This initiative, which would primarily impact municipalities like Móstoles, Arroyomolinos, and Navalcarnero, could also benefit residents of Alcorcón by strengthening one of the most utilized railway lines in the southwestern part of the region.
The C-5 is a vital rail connection for Alcorcón residents, with stations such as San José de Valderas and Alcorcón Central linking the municipality to the capital daily. The current proposal aims to extend the line from Móstoles to Navalcarnero, utilizing sections of infrastructure built over a decade ago. According to the Community of Madrid, this action would serve approximately 210,000 residents in the area.
For regular C-5 users in Alcorcón, this extension would enhance the railway corridor's strategic importance and improve connections to the capital without exclusive reliance on private vehicles. The original expansion project between Móstoles and Navalcarnero, awarded in 2009, envisioned a new 14.5-kilometer connection with stops in Arroyomolinos, Xanadú, and Navalcarnero, but construction halted after completing about eight kilometers.
One considered option involves extending the C-5 from Móstoles Central, which would also allow for the tunneling of some existing tracks that currently bisect the city, thereby removing an urban barrier. The plan also includes a station in Arroyomolinos, which lacks direct Cercanías access, and a stop near the Xanadú shopping center.
The final decision now rests with the Ministry of Transport, which must evaluate taking over the infrastructure and integrating it into the Cercanías network. The prospect of completing a project stalled for over fifteen years reopens the discussion on the future of mobility in the southern Community of Madrid and the ongoing role of the C-5 line for thousands of users.
