Madrid is the hub of Europe’s longest high-speed network — 43.8 million AVE passengers in 2025, a record — with Chamartín reopened after a €560-million rebuild that doubled its high-speed tracks, and Metro Line 11 boring toward the airport.
Madrid is the centre of the longest high-speed network in Europe (~4,000 km): Puerta de Atocha–Almudena Grandes handles the south and east (Seville 2h33, Valencia 1h52, Barcelona 2h37, Marseille), Chamartín-Clara Campoamor the north — plus the Trenhotel sleeper to Lisbon. The 2022 interconnector tunnel finally joined the two stations.
Chamartín’s transformation, opened 2 June 2026, is the flagship rail project of the decade: €560 million, the main concourse grown from 4,000 to 18,000 m² (27,000 m² total with the underground hall), high-speed tracks doubled from six to twelve through tracks, a 177-metre passenger underpass — all built with the station fully operational, after a record 46.2-million-passenger 2025.
Underneath, the metro is building its biggest project in years: Line 11’s diagonal. The Plaza Elíptica–Conde de Casal section (6.7 km, five stations including Atocha) passes 45% complete for a 2027 opening — the Mayrit TBM broke through at Madrid Río in June 2026 — and in July 2026 the region approved the €880.5M, 7.2-km northern extension to Valdebebas via IFEMA and Barajas Terminal 4, targeted for 2031. Full line: 33.5 km, 20 stations.
Spain’s rail liberalisation is the traveller’s best friend in Europe: three-plus operators (Renfe AVE/Avlo, Ouigo, Iryo) fighting on the Madrid trunk lines means Barcelona at 2.5 hours from €9 if you book early, Valencia under 2, Seville 2.5. In June 2025 trains beat planes Madrid–Galicia for the first time ever — that is the continental pattern arriving. Practical: Atocha’s tropical-garden trainshed is worth 20 minutes; security screening applies to high-speed platforms, so don’t cut it fine; and transferring Atocha↔Chamartín by Cercanías is free with a long-distance ticket (scan the QR). The 2026–31 watch item is Line 11: when the metro diagonal reaches Atocha and then Barajas T4, Madrid’s rail web closes its last gap.
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