| Metro Ligero | |
| Imagesize2: | 250px |
| Owner: | Autonomous Government of the Community of Madrid |
| Locale: | Madrid |
| Transit Type: | Light rail/Semi-metro |
| Lines: | 3 |
| Stations: | 37 |
| System Length: | 280NaN0 |
The Metro Ligero (pronounced as /es/; literally "Light Metro", meaning "Light Rail") is a semi-metro system in Madrid, Spain. It has three lines,[1] totaling, and 37 stations.
Line ML-1 opened between Pinar de Chamartín and Las Tablas on 24 May 2007, with and nine stations, five of which are underground. Both termini offer connections to lines of the Madrid Metro. The only above-ground stations are Antonio Saura, Álvarez de Villaamil, Palas de Rey, and Las Tablas. Line ML-1 serves the new neighbourhoods of Sanchinarro and Las Tablas, in the Fuencarral district.
Line ML-2 opened on 27 July 2007, between Colonia Jardín and Estación de Aravaca in the neighbourhood of Aravaca, in the western communities of Boadilla del Monte and Pozuelo de Alarcón. It is long and has 13 stations, three of which are underground. They are Colonia Jardín, Somosaguas Sur, and Avenida de Europa. Line ML-2 also serves the Complutense University of Madrid. As part of the project, provision has been made for a future station at Prado de las Bodegas, which is subject to further development. The station will also provide a connection to the planned Metro Ligero Line ML-4, to Estación de Las Rozas.
Line ML-3 also opened on 27 July 2007, between Colonia Jardín and Puerta de Boadilla, with and 15 stations, two of which are underground. The two are Colonia Jardín and Montepríncipe (which is in an open cut between two separate tunnels). Line ML-3 serves Ciudad de la Imagen, an employment centre with an audiovisual theme, and ends in Boadilla del Monte. The first 50to of track are shared with Line ML-2. As with Line ML-2, Line ML-3 serves the western suburbs of Madrid. Both lines are in a special fare zone designated as "Metro Ligero Oeste". Provision has been made for three additional stations on the line: Retamares Oeste, Ciudad Financiera Este, and Ciudad Financiera Oeste. None of the three are scheduled to open until further development takes place.
The Parla Tram is also known as ML-4.[2]
The three Metro Ligero lines are operated by a fleet of 70 low-floor Alstom Citadis model 302 trams. Unlike the Madrid Metro, trams operate on the right. The trams have a maximum speed of 70km/h and are capable of carrying 200 passengers, 54 seated. They are currently assembled into 30m (100feet) train-sets, but are designed so that they can be expanded to in the future.
The Citadis 302 model as used on the Metro Ligero is similar to those used by the Parla Tram in the southern suburb of Parla. However, those used on the Metro Ligero are painted red and blue, while the trams used in Parla are lime green.
Car 153 was loaned to Buenos Aires starting in 2008 for use on the Tranvía del Este demonstration tram service at Puerto Madero.
In May 2009, six (165-170) were sold to TransAdelaide for use on the Glenelg line in Adelaide, Australia.[3] [4] In December 2017, Adelaide received a further three (150, 154, 155).[5] [6]