Seven Metro stations will close on Sunday for the Pope’s Mass in Cibeles

The affected stations will be Retiro, Banco de España and Sevilla, on line 2; Velázquez, Serrano and Colón, on line 4; and Chueca, on line 5. Trains will continue to run on those lines, but will not stop at those platforms while the closure is in force.

The decision scales back the initial plan, which contemplated more affected stations. Following mobility and security tests, the Comunidad de Madrid has opted for a tighter closure around Cibeles, Recoletos and the main access points to the mass. The idea is to prevent crowds at the nearest entrances and spread the arrival of attendees across stations slightly further away.

Those attending the event will have to walk from places such as Goya, Alonso Martínez, Gran Vía, Atocha or Príncipe Pío, depending on their route of origin. For those who simply want to cross the city centre or get around the area, the wisest course will be to check their route before setting off and accept that some journeys will take longer.

Metro will reinforce its service on the lines with the highest demand, with increases in trains that may reach 125%. In addition, on the night from Saturday to Sunday, the underground will extend its hours until 2:30, one hour later than usual, to absorb travel linked to the preceding events.

EMT and Bicimad will also be free during the central days of the visit, although that does not mean the bus will always be the quickest option. Several lines will be diverted because of surface closures, especially around Cibeles, Recoletos, Plaza de Lima and Castellana.

Sunday will be the most delicate day of the operation. Madrid will have more trains, more staff and more alternatives, but also streets fenced off, stations with no stops and access controls at one of the capital’s busiest points. For many residents, the key will be simple: avoid the city centre if it is not necessary; and if they have to go, leave with time to spare.

Cibeles is usually the place where Madrid celebrates, protests or gathers. This time it will be the centre of a mass gathering and a carefully measured mobility operation. The challenge will not only be filling the square, but emptying it afterwards without bringing the city to a standstill. That is where it will become clear whether the adjustment to seven stations is enough to protect the event without turning Sunday into an obstacle course for everyone else.