The Community of Madrid has finally presented the plan to turn Line 11 into the subway system’s new major diagonal corridor, but, for now, only in sections.
The Governing Council has approved an investment of 880.6 million euros to put the construction of the northern section— between Mar de Cristal and Valdebebas Norte— out to bid . This 7.2-kilometer tunnel, featuring four new stations, will extend the metro to the heart of the major developments in the northeast and to Terminal 4 of the airport. This is a decisive step toward a line that will one day connect the southwestern metropolitan area with Valdebebas without passing through the city center; but it is also a move that, for now, leaves the idea of the “Madrid diagonal” on paper.
The major expansion: 7.2 kilometers and four new stations
Four completely new stations will be built along this route:
- IFEMA-Cárcavas: serving the exhibition center and the area surrounding the planned new Formula 1 circuit.
- City of Justice: connecting to the large judicial complex that the Community of Madrid is building in Valdebebas.
- Enfermera Isabel Zendal Hospital: the major emergency hospital that has gained prominence in the regional healthcare network.
- Valdebebas Norte: the line’s northern terminus, located in the midst of a residential and office development.
In addition to these four stations, there will be two strategic interchanges: Mar de Cristal, where Lines 4, 8, and 11 will converge, and Airport T4, which will connect the new diagonal line with Line 8 and the commuter rail network. The result will be a powerful transportation corridor linking residential neighborhoods, economic hubs, healthcare facilities, and the airport—without passing through central stations like Sol.
According to the regional government’s timeline, the bidding process will begin immediately, construction will start in 2027, and the line is expected to open around 2030. At the same time, construction is already underway on the southern section of Line 11 between Plaza Elíptica and Conde de Casal, with new stations such as Comillas and Madrid Río and connections at Palos de la Frontera and Atocha that will turn that part of the line into a true hub between the southwest and the A-3 corridor.
The extension to Valdebebas is part of a broader plan to transform Line 11 into a major diagonal route crossing Madrid from the southwest to the northeast, connecting La Fortuna (Leganés) and Cuatro Vientos with Valdebebas and Terminal 4. When completed, this diagonal line would link up to seven major transfer hubs and more than 20 stations, offering a strong alternative to the congested Line 6 and reducing the need to travel through downtown on many routes.
Relieving congestion on Line L6
One of the plan’s central goals is to relieve the pressure on Line 6, currently the most heavily used line and one that is often overcrowded, especially between Plaza Elíptica and Avenida de América. By offering an alternative route connecting the southwest with the northeast without passing through Line 6, the new Line 11 should reduce transfers and travel times, especially for those traveling between the new neighborhoods in the north and areas such as Madrid Río, Méndez Álvaro, or Plaza Elíptica itself.
However, the expansion is concentrated in areas of strong economic and urban development ( Ciudad de la Justicia, Zendal, Valdebebas, IFEMA), while some neighborhoods in the south and southwest feel that the diagonal line merely skims past them without transforming them.