Madrid is one of the most important meters around the world, and it is the fourth network in the number of stations and also the fourth network in the total extension, with a length of 295 km.
With over 115 years and more than 300 stations, the Spanish capital’s metro hides many secrets and curiosity to an annual passenger of 715.2 million.
This will be the metro in the new Madrid after the work in 2025
he Madrid Metro It is one of the most important underground railways in the world: it is the fourth network in a number of stations, behind the New York, Paris, London meters and the fourth network in the extension behind Moscow, London and New York. Currently he has 13 major lines, and three light subway lines and More than 300 stations along a 295 km estimated road. With this size, it is natural that there are still many secrets that escape at 715.2 million annual passengers (according to the numbers of 2024). Today we tell you five of those curiosity that you may not know.
Unforgettable opening
The Madrid Metro opened on October 17, 1919. King Alfonso XIII was a key to its implementationTo the extent that, in thanksgiving, the original name of the company was Metropolitan Alfonso XIII. The monarch has become the main shareholder, with a value of 200 shares in a million Pesita at the time. In exchange for investment, two conditions were created. First, all the materials used to build metro stations in their installation outside the Spanish origin. The second, that the first traveler was the king himself.
When it’s time to start the Madrid metro network, Alfonso XIII came to take the first test in a car that can be visited at ChamartÃn (with free entry before reserves on the page Museosmetromadrid.esThe historical event in the newspapers was reflected at the time. but, The king came out in the picture with his eyes closedSo draw eyes to publish in the press, which led to the comic stamps you have on these lines. The general population was not implemented until October 31, 1919.
The first in the world adopts a measure that saves lives
When the Madrid Metro was opened in 1919, people in other European suburbs were of great importance to work, such as London (1863), Budapest (1896) or Paris (1900). However, when the original metro network was released, she chose the design decision that was a pioneer and provides many lives every year. It turned out that the Spanish capital was The first meter that installed the chain on the ceiling. In addition, it has been 100 % electric since its establishment, as it has had its own centralization that turned into constant tension provided by companies.
Every year there are many people who fall on the roads. Although this still represents a major risk, something serious happens if the train reaches the station, and it can cause injuries due to the fall, at least does not cause electronic that causes death. It turned out that until then, tension cables were in the other capital in the hole, so the fall on the tracks means a deadly electric shock. By a successful decision such as Put the electricity position on the roof, on the vehiclesThose who have the electricity mesh are in contact with all the lives of people who fall from death by electricity. As usual, after they became pioneers in this design, which has become one of the safest people in the world, the rest of the metro networks have been adopted all over the world.
Several ghost stations
The term ghost station is used when a railway station is out of service for multiple reasons, either because its construction has never ended, or because it ended after an active time. In de Madrid metro we can find several examples. The most prominent is Old Chamber stationIt is located in the L1 between the church and Bilbao, which can be seen in the middle of the tunnel if you look good. You can also visit, as it has been converted into a museum and accessible in the Luchana and Santa Engracia street corner The former reserve for entry.
It was designed by architect Antonio Palacius in 1919 One of the eight stations that formed the original network From de Madrid metro, alongside Rios Rosas, Martinez Campus (church roundabout), Bilbao Gelmreta, Cort Hospital, San Luis Reed (Gran Villa) and Soul. Tunnels. Now we can make a visit and return to Madrid from the fifties and sixties of the last century.
In addition to this historic station, Metro De Madrid had another 20 -year -old ghost station, fortunately, ending up using it. In this case, we talk about the station Arroyofresno, on line 7 It is located between Lacoma and Pitis. The reason is that in the event of non -use for two decades since it was built in 1999 it is a surplus of optimism regarding the urban plan of the region. Since a station where there are no buildings, no one had a real motive to use, until it was decided to close them, and although the trains passed through their roads, they did not stop. Finally, after re -offer to recover it from two decades, it was definitely launched on March 23, 2019, when he already has neighbors in the region and operates normally.
Why do you revolve in the opposite direction?
If you look good, the Madrid subway has a process in which its trains revolve on the left. there The common belief that this is due to the influence of the English languageAfter opening in the 1863 of the London metro, or that the engineers were of this nationality. However, it is due to more practical reasons related to the installation in 1919 of the Madrid subway.
At that time, every municipality was responsible for choosing the meaning of blood circulation. In Madrid, it was decided to be done on the left side (in fact, as on English roads). This was in effect even in 1924, the trend of trading was unified at the national level, where he placed itself on the right in Madrid and the rest of the Spain municipality. By de Madrid metro This change was proposed, but finally the original meaning has been preserved Because I did not share trading with other vehicles and the cost of reshaping the network to the new sense of the course, it will be very expensive.
Repeated bone site
With repeated work under the surface, it is not strange to appear during their work. One of the most impressive films was discovered during a re -display Volume. There they met The remains of excavation science for the mysterie. This translated into rebuilding paleoambientes into two vertical sediments. The first has the rebuilding of deer Heteroprox Including current environments and vegetable species, then in the region. The second has representations of some of the species between the remains, such as the bear in Vetro, Bear-Lob, cat, giant arms, rhinoceros, and wild pig.
There is also a strange story related to human bones. Specifically, those in the early twenties in the twenties in Molina Tersu Station. There, the workers found Human remains belong to the former Cemetery of Deir Los AngelesAnd that was overthrown in 1840. Since it was not known for what to do with them, they decided to leave their eternal comfort remaining somewhat identical, so they decided to hunt the bones and hide them between the tiles that decorate the walls of the station, outside the crossing of thousands of users who pass by them without realizing.
