In the 20 years between 1995 and 2015, Metro de Madrid implemented an impressive expansion programme that extended the network to 292 km in length and 302 stations. However, since the opening of the section from Mirasierra to Paco de Lucía as part of Line 9 in March 2015, the expansion programme had come to an end. But now, after a 10-year break, it’s back on track: on 21 April 2025, line 3 was extended by 3.5 km (thereof 2.6 km newly built) from the previous terminus at Villaverde Alto to the new interchange point at El Casar – without any official inauguration ceremony, simply by starting scheduled services at around 6.00 am. The investment cost of the extension is approximately EUR 92 million (EUR 116 million according to other sources).
In El Casar there is a direct interchange to the Cercanías suburban train services and to metro circular line 12, the so-called MetroSur, which connects five suburbs in the southern outskirts of the Spanish capital over a length of 40 km. The connection to line 3 makes the journey to the centre of Madrid much easier and faster for many passengers.
However, a direct vehicle transfer and thus through-trains between the two lines are not possible in regular service, as Line 3 belongs to the small-profile network with a width of 2.30 metres, while the L12 belongs to the large-profile network with a width of 2.80 metres. Nevertheless, a track connection was established through a short section of new tunnel between both lines.
The extensions to the Madrid metro currently under construction include Line 5 from Alameda de Osuna to Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 and Line 11 from Plaza Elíptica via Atocha to Conde de Casal, which is due to open by 2028, as well as the conversion of Line 6 to driverless operation, which we reported on a few days ago:
https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/design-unveiled-madrids-first-driverless-metro-trains/
