The ‘Ghost Train’ of Madrid: A €162 Million Dream That Never Left the Station
For nearly two decades, a 14.4-kilometer stretch of railway infrastructure, costing an astonishing 162 million euros, has lain dormant in the southwest of Madrid. Conceived under the government of Esperanza Aguirre (2003-2012) to connect Móstoles and Navalcarnero, this ambitious project, often dubbed the ‘ghost train,’ was abandoned unfinished in 2010. Now, amidst renewed federal interest in revitalizing Madrid’s public transport network, the specter of corruption that has long haunted this project is once again coming to light.
The Unfinished Legacy: A Federal Resuscitation Attempt
Sources within the Spanish government have confirmed to EL PAÍS that a project is underway to assess the feasibility of reactivating the Móstoles-Navalcarnero commuter rail line. This initiative aims not only to complete the long-stalled connection but also to integrate it into a broader redesign of public transport in the southwest of Madrid. The plan includes evaluating extensions to Villaviciosa de Odón or Boadilla del Monte, potentially forming a ‘Y’ shaped network with Móstoles at its core, and complementing rail services with new bus routes to surrounding municipalities.
This federal push, led by the PSOE and Sumar coalition, represents a strategic move in the ongoing political tug-of-war with the Madrid regional government (PP), promising significant benefits for the hundreds of thousands of residents in these communities.
The Genesis of a Scandal: From Boom to Bust
The Móstoles-Navalcarnero railway project began in 2005, awarded to OHL with a 360 million euro concession. It was a product of Madrid’s real estate boom, intended to draw residents to new developments. However, the works ground to a halt in 2010, with only 8 of the 14.4 kilometers completed, due to a lack of financing from the concessionaire. The regional government and OHL then entered a protracted legal battle over responsibility for project changes, including an unbudgeted underground section, and a 50 million euro claim from OHL.
In 2021, the government of Isabel Díaz Ayuso approved a payment of 162 million euros to OHL for the abandoned and incomplete infrastructure. OHL later increased this figure to 188 million euros with the addition of VAT, as detailed in a communication to the National Securities Market Commission.
Corruption Allegations: The Lezo Case Connection
Beyond the financial mismanagement, the ‘ghost train’ project has been deeply entangled in allegations of corruption. Investigators from the Civil Guard, in their final report on the Lezo Case in 2022, highlighted that the investigation’s genesis lay in information from informants. These sources provided details, including a bank account number, to which OHL allegedly paid a commission in 2007 related to the concession contract.
The report explicitly names Ignacio González, President of Madrid from 2012 to 2015, and Ildefonso de Miguel as the alleged recipients of these commissions, citing their close friendship and professional ties. This suggests that the project, conceived as a public service, may have been tainted by illicit enrichment from its very inception.
The Visible Scar: A Trench of Unfulfilled Promises
The physical manifestation of this failed project is a desolate trench running through the neighborhoods of El Pinar and La Dehesa in Navalcarnero. This empty canal, meant to house the train tracks, serves as a stark reminder of the unfulfilled promise to connect hundreds of thousands of residents in Navalcarnero, Arroyomolinos, and the Parque Coímbra-Móstoles development to the Cercanías network. It also symbolizes the dashed hopes of transforming Navalcarnero into a crucial interchange for commuters from other Madrid and Toledo municipalities.
The current federal study, initiated in late 2025, aims to not only assess the viability of the Móstoles-Navalcarnero connection but also to extend its benefits to other municipalities in the southwest of Madrid, potentially rectifying past failures.
A Double Analysis for a New Era
The tender issued by the Spanish government outlines a dual analysis. Firstly, it seeks to explore other potential railway services for surrounding municipalities and the compatibility of the Móstoles-Navalcarnero extension with these, including the possibility of a bifurcated ‘Y’ line from Móstoles. Secondly, it aims to analyze mobility in the western and southwestern Madrid area to propose alternatives that combine rail and bus services in adjacent municipalities, optimizing synergies between modes of transport.
While nothing is certain and everything remains under study, the very existence of this possibility opens a new political discourse ahead of the 2027 regional elections. The left-wing parties are keen to regain support in southern Madrid, and the revival of this long-dormant project could be a significant electoral asset.
Unanswered Questions and Future Prospects
The ‘ghost train’ project stands as a monument to political ambition, financial misjudgment, and alleged corruption. The federal government’s renewed interest offers a glimmer of hope for improved public transport in the region, but it also reignites uncomfortable questions about accountability for the initial failure and the alleged illicit gains.
Will the new study finally bring this long-overdue connection to fruition? And will the ongoing corruption investigations shed full light on the shadowy dealings that plagued its origins? The residents of southwest Madrid, who have waited almost two decades, deserve answers and a functional transport system.
