Decades of waiting came to an end this Saturday (30 July) for residents of Rio de Janeiro. One of the central legacies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Metro Line 4, was inaugurated in a ceremony held at Jardim Oceânico station in the Olympic Park neighbourhood of Barra da Tijuca.

Acting president Michel Temer was there alongside governor of Rio de Janeiro Luiz Fernando Pezão and interim governor Francisco Dornelles and mayor Eduardo Paes. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Thomas Bach, and Carlos Arthur Nuzman, the 2016 Organising Committee president, were also present at the ceremony.

This new section of track, which will be opened on Monday (1 August), is 16km long and serves five stations: Nossa Senhora da Paz, Jardim de Alah, Antero de Quental, São Conrado/Rocinha e Jardim Oceânico. It's estimated that more than 300,000 people will use the line every day resulting in 4000 fewer cars on the road during rush hour.

High-speed travel in a quarter of the time

Temer attended the maiden voyage of the line between the stations Nossa Senhora da Paz e Jardim Oceânico and said: "I have closely followed all the works that are taking place in Rio de Janeiro and it's with great joy that I see them being done with the general population in mind. With Line 4 in service, a worker who at the moment takes two hours to get home will now only take just 30 minutes. 

Until 4 August, the line will be open from 6am to 11pm. During the Games, between 5 and 21 August, the five stations will be open from 6am to 1am, Saturday to Sunday and from 7am until 1am on Sundays and holidays. Between 5 August and 18 September, only people travelling with RioCards or tickets for events will be allowed entry.

One of the main urban transportation projects of Rio 2016, Line 4 will play a fundamental role during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, connecting both the north and south zones of the city to Barra da Tijuca, the neighbourhood with the biggest number of Olympic sites.

'A fantastic transformation'

The journey between stations Nossa Senhora da Paz in Ipanema, and Jardim Oceânico will take 13 minutes. Between Carioca station, in the centre of the city, and Barra da Tijuca, the journey is just 34 minutes long. From Uruguai, in the city's north zone, it will take 50 minutes.

"Next Saturday (6 August), this station will be full of cariocas (residents of Rio) and tourists coming from all over the city who can take the BRT (rapid transit bus line) from here to the Olympic Park," said Eduardo Paes.

"The city's mobility has increased six-fold in as many years. It's a fantastic transformation that only became possible thanks to the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Tourist Information - Rio 2016 Olympics visitors guide