Alstom signs contract to modernise signalling and deliver Madrid's first driverless metro line

Alstom has signed a contract with Metro de Madrid to upgrade the signalling of line 6, making it Madrid's first driverless metro line. This 23.5 km circular line with 28 stations is renowned as one of the busiest in the city, serving nearly 400,000 commuters daily and connecting the entire metro network. The upgrade to fully automated operation signifies a notable advancement in Madrid's urban transportation, enhancing the daily travel experience for thousands of residents and visitors, and bringing modernisation, resilience and energy savings to the heart of the metro network.

The contract includes the design, engineering, installation, and commissioning of the new signalling system and electronic interlocks necessary to upgrade the current communications-based train control (CBTC), from Grade of Automation 2 (GoA2) semi-automatic operation to Grade of Automation 4(GoA4), enabling fully autonomous and driverless operation. The project will also implement a new Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) system to enhance train monitoring and control.

Alstom's new Urbalis CBTC signalling system will improve the safety, reliability, and capacity of the line. This technology will also allow increased frequencies and improved train efficiency, reducing their energy consumption. Alstom is the world leader in CBTC systems, with over 30 years of experience in implementing cutting-edge metro signalling systems. Alstom's CBTC technology is operating on 190 metro lines in 32 different countries, 67 of which are driverless lines, including the metros of São Paulo, Paris, Riyadh, Milan, and Shanghai, among others.

The project will be led by Alstom’s Railway Signalling Excellence Centre in Madrid. This site, that employs over 800 digital mobility experts, is a global reference in urban and mainline signalling and safety technologies. Alstom teams in Madrid have developed notable projects in Spain & Portugal, such as the signalling systems for several ADIF lines in Spain, various urban lines contracts for Metro de Porto, the APM for the T4 terminal in Madrid International Airport and a CBTC contract in Malaga. and also worldwide such as the Tren Maya in Mexico, and projects in Istanbul, São Paulo, Cairo’s monorail and high-speed trains in Saudi Arabia, just to mention some of the most recent international projects.

www.alstom.com