The Metro Line 6 in Madrid will be closed between the stations of Sainz de Baranda and Laguna on Saturday 22 August and Sunday 23 August 2026. The closure is to allow work in preparation for the full automation of the circular line, including the transport, storage and installation of platform screen doors. For the affected section, the Empresa Municipal de Transportes (EMT) will operate a free replacement bus service during the Metro’s usual operating hours, stopping near all the affected stations. Sainz de Baranda and Laguna will remain open and serve as the termini on both days. Through train services on Line 6 are expected to resume on Monday 24 August.
The closure affects the stations of Conde de Casal, Pacífico, Méndez Álvaro, Arganzuela-Planetario, Legazpi, Usera, Plaza Elíptica, Opañel, Oporto, Carpetana and all intermediate stops up to Laguna. At major interchanges, connections to other Metro lines and to Cercanías will remain available at the open termini. Passengers should allow extra time for their journeys. The EMT says the replacement service will ensure access to all stations on the closed section.
The measures are part of the project to convert the so-called Circular (Línea 6) to driverless operation by 2027, making it the network’s first such line. In addition to installing platform screen doors, work is under way on signalling and train-control systems, power supply and operational infrastructure. According to the Community of Madrid and the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid (CRTM), test runs without passengers are already taking place outside operating hours; the move to regular service is planned for 2027. Line 6 is one of the busiest corridors on the Madrid Metro, which is why infrastructure work is being scheduled in short, concentrated weekend closures.
The authorities say temporary closures allow safety-critical work to be concentrated that cannot be carried out alongside passenger services. This is intended to shorten construction times and minimise disruption to daily life. The Comunidad de Madrid and CRTM also emphasise the expected benefits of automation: greater capacity, shorter intervals and more reliable service. Specific dates for full commissioning remain unspecified, apart from the 2027 target year, and depend on progress with equipment installation and testing.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).