Medellín's most ambitious transport project since the original metro is taking shape along Avenida 80. The 13.3-kilometer Line E — also called Metro de la 80 or the Pink Line — will connect western Medellín's densely populated communes to the city's existing metro network when it opens in 2028.
Western Medellín — the communes of Castilla, Robledo, Laureles, La América, San Javier, Guayabal, and Belén — is home to roughly one million residents and has historically been underserved by the metro network. Commuters in these areas depend on overcrowded buses and informal jitneys (busetas) for travel to employment centers and universities. The Metro de la 80 will cut average commute times dramatically and connect these communities to the metro system for the first time.
The route will run primarily along Avenida 80, Medellín's main north-south corridor in the west. Unlike the original metro lines A and B, which use elevated tracks, Line E is a surface light rail — meaning it shares the street-level environment with cyclists and pedestrians while running in dedicated lanes separated from vehicular traffic.
As of early 2026, construction is actively underway. Siemens Mobility has selected Spanish company GMV to supply service planning and vehicle location technology — a key contract that signals the project has progressed well beyond planning stages. Civil works by Mota-Engil are visible along the Avenida 80 corridor, with road closures and lane diversions affecting traffic in the project area.
Rolling stock will be supplied by CRRC, China's largest rail vehicle manufacturer. The light rail vehicles are expected to be medium-capacity trainsets designed for the specific gradient and curve requirements of Medellín's terrain.
Residents and businesses along Avenida 80 are experiencing construction disruption — noise, dust, and reduced road access — that will persist through 2027. However, historical precedent from Medellín's earlier Metrocable projects suggests that communities along new transit lines typically see significant economic uplift post-opening: property values rise, new businesses open, and employment opportunities multiply.
Laureles residents will gain direct metro connectivity at multiple stations along the route — currently the neighborhood depends primarily on buses and Uber for metro access. Robledo, Belén, and Guayabal, historically dependent on informal transport, will gain their first proper metro integration. For expats considering those neighborhoods, 2028 will bring a significant quality-of-life improvement.