Line 6 automation gets closer every day...
Metro has completed work on the first phase of the complete transformation of Line 6, aimed at automating the movement of future trains. During six months, more than 23 kilometres of track have been renewed and different facilities and systems have been prepared in order to be able to continue with the next stage. This will reduce incidents, shorten trip times and improve the reliability of the service in the long term.
From now on, other actions will begin, such as the installation of the platform doors and the implementation of new signalling and control systems. Metro continues to move towards full automation of Line 6.
Upcoming Interventions
In this second phase of the work required for the automation of Line 6, the installation of platform screens will commence. Afterwards, the integration of all systems and the relevant safety certifications will be undertaken, and the test period until final commissioning will commence.
In total, work will be carried out on 70 platforms, covering a total of 6.4 kilometres, with the goal of using these doors to separate the passenger waiting area from the train circulation area, ensuring safe and orderly access to the train. At the same time, taking advantage of the reinforcement work undertaken on the platforms to support the new doors, the gap between the train and the platform will be reduced.
They shall be transparent in order to be visible at all times and provide a greater sense of spaciousness. The doors have a conceptual design with important advantages in terms of accessibility and customer information.
It will show the status of each of the entrances by means of different colours, making it easier for users to know where to stand in order to gain correct access. They shall also be fitted with screen printing, safety bars and anti-trapping elements, and shall be constructed with anti-vandalism components.
This new system brings other benefits, as it has integrated LED displays with useful communications and understandable and visible feedback, which improves the connection when accessing the train. These screens will be on the upper part of the infrastructure and will inform about the waiting time for the next trains or possible incidents.
A technological upgrade of the signalling system on Line 6 is required to ensure its transformation into the first fully automatic line in the Metro network. The new signalling system will be the brain of the automation system and will control train movements, manage any situations involving passengers on board, and operate the platform doors.
Free Replacement Transport
Two substitute bus lines, SC1 and SC2, have been set up to replicate the route of Line 6 in both directions. They will operate starting January 7, from 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and are free for Metro users.
Download the general map of the free special night service in PDF
Download the PDF with the bus stop layout for the free special night service
New trains
The new driverless trains will run from 2027 on Line 6 of the Madrid subway. They will be more modern, efficient, accessible and sustainable. In total, there will be 48 new units.
Its technology will optimise running time by increasing speed by up to 33%. This will enable a train to run every two minutes, reducing travel time for millions of users.
They will also have more space, which will allow each train to carry up to 1,385 passengers with the same occupancy rate, 17% more than at present.
Bienvenidos al Metro del futuro
Frequently Asked Questions on the temporary closure of Line 6
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Is Line 6 back to normal?
Yes, line 6 is back to normal from 20 December, although from 7 January, and for some time, it will continue to close early at 11 pm and until the end of the train service, from Sunday to Thursday, the replacement bus service will continue to operate.
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What improvements will be noticeable after the work that has been undertaken?
There will be fewer incidents, higher speed and more comfortable mobility thanks to the renewal of the track superstructure. Noise and vibration will also be reduced.
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What are the next steps?
The next step, from the end of January 2026, will be the installation of platform screen doors at all stations. The platform screen doors separate the waiting area for users and the train circulation area, ensuring maximum safety and allowing trains to enter stations at a higher speed.
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When will Line 6 be automated?
Full automation is planned for 2027. The work carried out so far is essential for the arrival of the automatic line, but it is still necessary to continue carrying out other actions on the line, such as the aforementioned installation of platform doors and the updating of the signalling system.
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What will be the improvements when automation is completed?
Users will enjoy a completely renovated line with trains up to every 2 minutes. The new line will be faster, with greater transport capacity and fully safe thanks to the installation of the new platform screen doors. In addition, all stations on the line will feature new smart turnstiles and state-of-the-art ticket vending machines, and the platforms will be given a new look with the installation of platform doors and new flooring.
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Why was line 6 chosen for automation?
