AIRLINE passengers will be able to reach Madrid’s Barajas airport by rail from the end of 1999. Funding has been agreed for construction of a 4·5 km metro extension to the airport from Mar de Cristal on Line 4, giving a 25min journey time from the airport to Plaza de Colon in the city centre. Stations will be built at the airport terminals and at Barajas Pueblo.
The line will be built in two stages: Mar de Cristal to Recintos Feriales, and from there to the airport. The Spanish government will contribute Pts3bn and the Madrid Autonomous Community Pts1·8bn towards the cost, but the main tranche will be Pts19·2bn from the EU Cohesion Fund. Pts7·2bn will be spent on stage 1 and Pts12bn on stage 2.
H Tenders worth Pts2bn will be let in September for construction of an underground bus station and improved interchange at Avenida de América station on metro Lines 4, 6, 7 and 9 in northeast Madrid. o
