The Community of Madrid has begun testing the first of 48 new automated trains that will be added to Line 6, the subway’s busiest line, with more than 400,000 daily riders.
The first tests are being conducted at the test center operated by the manufacturer CAF in Corella (Navarra), on a closed circuit where acceleration, braking, signaling systems, and all safety features are tested before the train is allowed to enter the Madrid network. A second unit will join these tests in June, and starting in July, both will begin arriving in Madrid to continue testing on actual tracks, though still without passengers.
How and where they are being tested
The tests are divided into several distinct phases.
- Phase 1 (Corella): testing on a 4-km circuit in Navarre, where the train’s dynamics (acceleration, braking, speed), response to incidents, and integration with signaling systems are validated.
- Phase 2 (Madrid, manual mode): once the first trains arrive in the capital, they will be tested at night on lines such as 10, 11, and 12, in manual mode and without passengers, to verify their performance on the actual Metro network.
- Phase 3 (Line 6, automatic mode): once the technological adaptation work is complete and the stations are equipped with platform doors, testing will begin on Line 6 itself in automatic mode, also initially during nighttime hours.
If everything proceeds according to the schedule set by the Regional Ministry of Transportation, the new trains will begin carrying passengers in 2027, coinciding with the completion of the automation of Line 6.
What the new trains will be like
The new trains will consist of six cars, with interconnected aisles that allow passengers to walk from one end of the train to the other, eliminating the traditional separation between cars. By removing the driver’s cab, the ends are now occupied by large panoramic windows that allow passengers to see the tracks and stations, an experience similar to that of other automated metros around the world. Each unit will have a capacity of approximately 1,385 passengers, with around 165 seats, and an increase in available space of up to 17% compared to current trains.
In terms of performance, these units will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 110 km/h, about 33% faster than current models, although their actual speed in service will depend on the limitations of each section of track. Additionally, they will be 20% more energy-efficient thanks to state-of-the-art traction systems and more extensive use of regenerative braking.
Beyond the absence of a driver, the new trains will incorporate improvements visible to passengers. These include interior video surveillance, with cameras distributed throughout the cars to enhance safety. They will also provide clearer passenger information, with advanced screens and audio announcements, including real-time alerts about incidents and designated spaces for people with reduced mobility, bicycles, and strollers, featuring reserved areas and adapted handrails.
The combination of these improvements and automated operation is designed to offer a more comfortable, more predictable ride with less crowding during peak hours.
Platform doors and adapted stations
The change will also be noticeable at Line 6 stations, which are being equipped with platform screen doors (PSD) that open only when the train has come to a complete stop, as is already the case in automated metro systems in other cities.These doors create a physical barrier between the platform and the tracks, improving safety (by preventing falls and unauthorized access) and allowing for more precise operation of the automated system. The installation of these doors is being carried out progressively, station by station, and will coexist for a time with the still-conventional operation until automation is fully operational.
Automation will allow for reducing the headway to as little as 2 minutes during rush hour, increasing transport capacity by around 17% and relieving some of the most congested sections of the circular line. Automatic operation is also expected to reduce the impact of minor incidents (prolonged stops, synchronization issues) since the entire system is managed centrally using control algorithms.