This line has been chosen because it has the most users on the network, with an annual demand of 116,054,842 passengers in 2024 and an average of 430,000 users on a business day. The automation of line 6 will mean an increase in transport capacity, as the interval between trains at peak times will be up to 2 minutes, which, together with improved system reliability, will significantly increase transport capacity. The improvements to be introduced with automation will benefit a large number of Madrid residents who use this line for their mobility, as it connects with 10 other lines in the Metro de Madrid network.
Furthermore, the automation of line 6 comes at a time when the modernisation and renovation of its facilities was necessary due to their age, location and specific characteristics.
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When will the new trains arrive on the line?
The new passenger trains are scheduled to start running from 2027. Prior to that, in the summer of 2026, the first trains will start arriving for the start of test circulation.
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Will the old trains continue to run?
Once the automation is completed, only the 40 new wide gauge trains with automated driving, purchased specifically for this line, will run on line 6. Trains currently running on line 6 will be relocated to other lines.
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Doesn't the lack of train drivers mean a reduction in the safety of the line?
From the point of view of train traffic, one of the main features of the new line will be its safety, guaranteed by the new traffic control, signalling and communication systems, as well as platform screen doors. In addition, it will be permanently controlled and monitored from the new facilities devoted to automatic lines at the Central Control Post.
From the point of view of emergency actions, the new line will have additional control systems (CCTV, fire detectors, intercom and passenger information), a concrete track platform and stairs on the platform for evacuation, as well as ground staff (station staff, operators and automatic line managers) with sufficient resources to handle incidents.
The automation model has been operating successfully for years in other operations without any safety incidents.
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Where can I get more information or ask questions?
Customer service: 900 444 404
Metro de Madrid's official social media accounts:
Informative signage at stations
A line with history
The busiest line
Line 6 of the Madrid Metro, also known as the Circular line, stands out for its historical, technical and cultural relevance within the network. It connects with all the subway lines, except MetroSur, and is the busiest, with stations such as Moncloa, Príncipe Pío and Avenida de América receiving thousands of passengers every day. Together with line 1, it was a pioneer in implementing the automatic CBTC driving system, which marked a turning point in railway traffic management.
Among its most notable interesting facts is Cuatro Caminos station, which is the deepest in the entire network at 49 metres underground, and Carpetana, where Miocene remains were discovered, giving rise to an underground palaeontological museum. There is also art in its stations, with murals by artists like Eladio García de Santibáñez and Alfaraz, and the planetary sphere of Arganzuela-Planetario. This line has been the setting for many audiovisual productions, such as Cuéntame, Valeria and Cardo. In addition, close to Pacifico station is the impressive Nave de Motores, which housed the giant engines that powered the metro until the 1960s, similar to those of the Titanic. Line 6 not only connects key points of the city, but also historical, cultural and technological moments that make it unique..
Diverse and frenetic
Line 6 of the Madrid Metro stands out for its historical, technical and cultural relevance within the network. It connects to all underground lines, except MetroSur, and is one of the busiest, with stations such as Moncloa, Príncipe Pío and Avenida de América receiving thousands of passengers every day.
Its construction began in 1969, with the goal of improving connectivity between different areas of the city and was inaugurated on 11 October 1979. The original section ran from Cuatro Caminos to Pacífico with a route of 6,977 metres and ten stations.
The line was gradually extended: on 7 May 1981, the section between Pacífico and Oporto was added, with six new stations; on 3 June 1983 the section between Oporto and Laguna was added, with two more stations; and on 13 January 1987 the section between Cuatro Caminos and Ciudad Universitaria was inaugurated, adding another three stations.
The current configuration of the line and its circular shape came with the inauguration, on 5 May 1995, of the section between Laguna and Ciudad Universitaria and its six new stations. With 23.5 kilometres and 27 stations, the newly opened 'circular' line thus became a key line in the Metro network, as it was the only non-radial line and the main distributor of both metropolitan and urban trips.
The last inauguration of the line came on 26 January 2007, when the Arganzuela-Planetario station was opened. Line 6 was definitively established with its current 28 stations.
But beyond its figures, Line 6 is an experience. You can see everything from students with huge backpacks in Ciudad Universitaria to office workers in Nuevos Ministerios. It is a line that reflects the diversity and frenetic pace of Madrid.
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