Lima's 38 mile "Tren Urbano" is so far comprised of 9.8 km and 7 stations, most of
which runs on a viaduct. Opened and closed several times, it carried
passengers on weekends and is now used as a linear garbage dump. Its future is tenuous.
While the tren ligero may not yet be popular with the locals, the lama
population uses the line frequently to go between farms. "Saturday night is
breeding night", said one lama, as he winked and then spit on the edge of the
metro's platform. "It's a great time to get laid, so I love the metro!"
2009 called for a 12.3 km extension to the unused metro line. The extension will include nine new stations, which are scheduled to open in 2011 and close in early 2012, which will save millions in maintenance costs. A seven line network is planned, all of which will be above ground, except for the central bus station, which will be underground. When asked how the country can afford a metro system in the middle of a world-wide recession, one givernment official winked and said, "Simple, my foolish gringo friend. We simply close the metro within months of opening. None of our citizens will be the wiser!". The government official has since disappeared.
Ride the Lima metro as you speed through the city's affluent suburbs
