Madrid Metro Line 9 to Revolutionize Service by 2030 with New Station and Direct Route
Madrid, March 1, 2026 – The Madrid Metro Line 9 is preparing for two significant changes in the coming years that will enhance connectivity and service for hundreds of thousands of residents. These developments include the elimination of a key transfer point and the addition of a new station to serve the expanding urban areas in the southeast of the capital.
Direct Travel on Line 9 by 2030
A major improvement for commuters on Line 9 will be the elimination of the L9B transfer that currently connects Puerta de Arganda with Arganda del Rey. This change is scheduled to take effect in July 2030. Currently, this section is managed by Transportes Ferroviarios de Madrid (TFM), but from 2030, it will be integrated directly into the Metro de Madrid network.
This integration means that the purple line of the subway will run directly from Paco de Lucía to Arganda without the need for passengers to change trains. The Community of Madrid has indicated that they “do not foresee any extension of the concession or issuing a new one,” confirming the direct management by Metro de Madrid. This will streamline travel, reduce journey times, and significantly improve the daily commute for thousands of users.
New Station for Growing Urban Developments
The second major development for Line 9 is the construction of the new Los Ahijones – Berrocales station. This station is designed to provide essential public transport access to the future urban developments in the southeast of Madrid. The project has faced some challenges, with the tender for its construction having been issued three times due to previous contracts remaining unawarded.
To make the offer more attractive, the regional government has doubled the base bidding budget for the project. Specifically, a contract for the drafting of the construction project has been put out to tender for an amount of 825,873.15 euros, with an execution period of 14 months. This increase reflects the commitment to push forward with this crucial infrastructure project.
The new contracting file incorporates the application of a European Commission safety regulation, which establishes a common method for evaluating any modification to the network. This requirement, which must be integrated from the design phase, implies an increase of 328,600 euros in the initial budget.
Addressing Mobility Needs for Over 300,000 People
The new station on Line 9 is estimated to be operational by 2029 and will be located between Puerta de Arganda and Rivas Urbanizaciones. Its primary objective is to meet the mobility needs arising from the construction of more than 41,000 homes in the southeast of the capital. This initiative aims to address the transport demands of over 300,000 people who will reside in the six major urban developments in southeast Madrid: Los Cerros, El Cañaveral, Los Ahijones, Los Berrocales, Ensanche de Vallecas, and Valdecarros.
All these developments will be connected by a large, 16-kilometer boulevard, along which a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will also run. This BRT will connect at three points with Madrid’s existing public transport network, creating a comprehensive and integrated transport system for the area.
The planned route reservation for Line 9 includes the construction of this major station as one of the connections between the new BRT and the Metro line, in coordination with the urban planning of the Madrid City Council. With this new station, Line 9, which currently serves over 255,000 passengers daily, will expand to 30 stations.
This expansion will significantly reinforce its capacity to absorb the increased demand associated with the urban development of Los Ahijones, where nearly 19,000 homes are planned, and Los Berrocales, which could exceed 22,000 homes. These strategic changes underscore the Community of Madrid’s commitment to modernizing and expanding its public transport infrastructure to support the city’s growth and improve the quality of life for its residents.
Source: eldebate.com
