Metro Madrid reopened the L10 line between Plaza de Castilla and Cuzco on Tuesday, restoring a basic transport link in the capital after several weeks of improvement works. The section had been closed since July 4 for upgrades at Cuzco station. Trains are running again, with service starting at 6 a.m. The stretch between Cuzco and Nuevos Ministerios remains out of operation as construction continues at Santiago Bernabéu station.
The ongoing closure, which began on March 28, is part of a major overhaul of Santiago Bernabéu station. The project, with a budget of €66 million, aims to triple the station’s space and make it fully accessible by adding 12 elevators and 24 escalators. Once completed, the station will be renamed Bernabéu and will feature a large new concourse in place of the old corridors, improving passenger flow, especially during football matches and major events.
During the works, Metro Madrid has provided a free special bus service between Nuevos Ministerios and Plaza de Castilla to help commuters handle the disruption. The service will continue until the end of summer, when the next phase of construction is expected to be completed. The renovation is about 45% complete, and the new intermediate-level structure is nearing the original station vault. Demolition of the old station will begin once this phase is finished.
The improvements at Cuzco station, which cost €1.7 million, included waterproofing the infrastructure and removing asbestos from the vault and technical rooms. The upgrades form part of a broader effort to modernize the L10 line and protect the safety of passengers and staff.
In 2025, Santiago Bernabéu station recorded nearly four million entries, with daily peaks of more than 34,000 travelers during major events. The regional government plans to inaugurate the new station design in the first quarter of 2027, coinciding with the 125th anniversary of the city’s iconic football club and the 80th anniversary of its stadium. The project’s scale reflects the area’s importance to daily commuters and event-goers.
Madrid’s metro network is among the busiest in Europe, serving millions of residents and visitors each year. The L10 line, running from Hospital Infanta Sofía to Puerta del Sur, is a critical north-south artery. Disruptions on the line have a impressive impact on mobility, making the restored service between Plaza de Castilla and Cuzco an impressive development for the city. Other major events in Spain’s transport sector, including the recent weather-related halt of LaVuelta in Font-Romeu, also show the challenges of maintaining reliable infrastructure. More on that can be found in this report on the LaVuelta disruption.
The full reopening of the L10 line is expected to bring further relief to commuters once the Santiago Bernabéu works are finished. Until then, passengers will need to rely on the special bus service and allow for possible delays in the affected area.
