The first vehicles were transported by road from Alstom’s plant at Santa Perpetua de Mogoda near Barcelona to the port of Santander earlier this month in readiness for shipping to Peru.

Line 1 concessionaire GyM-Ferrovias awarded Alstom a contract in July 2015 to supply 20 six-car trains and 19 intermediate cars to lengthen the line’s existing fleet of Metropolis sets from five to six cars.

The delivery of the first four trains will enable the reduction of peak headways on the 34km north-south line from six to five minutes. Three-minute frequencies will be introduced when the final trains are delivered at the end of next year.

The expansion of the fleet is part of a $US 410m capacity enhancement programme which also includes the upgrading of power supplies, stations, the line’s depot, and trackwork.