Madrid Metro's Line 6, known as the "Circular" line, is preparing for a technological leap that will eliminate the need for train operators by 2027. To facilitate the transition to full automation, the Spanish operator is redesigning underground security: what once relied on the vigilant eye of a driver in the cabin will now be monitored by an omnipresent digital network.
The project entails the installation of over 400 high-precision cameras along 23.5 kilometers of tracks and across 28 stations. With an estimated investment of 4 million euros, the system aims to eliminate blind spots in critical areas, such as tunnels, ventilation shafts, and emergency exits. The objective is for the technology to detect smoke, obstacles, or unauthorized presence on the tracks with greater agility than human perception.
This continuous surveillance infrastructure forms the bedrock for the Spanish capital's busiest line, which transports approximately 400,000 passengers daily, to operate autonomously with absolute safety. By replacing the operator's eyes with sensors and cameras positioned at short intervals, Madrid is banking on multiplied vigilance, capable of anticipating anomalies even before they become visible to the naked eye.
With information from Xataka.
Source · Xataka
