The Community of Madrid will begin work on 31 May to automate Metro’s Line 6, the most heavily used by the people of Madrid, which will improve its capacity and frequency thanks to this project. This was stated by the Regional Minister for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure, Jorge Rodrigo, during his visit to the Arganzuela-Planetario station, which will become the operational base for the development of the works. 

"We are at a fundamental point in the comprehensive remodelling of the Circular Line, as the logistics of this project will be coordinated and managed from these depots", Rodrigo emphasised. In this sense, he added, "here are the 18 vehicles, including backhoe loaders, car carriers, platform lifts and cable carriers, which will enable the required tasks to be carried out during the whole process". 

In addition, the 18-metre rails that have been installed for months at night are stored and distributed in these facilities of the metropolitan company, with the aim of minimising the effects on users, as well as the 10,000 cubic metres of ballast (stones or gravel) that are removed from the tracks and are equivalent to four Olympic swimming pools. 

As a base of operations, Arganzuela-Planetario will be the only station that will not provide service during the entire execution of the works, which will last until the end of 2025. It will also support the Laguna depot. 

Rodrigo stressed that "this phase of the project will be undertaken in two stages, starting tomorrow with the first actions on the west arc of L6, between Moncloa and Méndez Álvaro, until 12 September". From the following day until 31 December, they will be carried out in the eastern area, between Legazpi and Moncloa. These stations will remain available, as they operate as headends of the open section. 

The renovation of Metro de Madrid's Circular Line will enable it to become the first line with automatic driving in the entire underground network by 2027, increasing the capacity and frequency of an infrastructure that was used by more than 116 million passengers in 2024 and an average of 400,000 a day. 

The councillor thanked Madrid residents for their understanding, as their usual routes will be disrupted, and reminded them that "the regional government has established an alternative transport plan with a free replacement bus service, operated by the Municipal Transport Company (EMT), which will cover this route". Its timetable, with a frequency of between 3 and 5 minutes, will be adapted to demand. 

In addition, other options have been made available, such as the shuttles that will connect Batán with Lucero and Legazpi with Plaza Elíptica. The timetable of Line 180, from Legazpi to Arganzuela-Planetario, will also be prolonged and extended, which can be used free of charge during the closure.