Metro de Madrid Awards Contract to Support Automation of Line 6

Metro de Madrid has appointed a joint venture of SYSTRA and Ardanuy to support the automation of Line 6, one of the busiest lines on the city’s metro network.

The new project involves introducing driverless operation at Grade of Automation 4 (GoA 4) to the circular Line 6, which plays a key role in connecting different areas of the Spanish capital. It also includes the installation of platform doors.

Metro de Madrid’s goal is to increase service frequency, capacity, and operational efficiency.

The SYSTRA-Ardanuy joint venture will provide technical assistance to Metro de Madrid throughout the integration of the new systems. The work will focus on ensuring that all subsystems, from control systems to safety mechanisms, are fully coordinated from a technical, functional, operational, and security perspective.

Work will begin with the development of methodologies and documentation required to support Metro de Madrid in managing the early phases of the project. SYSTRA and Ardanuy will then monitor system integration through to implementation.

Joan Serrano , General Director of SYSTRA Ibérica said:

This new contract is significant for several reasons: firstly, because it is our first major order for the Madrid metro, following numerous other contracts for the Bilbao and Barcelona networks; and secondly, because we are contributing to the first automation of an existing metro line in Spain, an experience in which SYSTRA is a specialist, with numerous similar contracts in Europe and around the world. We would like to thank Metro de Madrid for entrusting this work to SYSTRA and Ardanuy.

Line 6’s automation is part of a wider trend towards driverless operation in metro networks globally. SYSTRA is currently involved in automation projects in Stockholm, Brussels, Marseille, Lyon, Mumbai, San Francisco, and New York.

The group has also contributed to several metro automation schemes in France and Chile, including Paris Line 1, Lyon Line B, and Santiago Line 1.