Madrid’s Metro is under scrutiny after passenger complaints about extreme heat and failing air conditioning surged, particularly on Line 1. The recently launched citizen platform Termo de Madrid collects daily commuter reports, documenting widespread discomfort and technical failures across the network. Created by Nacho González, the initiative uses user-submitted data to show how persistently effective climate control has eluded the city’s busiest and oldest metro line.
Termo de Madrid turns passenger experiences into an index, scoring each incident from 0 (“cool”) to 100 (“hell”) based on perceived heat, report numbers and estimated fleet coverage. Its data shows that Line 1 consistently has the highest proportion of carriages with climate issues, followed by Line 5. Conditions are most critical around 15:00, when intensive work shifts end, and at 7:00 in the early morning. Incidents have spiked over the past four days: 10 of the 25 reports on Friday morning were classified as “hell.”
The index gives more weight to recent reports, using an exponential decay system that halves each entry’s weight every three days. It also accounts for the number of unique trains affected, so repeat complaints about one carriage do not skew the results. A confidence indicator, from low to high, reflects statistical reliability based on the volume and consistency of reports. Confidence is rated high only when at least ten reports come in and 70% agree on conditions.
Jorge Nacarino, president of the Federación Regional de Asociaciones Vecinales de Madrid (FRAVM), points to delayed maintenance contracts as a basic cause of the crisis, especially on Lines 1 and 5. He criticizes the regional government’s lack of transparency and slow response, saying users and social groups have had to raise awareness on social media. Metro de Madrid has announced expanded maintenance checks and plans to install industrial fans on platforms. It has also announced a €3.5 million programme for air-conditioning work on trains serving the most affected lines. Separately, the Comunidad de Madrid says an existing four-year contract worth about €3.5 million covers refrigeration-system maintenance on Lines 1 and 5, including preventive work and repairs to worn or damaged components.
On 21 October 2026, the Comunidad de Madrid announced a separate investment of more than €2.8 million to renew air-conditioning systems on the 2000-A trains, known as “Pandas,” which run on Line 1. The project covers 38 trainsets, and the regional government says Metro will tender a contract to replace two basic components of their cooling systems. The upgraded systems are intended to be operating from early May 2027, ahead of the next peak summer period. Jorge Rodrigo, head of the regional transport department, said the work would cover all 38 trains. The department says it plans to carry it out without affecting Line 1 timetables or service frequency.
The announcement followed a summer of passenger complaints and protests over oppressive temperatures and repeated air-conditioning failures. The regional government acknowledged the grievances and apologized for the situation, information from La Razón, while pledging to address the problem before the following summer. The replacement programme is limited to the 2000-A fleet, which the regional government describes as among the company’s oldest trains. It is not a network-wide modernization. The separate maintenance contract covers Lines 1 and 5, while the €2.8 million renewal targets Line 1’s ageing equipment.
Many residents remain skeptical of the improvements authorities have highlighted, particularly as summer heat coincides with service disruptions caused by construction and maintenance. Simultaneous works on Madrid’s Cercanías network add to their concern. Some see the projects as evidence that passenger needs are not a priority in public transport planning. The tension reflects wider concerns about infrastructure management in the region, including recent controversies such as the cancellation of public events over safety risks, detailed in this report on Madrid municipalities cancelling eclipse events.
Madrid Metro is one of Europe’s largest urban rail systems, carrying nearly 197 million passengers annually on Lines 1 and 5 alone. The network’s age and heavy use make climate control a persistent challenge, particularly during peak summer months. The current crisis has renewed debate over investment priorities and transparency, as well as the effectiveness of public communication. With another hot August approaching, authorities face pressure to deliver tangible improvements and restore commuter confidence in the capital’s critical transport system.
