Spain's capital carried 389.6 million metro passengers in the first half of 2026 — an all-time record — and is preparing to convert its busiest circular line to fully automated, unattended operations by 2027.
Madrid Metro carried 389.6 million passengers in the first six months of 2026, breaking every record in the system's 107-year history. The milestone, announced on July 13 at the Cuatro Vientos depot, came alongside the unveiling of the first of 48 new driverless trains destined for Line 6 — the circular backbone of the network. Full-year 2025 was already a record at 736.8 million, and 2026 is on pace to comfortably exceed it.
Spain's First Fully Driverless Metro Line
Line 6, a 23.5-kilometre circle serving 28 stations, is being converted to GoA4 — the highest grade of automation, meaning trains will run without any staff on board. The EUR 531 million project includes 48 new trains built by Spanish manufacturer CAF, each over 109 metres long with space for 1,385 passengers, a 17% increase over the current fleet.
Platform screen doors are being installed at all 28 stations to enable safe unattended operation. Once complete, Line 6 will run trains every 2 minutes during peak hours, delivering a capacity boost of up to 70% on what is already one of Madrid's most heavily used lines. Driverless service is targeted for 2027.
Why Record Ridership Matters
Madrid's numbers are striking because they show a major European metro system not just recovering from the pandemic but decisively surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The 3.6% year-on-year growth in a city of 3.3 million suggests that investment in metro infrastructure is creating a virtuous cycle: better service draws more riders, which justifies further investment.
The growth has come alongside expansions elsewhere in the network — extension of Line 11 to Conde de Casal opened in March 2025, and works continue on extending Lines 3 and 5. Madrid now operates 302 stations across 13 lines spanning 294 kilometres, making it Europe's fourth-longest metro network after London, Moscow and Paris.
Connection to Bengaluru
Namma Metro is building toward the same driverless technology Madrid is deploying. The Pink Line underground section from Dairy Circle to Nagawara — 13.76 km and 12 stations, expected to open in December 2026 — will use driverless CBTC (Communications-Based Train Control) at GoA4 level, making it Bengaluru's first fully automated metro corridor. The Yellow Line, which opened in August 2025, already uses CBTC with attended automation.
Madrid's experience offers a data point for what driverless operations unlock: 2-minute headways and 70% more capacity without recruiting and training thousands of additional train operators. For a fast-growing city like Bengaluru where metro ridership is climbing and train frequency is a constant demand, the automation path Madrid is blazing is directly relevant.
Key Numbers
- H1 2026 ridership: 389.6 million journeys — all-time record, up 3.6% year-on-year
- Line 6 automation: EUR 531 million investment, 48 CAF driverless trains
- Train capacity: 1,385 passengers per train (109 m long), 17% more than current fleet
- Peak frequency: every 2 minutes, delivering up to 70% capacity boost
- Platform screen doors at all 28 Line 6 stations
- Automation level: GoA4 (fully unattended) — Spain's first
- Target: driverless operations on Line 6 by 2027