Line 6 reopens between Méndez Álvaro and Moncloa: new tracks, reinforced platforms, and less noise

Commuters boarding a Madrid Metro train this Saturday from any of the stations on the Méndez Álvaro-Moncloa section of Line 6 (L6) will notice a change in appearance and improved service. The line has been closed for the last three months for construction , and now that it has reopened, the fruits of the work carried out by 2,000 workers spread out over 24-hour shifts can be seen.

Visually, the most striking feature is the row of metal poles placed under the platforms. They are a novelty on the Madrid metropolitan network and their purpose is to reinforce passenger waiting areas for the installation of future platform doors . Around 1,700 piles have been installed in the 14 stations that have already been modernized, a similar number to those that will be installed in the coming months at the stops on the eastern side of the line, from Legazpi to Moncloa, which closes this Saturday for phase two of the works .

If you look into the station pit, Madrid residents will also notice some new features. Forty-four kilometers of track have been renewed, 44,000 meters of which have been joined with electric welding to prevent breaks that could disrupt traffic. Rail supports have also been updated and multiplied on a platform that is also brand new: the ballast, those square-shaped gray stones so characteristic of railway operations, has given way to concrete slabs that will contribute to journeys that will be more stable and faster from now on.

"The quality of travel will improve significantly," says Elisa Guzmán Pérez-Pons, head of track superstructure services at Metro de Madrid, regarding the impact of the works on L6. "The measurements we've taken show a lot of this, and our train operators have told us so," she explains, emphasizing that the line's speed will also "improve somewhat" thanks to this intervention, which has a total budget of €129 million.

Another highlight of the work carried out since last May concerns the catenary. The voltage has been reduced from 600 volts to 1,500 volts , which will save 30% in energy, according to data provided by the Ministry of Transport. "We have made a major investment because what the Madrid Regional Government seeks is to continue building an effective and efficient metro," said Transport Minister Jorge Rodrigo this Friday during a visit to Line 6 to oversee the results of the comprehensive renovation. "We want the Madrid Metro to continue being one of the most important, safest, and best in the world," he emphasized, asserting that with these works, they are building "the metro of the future."