Community of Madrid Accelerates €1.8 Billion Metro Line 11 Diagonal Axis as TBM Mayrit Completes Key Tunnel Breakthrough and Line 6 Automation Advances

Engineering Madrid's Generational Diagonal Mass Transit Artery

MADRID, Community of Madrid — In one of the most ambitious metropolitan transit infrastructure undertakings in Southern Europe, the Regional Government of the Community of Madrid and municipal rail operator Metro de Madrid are making rapid engineering strides on the comprehensive €1.8+ billion expansion of Metro Line 11. Transport authorities announced a major milestone as the giant tunnel boring machine (TBM) christened 'Mayrit' achieved a precision breakthrough ('cale') along the 6.7-kilometer southwestern section between Comillas and Madrid Río, cementing structural progress on a diagonal mass transit corridor that will directly link the southwest and northeast quadrants of the Spanish capital.

Once completed, the transformed Line 11 will stretch over 33 kilometers across the city, intersecting virtually every major radial metro line, Cercanías commuter rail corridors, and high-speed rail lines at Atocha and Chamartín. The strategic line is engineered to radically reduce overcrowding across central transfer nodes like Sol and Avenida de América, saving commuters hundreds of thousands of travel hours each week.

€104 Million Modernization Package and New Interchanges at Atocha and Conde de Casal

To ensure passenger accessibility and rapid station commissioning, the Community of Madrid has approved a targeted €104 million capital allocation for station fit-outs and electromechanical installations across the five new stations in Section 1: Comillas, Madrid Río, Palos de la Frontera, Atocha, and Conde de Casal. The investment finances the installation of 29 high-capacity elevators, 60 escalators, tactile guidance paths, and advanced fire safety systems, ensuring 100 percent universal barrier-free access.

A centerpiece of the project is the creation of a monumental multi-modal underground transport interchange at Conde de Casal. The multi-level terminal will consolidate Line 11 metro platforms with subterranean bus bays servicing regional express coaches from the A-3 motorway corridor, removing dozens of surface buses from congested urban streets and providing direct sheltered transfers.

Major Approvals for Northern Extension and Driverless Automation on Line 6

Civil progress in the southwest coincides with key approvals for the northeastern stretch of Line 11. The Governing Council has authorized an €880.6 million contract for the 7.2-kilometer segment connecting Mar de Cristal to Valdebebas Norte, serving the IFEMA convention center, the Ciudad de la Justicia legal campus, Hospital Zendal, and Madrid-Barajas Airport Terminal 4.

Concurrently, Metro de Madrid has entered advanced phases of testing for the complete driverless automation of Circular Line 6, the network’s busiest artery. Incorporating modern Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling and platform screen doors, the automation upgrade will allow trains to operate every two minutes with superior energy efficiency.

Accessible Mobility and Fare Modernization for Over 600 Million Commuters

Alongside infrastructure breakthroughs, Madrid introduced a unified flat fare of €1.50 for single Metro tickets across Zone A in early October 2026, lowering transit barriers for working commuters and students. Regional transport officials emphasized that the combined delivery of the Line 11 diagonal axis, network automation, and equitable transit fares solidifies Madrid's reputation as a global benchmark in sustainable urban mobility and high-capacity public transit.