Pedro Sánchez and Óscar Puente visit the new Chamartín station concourse before its opening

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar López, during the visit to the remodeling of Chamartín

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, inspected the new main concourse of the Chamartín-Clara Campoamor station, which opened on 2 June 2026, completing the renovation of this strategic hub for mobility in Spain. Among other milestones, the works have resulted in the doubling of high-speed rail capacity.

In an unprecedented expansion of train and passenger capacity, Chamartín station has adapted to the significant increase in rail traffic in recent years resulting from the commissioning of new high-speed lines and the liberalisation of the rail market. The works have involved an investment of €560 million and were carried out while maintaining service at all times, requiring an unprecedented technical and planning effort.

The new main concourse has 18,000 square metres distributed among common areas and dedicated spaces for commuter and high-speed rail users, as well as commercial and restaurant areas. With this addition, Chamartín-Clara Campoamor now offers users nearly 27,000 square metres distributed across two concourses, the Main Concourse and the underground Central Concourse, and an underpass that facilitates passenger flow.

In recent years, the station has doubled the number of high-speed rail tracks: from six to the current 12, which also have departures in both directions. In total, Chamartín station has 25 through tracks with exits to the north and south: 12 for high-speed rail and 13 for Iberian gauge, in addition to four auxiliary tracks at the northern end for parking and shunting.

At the start of construction, there were 21 tracks: 15 Iberian gauge tracks for commuter and medium- and long-distance conventional rail services, and 6 high-speed terminal tracks (without continuation to the south). The concourse was just over 4,000 m² and the connection between the commuter rail platforms was via a narrow underground passage.

With these improvements, Chamartín-Clara Campoamor station is responding to the increase in rail and passenger traffic in recent years. In 2025, the station recorded a record 46.2 million passengers, compared to 44.4 million the previous year.

Similarly, in 2022, when construction began on four new high-speed rail lines, passenger numbers were below 30 million (29.9 million), while in 2023, with the main concourse renovations underway, they reached 36.2 million.

The works have also optimised passenger flows both entering and exiting the station, with simple and fully accessible routes. Furthermore, intermodality has been enhanced with a direct connection to the Metro, a taxi rank, a new bus bay, private hire vehicle services and parking facilities.

At the same time, access has been improved, separating urban traffic from internal station traffic, thus freeing up space and reorganising the roadways. The lighting has also been improved.

Additionally, other complementary works have been carried out, such as the construction of a new technical building for high-speed rail facilities at the northern end, a new building for catering services, and underpasses for utilities and evacuation.

Likewise, the foundations and piles for the track covering on the eastern side of the southern end have been completed. These will support the future covering of the track area as part of the Madrid Nuevo Norte urban regeneration project.

Chamartín station was built in the 1970s. Since then, it has transformed from a peripheral station into a strategic mobility hub for both commuter and high-speed rail services. The renovation of Chamartín - Clara Campoamor has made it a more modern, spacious, comfortable and accessible station, ready to meet the needs of the public and the new challenges of rail transport.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar López, visit the works of the new Chamartín station concourse

Expansion of main concourse

Adif AV has significantly increased the size of the passenger building, from approximately 4,000 m² to around 18,000 m², thanks to the extension of the old concourse to the east and north over the tracks.

The new concourse is organised into three distinct areas: one for high-speed rail passengers, another for commuter rail users, and a common concourse in the form of a large longitudinal corridor 18 metres wide-three times the original width-and 225 meters long. This central concourse serves as the heart of the station and the main thoroughfare, with shops on one side and boarding and waiting areas on the other.

The passenger building has regained its main entrance facing the plaza, covered by a large vaulted roof of laminated and tempered glass to protect users from the elements. In total, it has four entrances of varying sizes, in addition to three emergency exits.

In the high-speed train waiting and boarding area, passengers now have a spacious, open-plan area (with a maximum height of 9.43 metres) and plenty of natural light, entering from various points.

This area also features a second level with several lounges. Access to the high-speed tracks is quick and easy thanks to six 40-metre-long and 10-metre-wide finger piers, each equipped with two covered escalators that overcome a difference in elevation of approximately six metres with the tracks. The vertical access points to the platforms are complemented by lifts and fixed staircases clad in granite.

For the first time, the main building in the commuter rail area will feature an access control system based on turnstiles. The expansion of the concourse in this area was achieved by relocating the vertical access points (escalators and lifts) to the north, creating a new 1,300 m² covered glass walkway on the upper level with views of the tracks, providing access to the platforms. For greater user convenience, the new lobby features seating, vending machines, toilet facilities, electronic device charging stations, traveller information and ticket offices, as well as various shops and restaurants.

For greater user convenience, the new lobby features seating, vending machines, toilet facilities, electronic device charging stations, traveller information and ticket offices, as well as various shops and restaurants. Additionally, an advanced passenger information system has been deployed, using variable message signs and 65" LED screens with a new graphical interface, which provide information on train arrivals and departures.

