The day when riding the Madrid Metro becomes synonymous with boarding a driverless train is drawing nearer: testing of this new automated fleet will begin this summer, according to the Community of Madrid.
The program to test these new trains will therefore take place on the subway’s own tracks, so that their “performance can be evaluated, their integration with the infrastructure confirmed, and their proper operation ensured” under real-world conditions.
These initial tests will be conducted in the coming months on Lines 10, 11, and 12 during nighttime hours and will initially be operated by a train operator. Later, once the ongoing construction work is completed, the tests will move to Line 6, with the trains already operating in automatic mode.
A fleet with greater capacity and frequency
The project to convert the Circular Line into the first automated metro line in the entire subway network using this new fleet—in which more than 531 million euros have been invested—will result in an increase of up to 70% in transport capacity and a reduction in headway to as little as two minutes.
A total of 48 new trains will be added to the service, with a capacity of up to 1,385 passengers—17% more than current models. Their top speed will also increase , reaching up to 110 km/h.
Once the remaining work necessary for their launch—such as the adaptation of the platforms on Line 6 and the installation of automatic doors—and the relevant tests are completed, the new driverless train model for the Madrid Metro will begin operating in 2027.