TUNNELLING work is underway on the project to extend Line 11 of the Madrid Metro network, with the launch of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) that will excavate 5.6km between the future station at Comillas and Conde de Casal at a rate of 15m a day.

The work forms part of the central section of the project, which comprises 6.9km of new construction from Plaza Elíptica to Conde de Casal. The existing Line 11 from La Fortuna to Plaza Elíptica will be combined with new construction to create a “Great Diagonal” line eventually running for 33km from Cuatro Vientos in the southwest to Valdebebas Norte in the northeastern suburbs of Madrid.

The section between Plaza Elíptica and Conde de Casal has two new stations at Comillas and Madrid Río, and will also serve Palos de la Frontera on Line 3, Atocha on Line 1 and Conde de Casal on Line 6. Construction is due to be completed by the end of 2027. According to the Madrid regional government, station works have reached the following grades of completion:

  • Comillas: 63.5%
  • Madrid Río: 67.4%
  • Palos de la Frontera: 60.6%
  • Atocha: 46.5%, and
  • Conde de Casal: 13.6%.

The budget for the Plaza Elíptica - Conde de Casal section is €739m, including €586m for tunnelling and work at the five stations.

Northern section

At an event held to mark the start of tunnelling at Comillas on March 26, the president of the Madrid regional government, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, announced the start of administrative procedures for the 8.2km northern extension of Line 11 from Mar de Cristal to Valdebebas Norte.

There will be four intermediate stations at IFEMA, Ciudad de la Justicia, Hospital Enfermera Isabel Zendal and Terminal 4 at Madrid Airport, the latter providing interchange with Line 8. The northern extension has an estimated budget of €880m, and construction is expected to start in 2027 for completion in 2031.

Díaz Ayuso describes the Line 11 extension as “the most far-reaching project in a very long time.” When completed, the project will provide more direct links between growing residential and employment areas while reducing pressure on existing lines.

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