To improve accessibility, the Acerca service for people with disabilities or reduced mobility has been strengthened, with a new 167 m2 office and six service points have been set up for passengers with hearing difficulties.

The concourse also incorporates energy-efficient solutions: all lighting is LED, with a control system that automatically adapts the lighting level to operating conditions and the amount of natural light from outside, and a photovoltaic system has been installed on the roof for self-consumption of energy.

Doubling of high-speed tracks and new underpass

In order to increase the number of high-speed tracks from 6 terminal tracks to 12 through tracks, Adif AV has had to undertake various actions. The first step was the conversion of tracks 14 and 15 from Iberian gauge to standard gauge and their integration into the high-speed sector of the station. To achieve this, among other actions, it was necessary to install the new tracks, their electrification and all the railway infrastructure specific to high-speed rail, as well as raise platform 9 and extend the platform canopy by approximately 60 meters.

At the same time, Adif AV constructed four new through-track high-speed lines and two platforms to serve them at the eastern end of the railway complex, beneath the expanded concourse. These platforms, protected by canopies, are wider and 420 metres long, allowing for the simultaneous parking of several trains.

In total, four kilometres of new track were laid, along with the corresponding electrification, 18 track switches (devices that allow switching from one track to another), and the associated control, command and signalling systems.

Furthermore, Adif AV built an underpass beneath the high-speed tracks, 177 metres long and 9 metres wide, designed to facilitate a quick and convenient exit for passengers. It is connected to all high-speed rail platforms by lifts, escalators and stairs.

Thus, upon arrival, passengers descend directly from their platform to the underpass and exit easily and accessibly from either side of Chamartín station: to the east to Calle Hiedra and the taxi rank, and to the west to the underground concourse connecting to the Cercanías commuter rail network. From the concourse, passengers can also access the Metro, Calle Agustín de Foxá, private hire vehicle services, car rental agencies and the station's P2 car park.

Cercanías: track improvements and underground concourse renovation. The renovation of Chamartín-Clara Campoamor station has paid particular attention to the Cercanías commuter rail area. To improve service, the 13 Iberian-gauge tracks have been remodelled and their platforms upgraded. In addition, new track switches have been installed, the signalling systems have been modernised and the interlocking system that controls the station from the Traffic Regulation Centre (CRC) has been updated.

All of this allows for increased speeds for commuter trains through the station, greater operational flexibility and a faster response to any incidents.

The first major milestone in the renovation of Chamartín station was the restoration of the old commuter rail concourse beneath the tracks at the northern end of the line-closed in the 1980s-which was transformed into a large, approximately 2,800 m² space with direct and accessible connections (escalators and lifts) to all platforms between tracks 1 and 13 of the station. These platforms serve the Iberian-gauge commuter, regional and long-distance trains. A direct connection via turnstiles also links to the Madrid Metro.

Furthermore, this concourse connects to the underpass for high-speed rail passengers, linking high-speed rail with the commuter and metro networks and thus strengthening multimodality at the station.

New features in passenger information

In addition to these structural renovations, the station has implemented an advanced passenger information system, using variable message signs and 65" LED screens with a new graphical interface, which provide information on the arrival and departure of both High-Speed and Commuter and Medium-Distance trains.

This allows passengers to have advance access to details such as their train's departure platform, helping them plan their journeys and optimise passenger flow in the concourse.

This information can also be accessed through the Adif app, which can be accessed directly via a QR code on the station screens, making the user experience even simpler.

Further developments

The renovation of Chamartín-Clara Campoamor doesn't end here. Currently, the landscaping of the station access area, the reorganisation of the plaza and the reorganisation of the surrounding roads are being finalised. Furthermore, work is underway on the construction of four new sidings for high-speed trains at the northern end of the station, allowing it to adapt to future traffic needs, providing greater parking capacity and greater flexibility in rail operations.

The future sidings 1 and 2 will be 200 metres long and will allow for the parking of single-unit trains, while sidings 3 and 4 will be 216 metres long, allowing for the parking of double-unit Avant-type trains.

Progress is also being made on another key project for the station's development: the high-speed rail connection to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.

These expansion, renovation and improvement projects at Chamartín are being carried out prior to and independently of the comprehensive transformation that will be undertaken in the future at the station and its surroundings, within the framework of the Chamartín Open Ecosystem project, which is currently being drafted.

All of these projects contribute to achieving SDG 9 (develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure). 11 (access to safe, accessible and sustainable transport systems), 8 (contribution to economic growth and employment), and 7 (energy efficiency).

European funds

The expansion works at Madrid Chamartín Clara Campoamor station, as well as the drafting of the construction project and the modification of the safety systems, ERTMS, communications and power systems in the high-speed rail area, are funded by the European Union through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Facility. Funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU.

Non official translation