Today marks the start of renovation work on the Madrid Cable Car, which has been closed since 2022 following an inspection of the wiring. The City Council and the EMT have just announced that the dismantling of the original wiring is beginning, the first step in this complete overhaul of the installation between Pintor Rosales and Casa de Campo.
The old double-cable system from 1969 will be replaced by a single-cable cable car with 47 panoramic cabins, new stations, and the incorporation of new management technology, following a municipal investment of more than €26 million.
After months of planning and less visible preliminary work, the EMT is beginning to remove the more than five kilometers of cable that have supported the cable car cabins for more than half a century. This operation will allow the aerial infrastructure to be separated from the Pintor Rosales and Casa de Campo stations and is essential before the partial demolition of the current buildings and the old pylons.
A single-cable cable car with 47 panoramic cabins
The new cable car will switch from a double-cable system to a more efficient and modern single-cable system, with 47 panoramic cabins manufactured by the Swiss company Doppelmayr. Each cabin will carry up to 10 people (previously 6) and there will be specific units adapted for people with reduced mobility, with capacity for 8 passengers and space for wheelchairs.
Editorial credit: Madrid City Council
The Pintor Rosales and Casa de Campo stations will be rebuilt almost from scratch. Much of the old buildings will be demolished and new terminals will be built, which according to the City Council will be more spacious, accessible, and energy efficient. The project incorporates criteria for reducing emissions and carbon footprint, optimizing energy consumption, and using more sustainable materials, in line with current green mobility standards.
The City Council also emphasizes that the new cable car will be “cutting-edge, sustainable, and accessible,” designed to better integrate into the protected environment of the Casa de Campo.
The renovation sets a construction period of around 14 months from the effective start of work, although other municipal estimates speak of up to 26 months to complete all phases, given the technical and environmental complexity of the project. In any case, 2026 will be the year of intensive work, and the City Council is working with a target date of reopening between the end of 2027 and the beginning of 2028, provided there are no unforeseen circumstances.