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Línea 6 of Metro de Madrid prepares to operate without a driver in Madrid
Línea 6 of Metro de Madrid is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history. The circular line, one of the most used in the network, is preparing to operate with automatic trains in 2027 and will change the way thousands of people in Madrid move around the city every day.
The project goes far beyond introducing driverless trains. Automation involves renewing tracks, signalling, control systems, communications, platforms, and depots so that the line can operate more frequently, with greater capacity, and with constant remote monitoring.
The main promise for users is to reduce waiting times. When the system is fully implemented, the Comunidad de Madrid expects frequencies of up to two minutes, a key improvement on a line that connects neighbourhoods, interchanges, universities, hospitals, and major transport nodes.
Línea 6 carries around 400,000 passengers daily and surpassed 116 million users in 2024. Any change to this line has an immediate impact on mobility in Madrid, from those crossing the city for work to those connecting with Cercanías, intercity buses, or other Metro lines.
The transformation will also be noticeable on the platforms. Metro de Madrid is installing safety doors that will separate the waiting area from the tracks, an essential element for automatic operation, designed to reduce risks, organise passenger flows, and improve the regularity of the service.
The new trains will be adapted to this operating model and promise greater energy efficiency. According to official forecasts, they will use less energy and make better use of the line’s capacity, which is especially important during peak hours.
While these benefits are on the way, users are already experiencing disruptions. The works have led to schedule changes, earlier night closures, and replacement buses on certain sections. The modernisation is being carried out on a line that cannot stop being essential for the city, which complicates any intervention.
The change will mark a new era for Metro de Madrid. Línea 6 will remain circular, but will operate differently: more technological, more closely monitored, and designed to absorb greater demand. The key will be that the promised improvement translates into something very concrete for the passenger: shorter waits, smoother journeys, and fewer incidents on one of the main arteries of Madrid’s transport system.