The works on the new Parla Norte station have been completed, while the Ministry of Transport has just awarded the Soto Sur works. Additionally, a stop to serve the Infanta Sofía hospital is being studied.
The expansion of the C-4 Cercanías line is progressing well. The Ministry of Transport has greenlit new actions that will add three stations to the network, aiming to improve rail connectivity in the southern and northern areas of the Community of Madrid. The most advanced is Parla Norte, whose works have already concluded after two years of work and an investment of 16.5 million euros.
The Parla Norte station, located between Parla and Getafe-Sector 3, features a single-storey passenger building that houses the central hall, commercial area, and customer service area. Additionally, a car park with 49 spaces has been created, equipped with charging points for electric vehicles. According to Adif's forecasts, the stop will serve around 14,000 passengers daily, mostly from the new urban developments in the area.
However, the opening is not immediate. In the coming months, systems for electricity, lighting, air conditioning, ventilation, fire protection, and closed-circuit television will be installed. Access turnstiles, ticket vending machines, and clocks will also be placed. The final step will be the integration with the railway control and signalling system, followed by the request for authorisation from the State Agency for Railway Safety. For now, there is no specific opening date.
Soto Sur: new head station in the Sierra Norte
Last week, the Ministry of Transport awarded the works for the Soto Sur station, which will become the new head station of the C-4b branch. The project, with a budget of 15.2 million euros, includes the rehabilitation of the old Soto station building, respecting its original design. An exterior car park with 513 spaces will be built to facilitate access for residents of Soto del Real, Miraflores de la Sierra, and Guadalix de la Sierra.
This new stop will replace the current Soto station and will allow for better connectivity with the population centres in the mountains. The works also include the adaptation of tracks and platforms, as well as the installation of safety and accessibility systems. The works are expected to continue over the coming months, although no completion date has been specified.
Tres Cantos Norte and the Infanta Sofía hospital stop
In April, the contract was tendered to build the Tres Cantos Norte station, with an estimated value of 19.35 million euros. This stop will be located between the current Tres Cantos and Colmenar Viejo stations and will serve the audiovisual hub, university campus, and sports and health facilities in the area. Initial estimates suggest a demand of around 10,000 passengers daily. There is still no date for the start of the works, as the final award is pending.
Furthermore, the Ministry is studying the creation of a station on the C-4a branch that connects with the Infanta Sofía hospital in San Sebastián de los Reyes. This project is in the informational study phase, where the necessary interventions to materialise the network extension will be analysed. If realised, it would improve access to the hospital for residents in the northern area.
With all these actions, the C-4 line will increase from the current 18 stations to 21, distributed across two branches: C-4a (towards Colmenar Viejo) and C-4b (towards Soto Sur). The complete route will include stops such as Parla, Parla Norte, Getafe Sector 3, Atocha, Chamartín, Tres Cantos, Colmenar Viejo, and Soto Sur, among others. It is the second most demanded line in the Cercanías Madrid network, only behind the C-5.
For residents of Parla, Getafe, Tres Cantos, Colmenar Viejo, and the municipalities of the Sierra Norte, these expansions will represent a significant improvement in service frequency and coverage. The new car parks at Parla Norte (49 spaces) and Soto Sur (513 spaces) will facilitate car access, and the electric charging points will promote sustainable mobility. The expectation is that, once operational, the stations will help to relieve congestion at nearby stops and reduce travel times.
Adif reminds that, although the works at Parla Norte are finished, there are still administrative and technical steps before trains can stop there. Residents will have to wait a few more months to see the station in operation. Meanwhile, the works at Soto Sur and Tres Cantos Norte will continue, and the study of the Infanta Sofía hospital will shape the future of the C-4a.
