Sierra Norte launches heated bus shelters to combat the cold

New heated bus shelters arrive in Madrid’s Sierra Norte. Three municipalities are already benefiting from this innovation. Winter will be more bearable for bus users. Find out how this pioneering solution works. Will it soon extend to more towns?

Madrid’s Sierra Norte is taking a step forward in improving rural public transport with the installation of heated bus shelters in Braojos de la Sierra, Gargantilla del Lozoya and Guadalix de la Sierra. More than 8,000 residents in these towns will be able to wait for the bus more comfortably during the coldest months.

The Community of Madrid, through the Regional Transport Consortium, has launched this initiative after the success of last year’s pilot experience in Pedrezuela. The Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Local Administration, Miguel Ángel García Martín, visited Braojos de la Sierra to see at first hand how these new facilities work.

The shelters incorporate heated metal benches, fitted with a thermostat and timer that regulate the temperature according to bus timetables. This solution seeks to improve quality of life in rural and mountain areas, where low temperatures make waiting for public transport particularly difficult.

In addition to heating, the new shelters have a permanent electricity connection and safety systems for passengers. They are made from recyclable materials and use environmentally friendly technologies.

The regional government continues to assess the performance of these innovative shelters, with the intention of extending their use to other municipalities in the region. In recent years, Madrid has sought to adapt street furniture to extreme weather conditions, as happened last summer with the installation of cooling bus shelters in Moratalaz and Villaverde.