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The São Paulo subway, one of Brazil’s main transportation systems, is facing the abandonment of three stations that could transform urban mobility. Discover São Paulo’s “ghost stations” and the impact of these stalled projects on the city’s transportation system.
The São Paulo subway is one of the most important transportation systems in the country, connecting millions of people every day and making it easier to get around a huge and busy city like São Paulo. However, despite having 91 active stations, São Paulo could have a few more stops if it weren't for the abandonment of 3 subway stations in SP that were never completed or operated as planned. Let's understand more about the abandonment of subway stations in SP and how it affects urban mobility.
The ghost stations of Sao Paulo: Tutoia, Ibirapuera and Moema
The history of these three stations is, to say the least, curious. The city of São Paulo has always had ambitious plans to expand its subway system, and the Tutóia, Ibirapuera and Moema stations were designed to create an extension of the Paraíso Station, which connects lines 1-Azul and 2-Verde. With this expansion, the subway in SP would have an even more extensive connection between the city's zones, making life easier for thousands of people.
However, the plan did not go as expected, and the abandonment of these stations ended up creating what many call “ghost stations”. Let’s understand a little about what happened to each of them.
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Tutóia Station: a promise never fulfilled
Tutóia Station was part of the expansion plan for the São Paulo subway system and was to be one of the intermediate stations between Paraíso and other areas of the city. According to historical records, this station appeared on maps and projects as part of a network that would extend to Moema Station. However, Tutóia Station never left the drawing board, frustrating expectations of a improvement in mobility urban of the city.
If it had been built, Tutóia could have facilitated access to strategic regions of São Paulo, in addition to distributing the flow of passengers across different routes. Its abandonment is an example of how the lack of investment in public transportation directly affects the daily lives of São Paulo residents.
Ibirapuera Station: Another unfulfilled promise of the SP subway
Following the same fate as Tutóia Station, Ibirapuera Station was also never built. The project included a station in the region of the famous Ibirapuera Park, an area with a large circulation of people, tourists and residents. The construction of this station could have revolutionized transport in the area, providing greater accessibility and facilitating transportation for those who visit the park and nearby neighborhoods.
The lack of this station, like Tutóia, is yet another consequence of the abandonment of metro stations in SP and represents a missed opportunity to improve urban mobility. Unfortunately, the region missed the chance to become even more accessible and better connected to the rest of the city.
Moema Station
Unlike Tutóia and Ibirapuera stations, Moema Station was built and opened in 2018. However, this station ended up not connecting with the original expansion project of Paraíso Station. Instead, it was integrated into Line 5-Lilac, which runs from Capão Redondo to Chácara Klabin, connecting with other lines, such as 2-Green, 1-Blue and 9-Emerald.
Moema Station is located between Eucaliptos and AACD – Servidor stations and has no direct connection to the lines that originated the initial project. Although it is in operation, this station does not exactly meet the initial proposal of facilitating the connection between lines 1-Azul and 2-Verde, leaving a “hole” in the urban mobility plan designed for São Paulo.
The consequences of the abandonment of 3 subway stations in SP
The abandonment of three subway stations in São Paulo is a clear example of how interrupted or poorly executed projects directly impact urban mobility. Each abandoned station represents one less connection for the residents of São Paulo, who face the daily difficulties of getting around in such a large city. The construction of the Tutóia and Ibirapuera stations would have eased the flow of passengers on lines 3 and 1, avoiding overcrowding and reducing travel time for those who use the subway.
This failure to expand affects the planning of other lines and future projects. Often, areas that could benefit from greater mobility end up overwhelmed by traffic, with no practical alternatives for public transportation.
Urban mobility in Sao Paulo
São Paulo is known for its complexity and size, which makes urban mobility a constant challenge. With more than 5 million people using the subway daily, the six lines in operation are no longer enough to meet the demands of a constantly growing city. The abandonment of subway stations in SP only makes this situation worse, forcing more people to use private vehicles or face overcrowding on public transportation.
Today, the São Paulo metro covers more than 100 kilometers and has 91 stations distributed across its six lines. However, if the original expansion project had been completed, the number of stations could have been even greater, benefiting different regions and facilitating the movement of thousands of São Paulo residents.
The hope of new projects for the subway in SP
Even with the abandonment of 3 subway stations in São Paulo, the people of São Paulo remain hopeful for an even wider expansion. New projects for lines and stations continue to be discussed, and the population hopes that they will come to fruition to finally reduce traffic and improve the quality of life for those who depend on public transportation.
Urban mobility experts point to the importance of new lines and stations that serve areas that are more distant and disconnected from the city center. São Paulo has the potential to offer an even larger metro system that is accessible to all and less dependent on cars, reducing pollution and congestion.
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