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The Madrid Metro system is undergoing a major upgrade. According to official announcements, a section of Line 6 (the Circular line) between Sainz de Baranda and Laguna stations will suspend service this weekend to allow engineering teams to advance a key train automation project. All affected stations are expected to resume normal service next Monday.
Affected Area and Times
This service disruption affects the section from Sainz de Baranda to Laguna, with a total of 10 stations completely closed. These stations are: Carpetana, Oporto (with a connection to Line 5), Opañel, Plaza Elíptica (with a connection to Line 11), Usera, Legazpi (with a connection to Line 3), Arganzuela-Planetario, Méndez Álvaro (with a connection to Cercanías trains), Pacífico (with a connection to Line 1), and Conde de Casal.
As the endpoints of the closed section, Laguna station (with a connection to Cercanías) and Sainz de Baranda station (with a connection to Line 9) will remain open, serving as temporary terminal stations.
Alternative Transportation
To manage the service interruption, Madrid’s Municipal Transport Company (EMT) has arranged a free special bus service, designated S6, which will stop near all affected metro stations. The shuttle bus operating hours will align with the metro’s schedule:
- Saturday: From 6:05 AM to 2:08 AM the next day.
- Sunday: From 6:05 AM to 11:23 PM.
Regarding bus frequency, service will run every 8-10 minutes during the day on Saturday (10-13 minutes after 9:00 PM) and every 10-12 minutes on Sunday. Additionally, lines SC1 and SC2 will provide supplementary transport services during night hours.
Project Background: Moving Towards Driverless Operation
The core task of this weekend’s work is the installation of platform screen doors, a key safety feature for implementing automated train operation. By completely separating the platform waiting area from the tracks, these doors not only eliminate the risk of passengers falling onto the tracks but also allow driverless trains to enter and exit stations with greater speed and precision.
The Community of Madrid government aims to complete the installation of doors on all 70 platforms across the 28 stations of Line 6 within the year. The entire automation project is expected to be completed by 2027, at which point Line 6 will become the first fully automated, driverless line in the Madrid Metro network.
New Generation Trains Already in Testing
Hardware upgrades to complement the automation system are also underway. The first batch of 48 new trains is in production and testing, with the first unit already undergoing non-passenger trial runs during nighttime non-service hours on Metro Lines 10 and 11. These new trains feature a six-car, open-gangway design, eliminating the traditional driver’s cab, and measure 109 meters in length. Their performance is significantly improved: they have a passenger capacity of 1,385, a 17% increase over current models; a top speed of 110 km/h, a 33% increase; and they reduce energy consumption by 20%.
