The regional government of MADRID has taken the decision to close the essential transport hub of Sol for a total of 16 days during the holiday system to avoid overcrowding and Christmas crushes.
The station, located in the capital’s emblematic Puerta del Sol square, is not only a meeting point for three metro lines, but also an entry point for the Cercanías suburban train network.
In a statement, Madrid Metro said it was suspending service at the station after a request from the municipal police.
Puerta del Sol has recently undergone renovations, which means it was already a complicated space for pedestrians to navigate. The square officially reopened on Saturday, but visitors noted there may have been a late rush. A video shared on social media showed how the square had areas with wet cement, which stuck to people’s shoes and was dragged through the area.
It is also a very popular destination during the Christmas period, and is where massive crowds gather on December 31 to ring in the New Year.
The station began closings on December 2 and they will continue until December 10, as December 6 and 8 are public holidays and many Spaniards will enjoy a week off.
Then the station will close again on December 16, 17, 23, 30 and 31, and then again on January 5 and 7 due to Kings Day.
Closings will take place at different times of the day, mainly between 6pm and 9pm, although New Year’s Eve is from 9pm as well as between 11.30am and 12.30pm earlier in the day.
Madrid’s metro system will also run more trains to cope with increased demand during the festive period.
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