Have you ever thought about how the Metro, CPTM and Monorail lines are organized? The nomenclature of SP’s transportation lines goes beyond simple numbers or names. They can be colors, precious stones or metals, but contrary to what many people think, it’s not a random choice!
This identification system serves to make life easier for users and ensure that millions of people can get around in an intuitive and practical way. Curious to understand how this works in practice? Then let’s dive into the logic behind the nomenclature of SP’s transportation lines, which is a detail that often goes unnoticed, but makes all the difference to the experience of São Paulo residents.
Metro:
The naming system of the São Paulo metro is simple, but extremely efficient. Each line is identified by a combination of numbers and colors, ensuring practical and intuitive navigation for users. See examples:
- Line 1 – Blue
- Line 2 – Green
- Line 3 – Red
- Line 4 – Yellow
- Line 5 – Lilac
- Line 6 – Orange (under construction)
- Line 19 – Celeste (under planning)
CPTM:
If in the metro colors dominate, in the CPTM the highlight goes to precious stones. This logic was introduced in 2008, modernizing the visual identity of the railway lines. Check it out:
- Line 7 – Ruby
- Line 8 – Diamond
- Line 9 – Emerald
- Line 10 – Turquoise
- Line 11 – Coral
- Row 12 – Sapphire
- Line 13 – Jade
Monorails:
Last but not least: the monorails! In this case, metal names the lines. This naming pattern helps differentiate the monorail lines from the others, creating a unique identity for this means of transportation. They are
- Line 15 – Silver
- Line 17 – Gold (under construction)
- Line 18 – Bronze (suspended project)
