Madrid, May 11 – The Community of Madrid confirmed that the future Comillas and Madrid Río stations on Metro Line 11 are set to be connected during June. This significant milestone is being achieved through the rapid progress of the Mayrit tunnel boring machine, which began operations in March and is currently excavating at a rate of nearly 20 meters per day.
Mayrit Tunnel Boring Machine Accelerates L11 Expansion
Jorge Rodrigo, the Regional Minister of Housing, Transport, and Infrastructure, shared this update during a visit to the Noblejas (Toledo) facilities, where the segments forming the tunnel are manufactured. “The integration of Mayrit allows us to execute this project more efficiently, and on-site, we have verified that it is meeting its deadlines, even exceeding the initially projected speed,” stated Rodrigo.
The tunnel boring machine is responsible for excavating and consolidating the tunnel by installing over 3,000 rings required to complete the 5.5-kilometer stretch between Comillas and Conde de Casal, which marks the end of this new section of Metro Line 11. Each ring comprises seven segments, necessitating approximately 25,000 concrete pieces for the entire operation.
Currently, Mayrit has completed 500 of the 1,114 meters it needs to cover before reaching Madrid Río. “All the segments for the 656 rings of this initial phase of the works have already been manufactured and are stored both at an annex to the manufacturing plant and in a reserved area within Comillas Park,” Rodrigo added.
Industrialized Construction Speeds Up Project Delivery
Industrialized construction methods, also utilized in other regional government projects like the future Conde de Casal interchange, are proving instrumental in accelerating timelines and minimizing costs. “This technique allowed for the production of concrete pieces to begin in September 2025, even before the tunnel boring machine completed its journey from Schwanau (Germany) to the Community of Madrid,” Rodrigo highlighted.
The Noblejas factory, established specifically for this purpose, employs 50 workers and can simultaneously produce 42 segments in approximately seven hours. The Regional Minister emphasized that “this is a meticulously planned process, which reduces the number of incidents despite the very high pace of work.”
The transportation of these segments from Noblejas to Madrid is carried out by specialized vehicles, each capable of carrying seven pieces per trip. Currently, between 7 and 10 deliveries are made daily, as the tunnel boring machine operates seven days a week, pausing only for the replacement of worn components.
Significant Investment in Metro Expansion
The regional government is allocating over 739 million euros to this project, which represents the initial phase of a more ambitious expansion of Line 11. The line is projected to extend to 33 kilometers, ultimately connecting Cuatro Vientos with Valdebebas. Of the total investment, 586 million euros are specifically designated for the construction of the tunnel and the five new stations.
This expansion aims to significantly improve connectivity across Madrid, providing residents with more efficient and accessible public transport options. The project underscores the Community of Madrid’s commitment to modernizing its infrastructure and meeting the growing demands of its urban population.
