Night Tests Advancing Steadily with Multi-Line Coordination
The urban transit system in Spain’s capital, Madrid, is undergoing a major technological revolution. Recently, Madrid Metro officials confirmed that the first batch of automated trains without passengers has entered the night testing phase. To ensure daily operations remain unaffected, testing is scheduled late at night from Monday to Thursday. During this phase, professional drivers are still on board to comprehensively monitor vehicle safety, operational stability, and the overall reliability of the autonomous driving system.
Currently, the testing grounds are not located on the future main operational Line 6, but have been initiated on Lines 10 and 11, with plans to extend to Line 12 (Metrosur). Line 6 is currently utilizing its nighttime closure hours to install platform screen doors, which are an indispensable hardware foundation for achieving fully automated driving.
New Trains Eliminate Driver Cabins, Boosting Both Capacity and Efficiency
The introduction of these new trains is hailed as the largest upgrade in the history of the Madrid Metro. According to published technical specifications, the new trains consist of 6 cars, reaching a total length of 109 meters. In terms of operational efficiency, the new vehicles have a maximum design speed of 110 km/h, a 33% increase compared to active models. Meanwhile, energy consumption will drop significantly by 20%, aligning better with modern eco-friendly and energy-saving transportation concepts.
The most significant structural change is the complete removal of the driver’s cabin. This design allows the entire train to be fully continuous from front to back, not only providing passengers with a more spacious interior but also increasing the maximum passenger capacity by 17%. A single train can accommodate 1,385 passengers, helping to disperse dense crowds more efficiently during peak hours.
Targeting the ‘Heart of the Metro’ Line 6, Headways Reduced to 2 Minutes
Madrid’s traffic management authorities selected Line 6 (Circular) as the first to apply automated driving technology, primarily due to its immense passenger volume pressure. As a crucial circular line connecting 10 other metro lines, Line 6 can be called the ‘heart’ of Madrid’s rail transit. Data shows that the line carried over 116 million passengers in 2024, with an average daily ridership of approximately 430,000 on weekdays.
Following the introduction of the automated driving system, train dispatching will achieve a qualitative leap. Officials estimate that under the fully automated operation mode, the minimum headway for Line 6 trains is expected to be compressed to 2 minutes. This will greatly reduce citizens’ waiting times and significantly improve overall commuting efficiency.
Synchronized Station Upgrades with Brief Weekend Closures at Select Stops
The implementation of the driverless system relies not only on train iteration but also requires a comprehensive renewal of station hardware facilities. In the future, all 70 platforms along Line 6 will be equipped with transparent screen doors. This measure will not only effectively enhance waiting safety but also significantly reduce the gap between trains and platforms, providing a much friendlier accessible travel experience for wheelchair users and passengers with strollers. Furthermore, the screen door system will integrate LED interactive displays to broadcast real-time train arrival times and operational status.
To coordinate with the second phase of the platform screen door installation project, the southern half-loop area of Line 6 will undergo a brief closure from August 22 (Saturday) to August 23 (Sunday). The affected section ranges from Sainz de Baranda station to Laguna station, involving a total of 17 stations. During the suspension, the aforementioned terminal stations at both ends will remain open as temporary terminii, and the transportation department will also provide free ground shuttle bus services covering this section. All closed stations are scheduled to fully resume normal operations on August 24 (Monday).
