Madrid Metro Is About To Change Forever – Here’s What’s Going Driverless First

If you recreation astir Madrid connected nan metro, particularly during unreserved hour, Line 6 will astir apt consciousness for illustration a acquainted regular battleground – packed platforms, changeless flow, small rest. Well, hole for a very different acquisition successful nan coming years.
The Community of Madrid has confirmed that Line 6 will go afloat automatic, operated without drivers, from 2027, successful what will beryllium 1 of nan astir important upgrades to nan city’s underground web successful decades.

This is not conscionable a tweak. It’s a complete modernisation task weighted astatine €300 million, rubbing everything from nan electrical infrastructure to nan exertion controlling nan trains, and moreover introducing a caller fleet designed specifically for driverless operation.

A awesome upgrade that’s already underway

Behind nan scenes, portion of nan translator has already begun. During nan summer, engineers completed nan first shape of useful on nan occidental broadside of Line 6, raising nan catenary voltage from 600 to 1,500 volts — a request for nan incoming automated trains.

This progressive renovating 7 electrical substations successful cardinal stations specified arsenic Moncloa, Argüelles, Plaza Elíptica and Usera. The method activity was complex, but nan statement stayed unfastened throughout, allowing much than 400,000 regular passengers to support travelling.

The upgrade won’t conscionable support automation – it will thief Line 6 usage astir 30% little energy, improving sustainability crossed nan web and trimming operating costs.

New trains Designed for More abstraction and More Comfort

Running a driverless metro intends bringing successful wholly caller trains, and those are already successful mobility — astatine slightest connected paper.
Madrid has allocated €450 cardinal for 40 caller automatic trains, manufactured by nan Spanish institution CAF.

What will alteration for passengers?

• The driver cabins disappear, meaning much abstraction wrong (up to 17% much capacity)
• A quieter and smoother ride, pinch reduced vibration
• Better aerial circulation and ambiance control
• A much azygous layout from carriage to carriage, truthful you tin locomotion done nan full train

This will beryllium nan largest fleet renewal since 2008, and erstwhile these trains statesman rolling out, Line 6 will consciousness noticeably different — not conscionable successful really it runs, but really it feels to travel.

What nan rider Experience Will Look like

Once automation is afloat successful place, trains will get much often – astir each 2 minutes.
Journeys are expected to beryllium faster, pinch improved reliability and less unexpected delays. The strategy will besides optimise power usage during quieter times of day, adapting dynamically to rider demand.

And nary – nan alteration does not mean drivers are disappearing from nan metro altogether. Staff will still beryllium coming for monitoring, information supervision, incident consequence and customer support. The quality is much astir really trains move, not whether group are location to guarantee safety.

A Step Toward nan Future of Madrid Transport

Madrid will beryllium joining cities specified arsenic Paris and Copenhagen, wherever automated metro systems person been moving successfully for years. The scheme positions nan superior astatine nan forefront of European transit innovation, which is particularly important arsenic rider numbers proceed to grow.

The translator of Line 6 is expected to beryllium gradual – phased testing, strategy checks, and integration – starring up to 2027, erstwhile driverless cognition becomes nan caller normal.

For now, 1 point is clear:
Line 6 is preparing for a early wherever your commute is faster, quieter, much businesslike – and possibly conscionable a small spot calmer.

Stay tuned pinch Euro Weekly News for much news from Madrid