Chile Plans Light Rail Link Between Metro Line 7 and Santiago Airport
The government is studying a light rail connection between Metro Line 7 and the airport, with an estimated investment of USD 300 million.
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The Government of Chile, through the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) and Metro de Santiago, is advancing studies for the development of a light rail connection between the future Huelén station on Metro Line 7 and Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, located in the Pudahuel district.
According to Chilean media, the project could be officially announced during the President’s Annual Address on June 1, and is seen as a more cost-effective and timely alternative to previous proposals for extending the metro network to the airport.
Huelén station, currently under construction, will be one terminus of Line 7, which will link the districts of Renca and Vitacura, running through western and northern Santiago. In this context, the proposed light rail aims to provide a fast, intermodal, and direct link between the metro system and the country’s main airport—without requiring underground extensions or reliance on the current bus service connecting the airport to Pajaritos station.
The planned route would span approximately 6.5 to 7 kilometers from Huelén to the airport. According to sources close to the project, the estimated investment is around USD 300 million—a figure significantly lower than that of a standard metro extension, which can cost up to USD 100 million per kilometer.
Unlike the metro, which is integrated into Santiago’s public transport fare system, the light rail would use a differentiated fare model, targeting primarily airport passengers. The estimated ticket price is around CLP 2,000, in line with rapid airport rail links in major global cities.
French company Engie has expressed interest in participating in the project, submitting a proposal to the government based on its experience operating similar systems in Europe and Asia. While it remains undecided whether the project will be tendered or publicly executed, private sector involvement is expected to be key to its technical and financial viability.
The light rail initiative is part of a broader urban mobility strategy under the Santiago 2025 Master Transportation Plan, which includes new metro lines, electric bus corridors, cycling infrastructure, and other sustainable transport solutions. Improving access to the airport is a top priority, due to rising passenger demand and the need to ease vehicular congestion.
Currently, Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez Airport handles over 25 million passengers annually, and improving its ground connectivity has become a critical issue. While the airport’s road access and terminal expansion have been upgraded, authorities still seek a reliable, high-capacity transport solution with predictable travel times.
The Chilean government hopes to launch a detailed technical development phase after the public announcement, including engineering studies, environmental assessments, and a finalized management model. If the project moves forward as planned, the light rail link to the airport could be operational before the end of the decade, marking a major milestone in the evolution of Santiago’s urban transport system.
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