The Community of Madrid is investing 2,44 billion euros in Metro de Madrid this year to continue improving and strengthening the quality of this public transport system, a benchmark on an international scale for its service efficiency, innovation and technological capacity. This is stated in the report on the regional government's investments in the suburban network presented today at the meeting of the Governing Council by the Regional Minister of Housing, Transport and Infrastructure, Jorge Rodrigo. Around 2.3 million passengers use Metro every day, and fares have been frozen for 10 years.

According to Rodrigo, the budget for the improvement of the service and facilities amounts to 1,473 billion, of which 53 million is earmarked for digital transformation, with the setting up of the Data Processing Centre (DPC) that brings all the technological infrastructures of the underground together; 33 million for the renovation of equipment and work centres and 448 million for the automation and modernisation of tracks and tunnels. Similarly, the Station Accessibility and Modernisation Plan includes 94 million euros and the improvement of rolling stock accounts for 844 million euros.

In addition to these developments, the Madrid government will invest around 866 million euros in network extensions to meet the demands of a growing population. The budget for Line 3 to link Directorate General of Media - Puerta del Sol, 7. - 28013 Madrid - 91 580 20 70 amounts to 115 million. Once it comes into operation in the coming months, the one million inhabitants of these towns in the southern region will be able to get from Getafe to Puerta del Sol in just half an hour and without having to change trains. This action is financed with European Next Generation funds.

The extension of L11 is, according to Rodrigo, the "most ambitious of all the works being carried out, worth more than 531 million euros". The new section between Plaza Elíptica and Conde de Casal includes the creation of two new stations, Comillas and Madrid Río, and connections with Palos de la Frontera, Atocha and Conde de Casal. Likewise, progress will be made on the remodelling of L5, which will run from Alameda de Osuna to terminals T1-T2-T3 of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, with an investment of more than 219 million euros.

In addition, the metropolitan company will continue to put all available resources into the maintenance and upkeep of the network, which is essential in guaranteeing reliability and optimum service. To this end, the Government of the Community of Madrid is earmarking 101 million euros in 2024.

"Our aim is none other than to provide a service to the people of Madrid that contributes to flowing, efficient, reliable and frequent mobility, and for this to be possible, all the administrations have to keep up with their commitments, something that does not happen with the central government when it comes to Cercanías management", the Minister remarked. "The lack of investment has caused this public infrastructure to be increasingly damaged, producing periodic chaos and affecting the daily lives of hundreds of users," said Rodrigo.

61 MILLION FOR SAFETY OF STRATEGIC SITES AND AREAS

At its meeting today, the Governing Council was informed of the award of a 61 million euro contract to provide security surveillance services for the safety of the strategic and exhibition sites that make up the suburban network's heritage, for a period of four years with the possibility of an extension for a further year.

This action will protect places that are vital for the correct development of the company's activity and where, among other steps, the maintenance of rolling stock, storage, cleaning, training and engineering activities are carried out.

Similarly, this service will be responsible for the protection of other local security centres located on the lines, the head office, an electrical substation and iconic areas or sites used for museum activities such as the Nave de Motores or Chamberí station.

This new contract will increase working hours by 4.4%, which means 22,820 more hours per year. This increase is mainly aimed at guaranteeing the integrity of people and property, as well as reinforcing some sites and museums, in order to deter possible non-consensual intrusion and prevent any act of vandalism.

This supervision goes hand in hand with the use of video surveillance systems and when it comes to depots, with the assistance of dog handlers, a pairing of a worker and a dog, at certain times of the day. In addition, the guards of the companies that previously provided this service will be subrogated to the new contractors.