caracas Metro station. File photo.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Venezuela’s Transportation Minister Ramón Velásquez Araguayán announced this Monday, March 31, on social media that the Venezuelan government has reintroduced the 25th refurbished train into the Caracas Metro system.
The minister of transport wrote that this milestone marks the achievement of the government’s target to restore 40 operational trains despite the effects of US sanctions. He further noted that an additional 50 trains are expected to become operational by December 2025. By December 2026, officials project that 70 trains will be in service, which is anticipated to reduce passenger wait times to one minute and 30 seconds.
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The Caracas Metro’s revitalization efforts, while notable, underscore the systemic challenges imposed by US sanctions. Prior to sanctions, the metro relied heavily on imported parts from US and European manufacturers for its trains, signaling systems, and power grids. Today, restrictions on foreign transactions and embargoes on Venezuelan state entities have delayed or halted the procurement of these critical components. Engineers now face months-long waits to secure basic replacements like brake systems or electrical converters, often resorting to cannibalizing parts from decommissioned trains to keep others operational.
A 2021 report by the Caracas-based consultancy Ecoanalítica revealed that sanctions have increased the cost of metro maintenance by over 300%, as the government turns to intermediaries or black-market suppliers to bypass trade barriers. These constraints have forced the metro to operate at reduced capacity for years, exacerbating overcrowding and service delays even as refurbished trains re-enter circulation.
Metro stations also
The Venezuelan government’s ongoing initiative to revitalize the Caracas Metro system, known as the Metro Moves With You Plan (El Metro se Mueve Contigo), focuses on comprehensive repairs and modernization across 57 stations serving over 2.8 million daily passengers. Launched in 2022, the program prioritizes corrective maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, and user comfort improvements. Key efforts include deep cleaning, waterproofing leaks, repairing mechanical systems, restoring lighting, and refurbishing operational areas like turnstiles and administrative spaces. Stations such as La Hoyada, Agua Salud, and Caño Amarillo have seen polished floors, repainted walls, and new green spaces, while Propatria Terminal Station underwent structural repairs and aesthetic enhancements.
Impact of US sanctions on public services
While the Caracas Metro’s refurbishment signals progress, illegal US sanctions continue to severely hinder Venezuela’s ability to maintain and improve broader public services. Restrictions on financial transactions and imports of machinery, spare parts, and industrial materials have delayed critical infrastructure projects nationwide. For instance, the metro itself has faced years of operational decline due to difficulties in sourcing replacement parts for aging trains and electrical systems. Sanctions have compounded these challenges, forcing the government to rely on costly workarounds, such as importing components through third-party countries or repurposing outdated equipment.
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Healthcare and education under strain
The collateral effects of sanctions are starkly visible in Venezuela’s healthcare and education sectors. Hospitals struggle to acquire lifesaving medications, surgical supplies, and diagnostic equipment due to trade barriers and frozen foreign assets. A 2023 United Nations report noted that only 20% of essential medicines are reliably available in public hospitals, contributing to preventable deaths and a resurgence of diseases.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
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