Chamberí station

Chamberí station, which was designed by architect Antonio Palacios, was given a second life after it was closed in 1966 and abandoned for decades. In 1998, the film Barrio by Fernando León de Aranoa put the station back on the map again, and today, its bright, colourful and luminous decor can be enjoyed once more.

Have you ever stopped to think what Madrid Metro was like when it was first opened? Thanks to the Andén 0 project, you can now visit the station and travel back in time to get an idea of what life on the underground was like many years ago.

Visitors can see for themselves that the walls, archways and advertising panels, as well as the furniture and platforms, have all been fully restored. A visit to the 1919 station begins at the ticket booths and continues down to the platform, discovering all of the terminal’s original elements (ceramic advertising panels, period furniture, etc.) while accompanied by audiovisuals with information about the history of the Metro.

The former station makes up part of the first Metro line which opened in Madrid in 1919, along the Cuatro Caminos-Sol section. Palacios opted for a very straightforward, functional design in terms of routes and organisation, with simple finishes.

In December 1960, a refurbishment plan commenced. The aim of the project was to allow for the circulation of six-carriage trains and thus increase the capacity of Line 1. This meant that the length of the platforms had to be extended to avoid a build-up of passengers.

As the platforms at the nearby Bilbao and Iglesia stations were extended, Chamberí—which is located right between the two—ended up being very close to the other terminals. Given the station’s slope and curved shape, it was deemed too complicated to extend its platforms. And so, the Chamberí station was officially closed to the public on 22 May 1966.