The Madrid regional government is reviewing alternatives for the southern extension of Metro de Madrid’s Line 11 following a negative assessment from the Ministry of Defence on the planned 2.2 km alignment between La Fortuna (Leganés) and Cuatro Vientos.
The ministry, led by Margarita Robles, has rejected the scheme due to its impact on military facilities. The bored tunnel would pass beneath Cuatro Vientos Air Base and necessitate the demolition of certain structures. The project also envisaged a new interchange station linking with Metro Line 10 and Cercanías Madrid Line C-5.
Although much of the alignment remains undisclosed for security reasons, planned land take — 106 m² within the air base, 2,058.94 m² of military grounds, and 2,530.72 m² of agricultural land — indicates a route skirting the runways and crossing a military golf course.
The setback also casts doubt on alternative proposals, including a westward extension towards Las Águilas advocated by local residents.
The Regional Ministry of Transport has extended the design phase by eight months, to February 2027, to assess revised alignments. Officials stress that Defence’s position will be decisive before confirming a final scheme for this infrastructure forming part of the Cuatro Vientos–Valdebebas diagonal corridor.
Neighbourhood groups have used the delay to renew calls for an extension towards Leganés, to which La Fortuna belongs. This option would enable interchange with Metrosur and Cercanías C-5 line, providing a faster connection to Plaza Elíptica and Atocha.