This is how Metro de Madrid is celebrating its Centenary

Metro de Madrid kicked off the celebrations of its Centenary on 17 October with the inauguration by King Felipe VI of an exhibition of classical trains in Chamartín Station. There, visitors will be able to see how passengers travelled in the underground from the start of the history of the company to the seventies of the past century, through four completely restored classical cars. 

In addition, Metro will have opened the “Centenary Line”, a permanent exhibition set up in the stations on the original route from Cuatro Caminos to Sol, on Line 1, which will offer a journey through the history of Metro by means of oversized photos installed in ticket halls, on platforms and in corridors. A vinyl-wrapped train with the appearance of the original trains run continuously on the line. 

The centenary will bring with it many more activities, such as the launch of a drawing contest for schoolchildren to involve the youngest members of the community in the celebration. In addition, a number of Spanish companies also over one hundred years old will accompany Metro during its centenary through the organisation of a business forum where a debate will be held on the past, present and future of these companies. Also, Metro will host the annual congress of the International Public Transport Union in November. 

Metro’s community involvement will play a special role during the centenary celebrations. Also, Metro will begin its “100 Days of Solidarity”, an initiative which will enable Metro to collaborate with several NGO’s and not-for-profit entities. The  100 Days of Solidarity will commence with a project for raising awareness about gender violence in conjunction with Movimiento Sin Piedad, giving continuity to Metro’s earlier collaboration with this entity at the beginning of this year.

There will also be different exhibitions, in this case at the Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport, where those arriving in Madrid will be able to learn about the present and the future of the underground through photographs. During the Christmas season, Metro de Madrid has plans for more activities, such as the Centenary train and children’s workshops in Metro’s museums. At the beginning of 2019, the Metro de Madrid Pacífico Engine Shed will accommodate a photography exhibition in which familiar faces from the world of culture and sport in Spain will promote the use of public transport.

There will also be room for sports activities in these celebrations: on 3 February, Madrid citizens are invited to participate in the Centenary Race, an historic 5-kilometre route on the surface between Cuatro Caminos and Sol, following the same route inaugurated in 1919 of what was then known as the North-South Line. Registration for the event is now open, so sign up to participate!