Central do Brasil / Centro Metro Station: History and Guide
- Central do Brasil / Centro stands as the busiest station on the Rio de Janeiro metro network, handling millions of passengers in 2024 according to data published by...
- Metro planning in Rio de Janeiro began in the early 20th century, though official authorization to proceed came in December 1968, with construction starting in June 1970.
- Annual passenger volume reached an all-time high in 2016 with 23,210,152 entries before experiencing a sharp decline starting in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic mobility restrictions.
Central do Brasil / Centro
Central do Brasil / Centro stands as the busiest station on the Rio de Janeiro metro network, handling millions of passengers in 2024 according to data published by Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Located in downtown Rio de Janeiro at Avenida Presidente Vargas and Praça da República, the underground hub serves both Line 1 and Line 2 of the city’s rapid transit system.
History and Network Integration
Metro planning in Rio de Janeiro began in the early 20th century, though official authorization to proceed came in December 1968, with construction starting in June 1970. Central opened on March 5, 1979, as one of the original five stations on the network alongside Praça Onze, Presidente Vargas, Cinelândia, and Glória. On December 21, 2009, the station integrated with Line 2, establishing a direct connection between Pavuna in the northern zone and Botafogo in the southern zone. MetrôRio added neighborhood names to several stations in August 2022 to provide clearer guidance for passengers in high-tourism areas, officially updating the station’s designation to Central do Brasil / Centro.
Ridership Trends
Annual passenger volume reached an all-time high in 2016 with 23,210,152 entries before experiencing a sharp decline starting in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic mobility restrictions. By 2024, the station recorded 12,968,950 users, maintaining its position as the most heavily utilized facility across the municipal network.
Station Access and Connections
The facility provides four distinct entry points for commuters, including Access A at Central, Access B at Terminal Rodoviário, Access C at Ministério do Exército, and Access D at Praça da República. Access points B, C, and D remain closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays according to MetrôRio operational schedules. The station offers direct multimodal integration with urban trains at the Estación Central de Brasil, a municipal bus terminal, the Teleférico da Providência, and lines 2, 3, and 4 of the VLT Carioca light rail system.