The excavation of the section separating the machine from the future Madrid Río station, in the Arganzuela district, has concluded successfully. The tunnel boring machine, named 'Mayrit', has thus completed the connection with the Comillas area, marking the first convergence of two work fronts in this railway project. The Minister of Housing, Transport, and Infrastructure of the Community of Madrid, Jorge Rodrigo, witnessed the operation, technically known as a 'breakthrough'.
The boring machine began its journey on March 26 from the future Comillas station in Carabanchel, covering over 1.1 kilometers to Madrid Río. The arrival occurred approximately two weeks ahead of the initial schedule. Throughout its journey, the machine demonstrated superior performance, averaging around 15 meters per day, with peaks reaching up to 35 meters on favorable days. This progress is attributed to favorable geology, advanced technology, and improvements in tunnel linings, all without compromising safety.
This milestone is the first of its kind on the Madrid Metro network in two decades. The tunnel boring machine has overcome significant urban obstacles, including the M-30 highway, its interchanges, and the Manzanares River, adapting its complex geometry to respect maximum railway gradients. The ground, primarily clays characteristic of Madrid's subsoil, has facilitated progress without notable incidents.
Following this phase, the 'Mayrit' will remain at Madrid Río for approximately two weeks for maintenance. Afterward, it will continue towards the Palos de la Frontera station, 1,613 meters away, which is the longest section between stations on the new route, with plans to reach it before the end of summer.
The extension of Line 11, between Plaza Elíptica and Conde de Casal, involves a 6.6-kilometer tunnel and five stations. The works, with an investment exceeding 740 million euros, are over 45 percent complete. The Madrid Río station shows an advancement close to 70 percent.
The tunnel boring machine operates 24 hours a day, excavating between 400 and 500 meters per month and installing prefabricated concrete rings. Over 650 rings have already been placed between Comillas and Madrid Río. Approximately 3,500 tons of earth are extracted daily, reused for environmental restoration.
