The C-5 returns to normal, but Cercanías works continue until the end of August

For passengers from Humanes, Fuenlabrada, Leganés, Alcorcón and Móstoles, one of the main inconveniences of the summer works disappears from today. Trains once again run continuously through Villaverde Alto, Atocha and Embajadores, so the special shuttle services and transfers created during the closure are no longer necessary. Adif says that C-5 services are returning to normal.

Over the last few weeks, services from Humanes and Fuenlabrada had ended at Villaverde Alto, while those from Móstoles El Soto had ended at Embajadores, both with ten-minute frequencies. Renfe also added shuttle services between Villaverde Alto and Méndez Álvaro every 35 minutes, stopping at Puente Alcocer, Orcasitas and Doce de Octubre.

The restoration of the C-5, however, does not mean the end of works at Atocha. The C-2, C-7, C-8a, C-8b and C-10 lines retain changes during the second half of August, with shortened routes and lower-than-usual frequencies. Renfe is keeping this special arrangement in place until 28 August.

On the C-2, trains run via the bypass line every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes off-peak. The C-7 offers trains between Alcalá de Henares, Entrevías and Atocha every 12 minutes during the busiest hours and every 16 minutes for the rest of the day; between Príncipe Pío, Las Rozas and Nuevos Ministerios, the frequency is 30 minutes.

Changes also continue on the mountain lines. The C-8a between El Escorial and Atocha and the C-8b between Cercedilla and Atocha run every 30 minutes at peak times and every 60 minutes off-peak. The C-10 is limited to the route between Villalba and Delicias, with trains every half hour and no access to its platforms at Méndez Álvaro.

The timetable still includes two major interruptions. On the weekends of 29 and 30 August and 5 and 6 September, the Sol tunnel between Atocha and Nuevos Ministerios will close, making it necessary to alter the C-3 and C-4 lines and establish temporary terminuses at both stations.

All these works form part of the transformation of the track layout at Atocha Cercanías. Once completed, Adif expects to increase the capacity of the Sol tunnel by up to 33% from October and to have greater scope to manage trains between six and nine in the morning. For C-5 users, at least, the most anticipated change has already arrived: from this Monday it is once again possible to cross Madrid from one end of the line to the other without getting off midway through the journey.