Crossing the Gustavo A. Madero, Venustiano Carranza and Iztacalco municipalities in Mexico City, Metro line 4 runs through the city from north to south; it is the shortest line in the network and the only one that does not have underground stations.
Likewise, it is the one with the lowest influx of passengers, registering in 2021 almost 16 million travelers; the equivalent of what was recorded only in the first quarter of line 2, the Taxqueña-Cuatro Caminos line, in the same year.
Brief history of Line 4 of the Metro
It was the fourth line to be built in the capital, inaugurated in its first section, from Martín Carrera to Candelaria, in 1981, by the then President José López Portillo. In addition, it was the first to incorporate elevated sections in the viaduct.
Later, a year later, the last section of the network was inaugurated; from Candelaria to Santa Anita; completing a total of ten stations in 10.75 kilometers.
It seems that several extensions have been proposed for this line, one that reaches Ecatepec or Acolman, in the State of Mexico; and another to the south, in the direction of Xochimilco.
Curiosities of the stations that make up this line
Martin Carrera
The name of this station honors General Martín Carrera, the twenty-second President of Mexico, who in 1855 took office as interim for only 29 days, when Antonio López de Santa Anna was deposed and fled abroad.
Talisman
Although this station takes its name from Talismán Avenue, its icon is a mammoth because while the line was being built in 1978, the remains of one of these extinct mammals were discovered; and currently they can be seen at the subway entrance, right in the place where they were found.
bondojito
Few know but the voice bondo It comes from the Otomi and means nopal. Therefore bondojito, its diminutive, means nopalito and the station was named that way because in the past the area was full of small nopales.
consulate
Located on the Consulado River, the station was named after the river, which was piped in 1944 and runs under the avenue of the same name. Its icon is a cross section of a drainage tube.
north channel
Its icon represents a cross section of a water channel, in memory of an old channel that connected the Villa with Mexico City in colonial Mexico.
Morelos
Perhaps the only easily recognizable station on the line is this one, with the profile of José María Morelos with his bandana. The icon alludes to the Morelos neighborhood, which began its urbanization in 1882.
Candelaria/Legislative Palace
Originally, centuries ago, the area that the station occupies was a swamp where a large number of ducks lived, hence the icon. As for the name of Candelaria, it refers to the temple of the Purification of the Virgin Mary built in Colonial times, which was later colloquially known as Candelaria. Also, the station is located a few steps from the Chamber of Deputies.
Friar Servando
The symbol of the station is the profile of Fray Servando Teresa de Mier, although without recognizable features. It was named like this because it crosses the road axis with the name of the clergyman, who was a defender of it at the time of the independence of New Spain.
Jamaica
Easily recognizable, this station gets its name because it is located in the Jamaica market, one of the most famous in Mexico City. Curiously, the icon is a corn because in ancient times this grain was grown in the area.
santa anita
Finally, this stop is represented by a supposed seller of flowers and vegetables in his canoe. Let us remember that the area was previously surrounded by water and natural products were cultivated and sold there, which were transported by canoes to the center of the city.