Legazpi opens the first automatic platform doors on Line 6 of Metro

Legazpi station, on Line 6 of Metro de Madrid, will be the first to install automatic platform doors, marking the start of automation for the city's busiest circular line. The first screens, manufactured in China, will arrive by plane at the end of January to speed up initial tests and adjustments.

The contract for supply and installation, awarded to the UTE formed by Faiveley Transport Ibérica, Comsa y Comsa Instalaciones y Sistemas Industriales, amounts to 104.12 million euros, rising to 187 million when signalling is included. The agreement covers five years, with two dedicated to maintenance after installation.

The first phase of installation will take place on platform 1 at Legazpi, following the complete refurbishment of Line 6, which involved more than 200 days of partial closure. After a month and a half of testing, the process will continue on platform 2 to ensure proper operation. The rest of the equipment will arrive by ship and be stored at a Metro depot, then moved to stations at night to avoid disrupting daily service.

To support the weight of the new doors, the platforms have been reinforced with nearly 4,000 pillars and over 7,700 metres of temporary treads. Since 7 January, Line 6 service ends at 23:00 from Sunday to Thursday, with normal hours maintained at weekends. During the nights of works, Metro provides free buses to ensure mobility.

The doors, transparent and vandal-resistant, feature colour-coded signage, safety bars, anti-trap systems, and LED information screens. In total, more than 1,600 doors will be installed on 70 platforms by 2026, although they will remain locked until the line is fully automated.

The next stage of the project will begin in summer with the arrival of 40 new CAF trains. These trains, without driver cabs, will begin testing in 2026 and carry passengers from 2027, offering greater capacity, speed, and efficiency, with frequencies of up to two minutes.