THE 5·4 km extension of Madrid Metro Line 8 from Campo de las Naciones to Barajas Airport was formally opened on June 14 by the President of the Communidad de Madrid Alberto Ruiz Gallardon. The airport station is directly connected to international terminals T2 and T3, and the Pts18bn extension was 85% funded by the EU cohesion fund.
Later this month the line is due to be extended again to Pueblo de Barajas, which will complete the 1995-99 extension programme that has added over 55 km and 39 stations to the metro network (MR98 p46).
A Mar de Cristal - Nuevos Ministerios extension of Line 8 is under consideration to provide airport users with a fast link to the city centre. Studies are under way to turn the short Line 11 into an orbital link by extending it from Plaza Elíptica on Line 6 to Ciudad Lineal on Line 5 via Palos de la Frontera, Atocha Renfe and S
