Together with the much bigger Santiago Metro, it is one of the only two underground urban rail systems in Chile (the Valparaíso Metro has a underground stretch from Miramar through Chorrillos stations in Viña del Mar). However, it is not a full metro system due to the existence of various level crossings and the long distances between stations. As a result of the presence of at-grade level crossings and regional rail character, the Valparaíso Metro is more analogous to a commuter rail system.