Madrid Governing Council gave the go-ahead for a series of investments in Metro Madrid for an amount of 40.7 million euros.
Which will permit maintenance of the track and lift infrastructure, carrying out the cleaning of the yards, and modernisation of 12 Series 3000 trains, on Line 5, over the next four years
In first place, 20 million euro will be spent on contracting works for the maintenance of the track infrastructure support and guiding system until 2020, as well as on the implementation of new track supports and geometric corrections, amongst other assignments.
This investment will cover the cost of maintenance of the 800 track appliances (the system that permits the branching and intersection of the different Underground tracks), which are spread around the almost 600 kilometres of the Metro network.
This initial investment of 20 million euro will contribute to remedying possible shortcomings in the track platform, improving safety, and preventing future operating events, thereby upholding the service quality that is now appreciated by Metro users.
Lifts
Furthermore, the Underground will be investing 3,743,352.16 euro on the comprehensive maintenance of the lifts in the network over the next four years. The aim is to maintain the 511 lifts spread over the 301 stations and railyards, besides the 8 lifts installed in other Company buildings and facilities.
In this way, we assure the maintenance of one of the main features that permit the removal of architectural barriers for people with reduced mobility. Metro Madrid is the Underground with the most lifts in the world, only surpassed by Shanghai, but ahead of New York, Paris and London combined.
Train cleanliness and modernisation
In addition, the Governing Council has approved the award of the Metro network yards and Puerta de Arganda coach sheds cleaning service for 11 million euro for a period of 4 years, assuring the comprehensive maintenance of the facilities assigned to the care and safekeeping of the trains.
Lastly, Metro will invest an allocation of 6 million euro on the reconditioning of 12 Series 3000 trains, which have an average of 8 years’ service. The aim is that these should be able to run on Line 5. Their entry into service will contribute to modernisation and lower the number of operating events stemming from the rolling stock on this line.
The reconditioning of the Series 3000 trains will consist of the conversion of these cars from mono voltage to bi-voltage, so that they may run on Metro lines electrified at 600 volts (as is the case of Line 5) in the same conditions of service and comfort as on a 1500 volt line (like Line 3, amongst others). These trains have seats reserved for people with reduced mobility (PMR) as well as an access ramp, video entertainment systems, water mist fire-fighting and video surveillance systems, and increased passenger space.
