The President of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, announced an expansion of the Metro de Madrid by a total of 32 kilometres in parliament on 10 September 2026. The new sections are to extend towards Las Tablas, Móstoles and Leganés According to the government, this is the largest network expansion currently planned. Ayuso gave no firm timetable, detailed routes, cost estimate or breakdown of the funding.
The announcement came during the Debate on the State of the Region. The regional government also said it was considering running the heavily used Line 6 around the clock at weekends. Whether and when this 24-hour service can begin will depend, according to the current position, on budget decisions, staffing plans and operational trials.
The government referred to earlier projects among those under way or already approved in Madrid: in March 2026, the next construction section of Line 11 officially got under way. In July, the regional administration also unveiled the first of 48 new trains for Line 6, which are due to enter service gradually from 2027. The 32-kilometre expansion now announced is separate from these projects and will require its own planning approvals, environmental impact assessments and tenders.
The political context in Leganés is complex: as recently as April 2026, the regional government had said it was not pursuing an extension of Line 11 there, because the municipality already had a broad public transport network. The new expansion announcement does not make clear which line is intended to improve connections to Leganés in future. Key decisions therefore remain unresolved – including whether the City of Madrid, the central government or EU funds might co-finance the project.
Municipalities in the south of the region, such as Móstoles and Leganés, have for years called for more frequent services and additional rail capacity. Supporters point to growing commuter flows and urban densification; critics say feasibility and cost-benefit studies are still outstanding. Until formal decisions are made and tender documents published, the network expansion remains a political declaration of intent. Only firm funding commitments and approved projects will turn the announcement into a real expansion plan for the Metro de Madrid.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).