THE president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, announced on July 13 that Madrid Metro has broken its all-time ridership record. The metro recorded 389.6 million journeys during the first half of the year, a 3.6% increase compared with the same period last year.
This follows the record 736.8 million journeys achieved in 2025, which was 3% more than in 2024.
Díaz Ayuso made the announcement at Cuatro Vientos depot, during the presentation of the first of 48 driverless six-car trains that will begin operating on Line 6 next year. The trains are being supplied by CAF under a contract awarded in 2024.
The new trains are part of a €531m project to fully automate Line 6 to increase capacity by up to 70% and reduce headways to two minutes. Platform screen doors are being fitted at all 28 stations on Line 6.
Madrid Metro says the trains will now undergo a comprehensive programme of tests under real operating conditions to evaluate their performance, confirm their integration with the infrastructure, and ensure the correct functioning of the new signalling, communications, and control systems.
Each 109m-long train will be capable of carrying up to 1385 passengers, 17% more than the existing trains. The maximum speed of the new trains has been increased by 33% to 110km/h, and their energy consumption reduced by 20%.
Extension
Two days earlier, the Community of Madrid approved an €889m project to extend metro Line 11 north from Mar de Cristal to Valdebebas North. The 7.2km extension will have four new stations, serving the Ifema-Cárcavas fairgrounds which are being expanded, Isabel Zendal Hospital, Terminal 4 at Madrid Barajas Airport and new residential areas at Valdebebas North.
A 6.6km extension of Line 11 between Plaza Elíptica and Conde de Casal is currently under construction.
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