The Community of Madrid plans automatic operation on Line 6 by 2027 with 48 new trains and will expand the mobile transport pass throughout 2026. The Regional Transport Consortium is investing €9 billion in the intercity bus network.
The return to routine in Madrid this September brings changes to public transport. The Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid (CRTM), under the Community, is advancing in the automation of the Line 6 of the Metro and in the digitalisation of the transport pass, as reported by larazon.es.
In May, tests began on the first of the 48 automatic trains that will serve Line 6. The purchase amounts to €531.2 million and operation is expected to start in 2027. The trains will be distributed among depots for night testing in manual mode on lines 10, 11, and 12 before transitioning to Line 6 in automatic mode.
The automation will allow for a reduction in frequency to as little as two minutes and achieve speeds of 110 kilometres per hour, which is 33% faster than current speeds. The trains are 20% more energy-efficient and offer up to 17% more space by eliminating the driver’s cabin and featuring interconnected aisles. Each unit will have a capacity for 1,385 passengers, with 165 seated places, spaces for people with reduced mobility, areas for bicycles and prams, air conditioning, video surveillance, mobile charging points, and an inductive loop for hearing aids.
On the surface, the Community will allocate €9 billion over the next decade to improve the intercity bus network. The 21 projects of the new concession map approved by the Governing Council incorporated 23 more lines, bringing the total to 487 that serve 179 municipalities in the region. The CRTM received over 1,700 submissions with 9,500 objections during the public participation process. The plan aims to reduce travel times with more express services during peak hours, increase frequencies, and reduce standing passengers on longer routes.
The transport pass is also changing. On 15 January, at the Cuatro Caminos station, the Community presented My Transport Card, an application that allows users to validate their pass directly from their mobile without the physical card. The tool initially benefits over three million users and was launched after a pilot phase with 8,000 travellers. It integrates the two previous applications of the Consortium: one for topping up passes and the other for virtualising the Multi Card. Throughout 2026, the CRTM plans to add annual corporate passes and compatibility with iOS devices.
Counter service continues to receive high ratings. The 2025 Satisfaction Survey of the CRTM Management Offices places the overall average score at 9.82 out of 10 among the 1,250 surveyed travellers. 95.9% rated the assistance with a 9 or 10, and 96% would recommend these offices to family and friends.
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