Adif will begin the key phase of works at Atocha Cercanías on 17 July to increase the capacity of the Sol tunnel by 33%. Lines C-3, C-4, and C-5 will experience disruptions until September, with a particular impact on southern municipalities such as Leganés.
Adif is starting this summer the decisive phase of the works to implement a new track scheme at Atocha Cercanías station. The aim is to increase the capacity of the Sol tunnel by 33%, improve reliability, and speed up traffic at one of the busiest railway stations in Spain. The technically complex works will cause service disruptions starting from 17 July.
First phase: from 17 to 22 July, disruptions on C-3, C-4, and C-5
Between 17 and 22 July, lines C-3, C-4, and C-5 will be affected. Line C-3 will start and end its route at Villaverde Bajo; to continue to Atocha and Chamartín, passengers will need to transfer to C-4 trains. Line C-4a (Parla-Alcobendas/San Sebastián de los Reyes) will be suspended between Atocha and Parla, so trains will start and end at Atocha; passengers heading to Parla can use C-4b (Parla-Colmenar Viejo), which will operate normally. Line C-5 will start and end at Atocha, and those wishing to continue to Humanes/Fuenlabrada or Móstoles-El Soto will need to transfer at Atocha to a train on the same line.
For residents of Leganés, the main impact will be on C-5, which connects directly to Leganés Central station. During this first week, C-5 trains will not go beyond Atocha, so passengers heading to central Madrid will need to get off at Atocha and continue by metro or on trains from other lines. According to Adif, information will be reinforced at stations, and alternative EMT bus services will be provided for holders of Cercanías passes.
Second phase: from 23 July to 16 August, total closure of C-5 between Villaverde Alto and Embajadores
From 23 July until 16 August, the only line affected will be C-5, which will experience a total closure between Villaverde Alto and Embajadores. During this period, the service will be divided into two sections: Humanes/Fuenlabrada-Villaverde Alto, with a frequency of every 10 minutes; and Móstoles El Soto-Embajadores, also every 10 minutes. Additionally, there will be shuttle trains from Villaverde Alto to Méndez Álvaro (stopping at Puente Alcocer, Orcasitas, and Doce de Octubre) every 35 minutes.
This closure will directly affect passengers from Leganés, who will need to get off at Villaverde Alto and take the shuttle train or use the EMT to reach Embajadores. The duration of the closure, nearly a month, will require planning for journeys with more time. Renfe has indicated that these works are concentrated in summer, when there are fewer passengers, to minimise inconvenience.
Third phase: weekends in August and September, closures in the Sol tunnel
On the weekends of 29 and 30 August and 5 and 6 September, two closures of the Sol tunnel between Atocha and Nuevos Ministerios will take place. This will affect lines C-3 and C-4, which will establish provisional heads at Atocha (for C-3 and C-4) and Nuevos Ministerios (for C-4). During those days, passengers from Leganés using C-5 will not be directly affected, but those transferring to C-3 or C-4 will need to consider the transfers.
The overall project, with an investment of nearly 56 million euros, is in its final phase. The track scheme will change from 4+3+3 to 4+4+2, allowing more tracks to be allocated to the Sol tunnel and improving capacity. Track 8 will be key, as it will absorb trains coming from that tunnel. To achieve this, part of the gables of the Sol and Embajadores tunnels have been demolished, new pillars have been built, and a new section of tunnel has been executed. The works are funded by the European Union through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (NextGenerationEU).
Renfe will inform about the modifications through staff at stations, public address systems, digital and physical signage, social media, and WhatsApp channel. Passengers with valid Cercanías tickets will be able to use EMT buses for free during the closures. It is recommended to check updated schedules before travelling and to allow extra travel time, especially during peak hours. These works are the last of this operation that will interfere with the service of the Sol tunnel, so it is expected that once completed, capacity and reliability will improve significantly.
You may also like
