Santiago Bernabéu station will undergo one of the most profound changes in the Madrid Metro network, and it will do so with a new name. From its reopening in 2027, it will be called simply “Bernabéu”, in line with the new image of the stadium, which has also dispensed with “Santiago” in its commercial nomenclature. The decision, confirmed by the Community of Madrid’s Deputy Minister of Housing, Transport and Infrastructures, seeks to align the reopening of this stop with Real Madrid’s branding strategy, which will celebrate the stadium’s 80th anniversary in March 2027, coinciding with the club’s 125th anniversary.
This will be the third naming of the station since its opening in 1982 for the World Cup, when it was called Lima. In 1998 it was renamed Santiago Bernabéu, in homage to the Real Madrid president, and now it will take a further step towards simplification. But the name change is just the tip of the iceberg; after more than four decades in operation, the station is facing a comprehensive transformation with a budget of 66 million euros. Work began in February 2024 and is already 35% complete.
A gigantic concourse and state-of-the-art technology
The new station will move from the current narrow corridors to a large central hall of 12,000 square meters from which the intermediate levels and platforms will be directly visible. It will have 12 panoramic elevators and 24 escalators, as well as access turnstiles and state-of-the-art vending machines, all designed to provide fluidity to the more than 34,000 travelers who congregate at the station on match or event days.
Accessibility will be total, something the old infrastructure could not boast, and the aesthetics will be directly linked to the history of Real Madrid, with images, references and themed decoration that will turn the space into an extension of the stadium.
Work is progressing at a good pace: the foundations, located at a depth of 40 meters, have already been completed, and the roof slab will allow traffic to be restored on Paseo de la Castellana by the end of January 2026. From then on, the old roof will be demolished and the new interior design will be integrated, with a reopening date scheduled for the first half of 2027, possibly on March 6, a great day for Madrid fans.