It is something already common this summer because the same scenes are starting to repeat themselves: full carriages, collapsed platforms and passengers waiting for trains that take a long time to arrive. The straw that broke the camel’s back was an image that circulated on X (formerly Twitter): an overcrowded Line 10 convoy.
The photograph, shared by @InigovanEyck on July 21, unleashed a wave of criticism: “for L10 to be like this on July 21 is a great indication…”, the tweet read. And it was not an isolated case: lines 5 and 10, and also Cercanías C5, accumulate similar complaints.
Metro de Madrid’s response was swift: it admitted incidents in the facilities and promised reinforcements, more trains and extra staff. But, is it enough to stop the saturation?
Why did these images occur?
Last Monday, July 21, Metro de Madrid confirmed a technical incident in the communications system between the Tres Olivos and Gregorio Marañón stations, in the middle of Line 10. The problem, which lasted for several hours, caused significant delays and scenes of saturation that multiplied on social networks. However, the service was restored around eleven o’clock in the morning.
A similar situation was experienced on line 5, where numerous users reported in X having had to let up to three trains pass in order to board one. Metro justified the overloading by the large number of passengers, a direct consequence of the works being carried out on other key infrastructures in the city, such as line 6, the A-5 freeway and the C5 local train service. In response, the suburban network has increased frequencies, but the pressure on the system has not entirely diminished.
Much of the chaos can be explained by the domino effect of simultaneous works. Since July 19, the Sol tunnel connecting Cercanías lines C3 and C4 has been closed and will remain so until August 30. This is in addition to the interruption of service on line C5 between Embajadores and Villaverde Alto, scheduled to continue until July 30. In addition to the partial closure of Metro line 6.
In addition, work has begun on the A-5, the M-30 and the Castellana area, further complicating surface mobility and forcing thousands of commuters to resort to the metro as an alternative. The result: full trains, collapsed stations and a network operating at the limit of its capacity.
What measures have been taken?
To deal with this exceptional situation, Metro de Madrid has adopted several measures over the last few days. Since July 6, train frequency has been increased on several lines with high demand. Specifically, Line 3 operates with 14% more trains, Line 5 has increased its capacity by 19% and Line 12 has 10% more convoys. Line 10, one of the most affected lines, is monitored in real time in order to apply punctual reinforcements when peaks are detected.
In addition, staff has been reinforced at the busiest stations in order to speed up the flow of passengers and avoid bottlenecks on platforms. Stations such as Sol, Embajadores, Oporto, Villaverde Alto or Marqués de Vadillo now have more workers in the lobby and accesses, facilitating the distribution of passenger flow.
The pulse of the networks
Thousands of users reflect their discomfort in real time. Complaints are repeated: “Another day of inhuman conditions on line 5” or “Are you leaving the issue of increasing frequencies for the next fare increase?” are just some examples. Also criticized is the lack of informative signs at entrances and platforms, forcing many to improvise alternative routes or waste time without knowing what is going on.
Beyond the metro, complaints have also been made about the BiciMAD service, with empty stations in areas such as Lavapiés or Embajadores, precisely where subway transport is most saturated. The general feeling is that the whole city is going through a moment of structural stress in its mobility network, where each failure, work or delay generates a domino effect that affects the rest.