Metro de Madrid

A total of 114 stations in the Metro de Madrid system now have cell phone coverage thanks to the work done by Metro and Metrocall, the company that manages the installation of the infrastructure needed to facilitate this service. These stations that already have coverage concentrate over half the passenger traffic handled by Metro every day, with 58% of the total number of network movements. In this way, with an agreement between Metrocall and the cell phone companies operating in Spain, users have coverage in a large number of stations, as well as in the over 75,500 metres of tunnel linking these Metro stations.

Most of these stations providing coverage belong to the central hub of the Metro network. Thus, in this area the only station not offering coverage is Ópera, where rehabilitation and improvement works are currently being carried out that will assure cover in the next few months, and small sections on Lines 2, 4 and 9 (Santo Domingo, Sevilla, Banco de España, Retiro, Príncipe de Vergara, Colón, Serrano, Velázquez and Ibiza Stations).

When it comes to developing the plans for the installation needed for cell phone coverage, the Department of Transport and Infrastructure, which is headed by José Ignacio Echeverría, has given priority to the network stations that handle the largest number of users. The 15 stations with the heaviest demand are therefore amongst those that already offer coverage. These stations include Sol, which has offered coverage since the end of 2009, after completion of the Ministry of Development works at the Suburban station.

Conclusion of the first stage

When the instalation is completed at Ópera, the first stage of the works to provide the underground system with cell phone coverage will be fully terminated. The project, involving an approximate total investment of 15 million euro, has been spread over three years, during which it has proved necessary to re-adapt the facility to the new mobile telephony solutions. In the next stage, consideration will be given to coverage of all the stations in the area comprised by Line 6, although this second stage is still on the drawing board.

At present, on Line 1 Chamartín, Plaza de Castilla, Valdeacederas, Tetuán, Estrecho, Alvarado, Cuatro Caminos, Ríos Rosas, Iglesia, Bilbao, Tribunal, Gran Vía, Sol, Tirso de Molina, Antón Martín, Atocha, Atocha RENFE, Menéndez Pelayo and Pacífico Stations now have coverage. On Line 2, the stations with coverage are Ventas, Manuel Becerra, Goya, Sol, Noviciado, San Bernardo and Cuatro Caminos.

On Line 3, you can talk over your cell phone at Moncloa, Argüelles, Ventura Rodríguez, Plaza de España, Callao, Sol, Lavapiés, Embajadores, Palos de la Frontera, Delicias and Legazpi; and at Argüelles, San Bernardo, Bilbao, Alonso Martínez, Goya, Lista, Diego de León and Avenida de América, on Line 4.

Line 5 has 20 stations with cover: Eugenia de Montijo, Carabanchel, Vista Alegre, Oporto, Urgel, Marqués de Vadillo, Pirámides, Acacias, Callao, Gran Vía, Chueca, Alonso Martínez, Rubén Darío, Núñez de Balboa, Diego de León, Ventas, El Carmen, Quintana, Pueblo Nuevo and Ciudad Lineal; the same as Line 6, with another 20 Stations: Oporto, Legazpi, Arganzuela-Planetario, Méndez Álvaro, Pacífico, Conde de Casal, Sainz de Baranda, O'Donnell, Manuel Becerra, Diego de León, Avenida de América, República Argentina, Nuevos Ministerios, Cuatro Caminos, Guzmán el Bueno, Metropolitano, Ciudad Universitaria, Moncloa, Argüelles and Príncipe Pío.

Pueblo Nuevo, Avenida de América, Gregorio Marañón y Guzmán el Bueno are the Line 7 stations with coverage; while on Line 8 this service is offered by all of its stations: Nuevos Ministerios, Colombia, Pinar del Rey, Mar de Cristal, Campo de las Naciones, Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3, Barajas and Aeropuerto T4.

Plaza de Castilla, Colombia, Avenida de América, Núñez de Balboa and Sainz de Baranda, on Line 9, and Chamartín, Plaza de Castilla, Cuzco, Santiago Bernabeu, Nuevos Ministerios, Gregorio Marañón, Alonso Martínez, Tribunal, Plaza de España y Príncipe Pío, on Line 10, complete the list of Metro stations with cell phone coverage.