The breakthrough between the future Comillas and Madrid Río stations was achieved on Tuesday 9 June, marking a major milestone in the Line 11 extension of Madrid Metro. It is the first TBM breakthrough in the region in two decades.
The Regional Minister for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure, Jorge Rodrigo, attended the operation, which confirms the alignment accuracy achieved from both headings. The bored tunnel passes beneath the M-30 ring road and the Manzanares River, requiring the TBM to operate at increased depth.
Since launch on 26 March, Mayrit has excavated 1,116 m—equivalent to 21% of the total alignment—and installed 656 segmental lining rings. The Herrenknecht-built machine is maintaining an average advance rate of 15 m per day, with peak outputs of up to 30 m.
Station works along the section are now more than 65% complete, while overall project progress stands at around 50%.
This extension represents the first step in transforming Line 11 into a diagonal cross-city corridor linking Cuatro Vientos with Valdebebas. However, the ცენტრ section between Conde de Casal and Mar de Cristal remains fully stalled, with several transport experts calling for a redesign to reinstate the extension towards Chamartín via the Arturo Soria axis.