The Community of Madrid has presented the first of the 48 new generation autonomous trains that will conduct night tests this summer on lines 10, 11, and 12 of the metro.
The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, visited the Cuatro Vientos depot on Thursday to see first-hand the first of the 48 autonomous trains of a new generation that will renew the fleet of Madrid Metro. These trains, manufactured by CAF, will begin to run in tests during the summer on lines 10, 11, and 12 at night, with a driver on board, to assess their performance before their final integration into line 6.
The largest fleet renewal in Metro's history
Ayuso highlighted that this is the first purchase of trains since 2008 and the largest fleet renewal in the history of the Madrid underground. “The autonomous trains for line 6 are already here,” the president stated, emphasising that the investment made will allow for the retirement of the oldest models and provide the highest quality for passengers.
The first two trains, consisting of six continuous configuration cars and 109 meters in length, are already completed. Another two are about to be transported from CAF's plants in Beasáin and Irún to Madrid. The goal is for all 48 trains to be operational in the coming years.
Night tests on three lines before reaching line 6
During the summer, the train already presented will run at night, always with a driver, on lines 10, 11, and 12 to evaluate its behaviour, performance, comfort, and integration into the network. Once the works are completed, it will be moved to line 6, where it will also be tested at night and already in automatic mode.
Line 6, which runs through the centre of Madrid, carries the highest number of passengers: around 430,000 on a working day. Thanks to this transformation, the line will improve all its operational indicators, as the president has pointed out.
More capacity, more speed, and less consumption
The new autonomous trains will increase current capacity by 17%, up to 1,385 passengers per train. The top speed can reach 110 kilometres per hour, and the frequency will increase from 19 to 30 trains per hour, potentially reaching intervals of 2 minutes. Additionally, energy efficiency will reduce electricity consumption by 20%.
With the automation of operations, the overall capacity of line 6 will rise from 430,000 daily passengers to 731,000, Ayuso highlighted. This will provide significant relief for regular users, who endure overcrowding during peak hours.
Passengers on line 6 will notice the difference when the autonomous trains are fully operational: less waiting, more space, and greater frequency. The night tests this summer are the first step towards a more modern and efficient Metro.
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