Operated by the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo (STC), it is the second largest metro system in North America after the New York City Subway.

Instead of traditional steel wheels, they use pneumatic traction, which is quieter and rides smoother in Mexico City's unstable soils.

He carried out a series of studies that resulted in a draft plan which would ultimately lead to the construction of the Mexico City Metro.

This plan was shown to different authorities of Mexico City but it was not made official until 29 April 1967, when the Government Gazette ("Diario Oficial de la Federación") published the presidential decree that created a public decentralized organism, the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo, with the proposal to build, operate and run an underground rapid transit network as part of Mexico City's public transport system.

RATP's engineering branch SOFRETU played a major role in its initial planning and the design of the first lines, hence the choice of tyre/rail technology.

On 19 June 1967, at the crossroads of Chapultepec Avenue with Avenida Bucareli, the inauguration ceremony for the Mexico City Metro took place.

Two years later, on 4 September 1969, an orange train made the inaugural trip between Zaragoza and Insurgentes stations, thus beginning daily operation up to today.

Between 1,200 and 4,000 specialists and 48,000 workers participated, building at least one kilometre (0.62 mi) of track per month, the fastest rate of construction ever for a subway.

[citation needed] During this stage of construction workers uncovered two archaeological ruins, one Aztec idol, and the bones of a mammoth (on display at Talismán station).

Works began with the expansion of Line 3 towards the north from Tlatelolco to La Raza in 1978 and to the current terminal Indios Verdes in 1979, and towards the south from Hospital General to Centro Médico in 1980 and to Zapata months later.

Line 6's route first ran from El Rosario to Instituto del Petróleo; Line 7 was opened from Tacuba to Barranca del Muerto and runs along the foot of the Sierra de las Cruces mountain range that surrounds the Valley of Mexico at its west side, outside of the ancient lake zone.

On Line 1, there was no service in stations Merced, Pino Suárez, Isabel la Católica, Salto del Agua, Balderas or Cuauhtémoc.

The reason these stations were closed was not due to damage to the Metro proper, but rather because of surface rescue work and clearing of debris.

In 2015, mayor Miguel Ángel Mancera announced the construction of two more stations and a terminal for Line 12: Valentín Campa,[15] Álvaro Obregón and Observatorio, both west of Mixcoac.

[16][17] The metro system's construction has resulted in more than 20 thousand archeological finds, from various time periods in the history of the indigenous people.

[18] The excavations needed to make way for the rails gave opportunities to find artifacts from different periods of the region's inhabitants, in areas that are now densely urbanized.

[19] The altar to Ehécatl is now in Pino Suárez station, between lines 1 and 2, and is called by the INAH the smallest archeological site in Mexico.

The metro has led to a large quantity of archeological finds, and has also let archaeologists understand more about the pattern of ancient civilisations in the Mexican capital by analysing its underground from various time periods.

Distinguished architects were hired to design and construct the stations on the first metro line, such as Enrique del Moral, Félix Candela, Salvador Ortega and Luis Barragán.

[21] Public intellectual Carlos Monsiváis has commented on the cultural importance of the Metro, "a space for collective expression, where diverse social sectors are compelled to mingle every day".

Most directly referencing the Revolution was Pino Suárez, named after Francisco I. Madero's vice president, who was murdered with him in February 1913.

A sideways commemoration was División del Norte, named after the Army that Pancho Villa commanded until its demise in the Battle of Celaya in 1915.

[27] Since one-third of the Mexican population could not read or write and most of the rest had not completed high school, it was thought that patrons would find it easier to guide themselves with a system based on colors and visual signs.

The sole light rail line running from Tasqueña to Xochimilco is operated by the Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos and is better known as Tren Ligero.

[37] Mexico City Metro offers free service to the elderly, the physically impaired, and children under the age of 5 (accompanied by an adult).

In January 2010, the price rose to MXN $3.00 (€ 0.15, or US$ 0.24), a fare that remained until 13 December 2013; a 2009 survey showed that 93% of citizens approved of the increase, while some said they would be willing to pay even more if needed.

[41] Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos manages both the Xochimilco Light Rail line and the city's trolleybus system.

[42] As of April 2012, 14 types of standard gauge rolling stock totalling a number of 355 trains running in 6-or 9-car formation are currently in use on the Mexico City Metro.

From May 2024, Line 1 will receive 29 new rubber-tired trains manufactured by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive in China, replacing earlier rolling stock.

All the stations on those lines temporarily remained closed and provisional transport service was provided by city buses and police vehicles.