Line 5 (Madrid Metro)



Line 5 is a rapid transit line in the Madrid Metro system since 5 June 1968. It is the fourth most used line of the Madrid system, transporting 64 million passengers a year. It is 27 kilometers long.

Line 5 also contains the only elevated ground platform in the Madrid Metro, at station. Aluche is also the only station where the metro is above the Cercanías commuter train, which generally runs above ground.

History
Line 5 was opened on 5 June 1968 and originally ran between and, with the Carabanchel station also running with what was then called Line S (for Suburbano).

On 2 March 1970, the line was extended from Callao to, however the section between and Ciudad Lineal originally opened in 1964 as part of Line 2.

In 1976, section of Line S from Carabanchel to was transferred to Line 5 in order to provide an easier transfer to downtown to new railroad line to Alcorcón and Móstoles, now part of Cercanías C-5 line. On 28 May 1980 the line was extended from Ciudad Lineal to.

On the 27 October 1999, was added as an infill station between Aluche and Carabanchel. The station is on the tunnel mouth of the line and is therefore at-grade.

The mostly overground section between Aluche and was transferred to Line 5 after Line 10 was extended south from Casa de Campo on 22 May 2002. On 24 November 2006, a two stop extension from to  was opened.

2017 improvements
Line 5 was closed during the summer of 2017 for renovation. The renovation lasted 62 days and cost an estimated €66.5 million. Among the changes, more than 256,000 m of signaling cables were replaced, along with 42,000 m of fiber optic cable, 68,000 m of lighting, and 18,000 m of radiating cable.

Future
Line 5 is to be extended through the town of Barajas and ultimately connect with Valdebebas railway station, which at the time only serves the Cercanías network.

Rolling stock
Line 5 uses 6-car trains of mainly class 2000B, however there are a few class 2000As running on the line. It was the last line built in a narrow profile and gauge.