Line 9 (Madrid Metro)
Line 9 of the Madrid Metro opened on 31 January 1980 between Sainz de Baranda and Pavones. Later it was extended from Avenida de América to Herrera Oria on 3 June 1983, however this section was separate from the original part until the missing fragment from Avenida de América to Sainz de Baranda was opened on 24 February 1986. On 1 December 1998, the line was extended from Pavones to Puerta de Arganda. The stations on this part were marked with unified wall color each, which makes it easier to spot the right destination. As the approach worked it was used in many of the new suburban Madrid stations. However, the color code is not included in the maps yet. On 11 July 2008 Rivas Futura opened between Rivas Urbanizaciones and Rivas Vaciamadrid. On 28 March 2011, the line was extended north from Herrera Oria to Mirasierra. Finally, on 25 March 2015 the line was extended north from Mirasierra to Paco de Lucía. The station was going to be named Costa Brava, but because musician and guitarist Paco de Lucía died in 2014, the Transport Authorities decided to change its name to pay tribute. There is a Cercanías railway station being built here, but has not been opened yet.
Behind Pavones with its old style stone walls one can see Valdebernardo (yellow), Vicálvaro (soft green), San Cipriano (orange) and Puerta de Arganda (pink). This area is known as the Vicálvaro district, and it is common for the outsiders to mistakenly think that Vicálvaro metro station is somehow connected to Vicálvaro railway station which is not true. Vicálvaro railway station is connected instead to Puerta de Arganda stn. The reason is obvious for the locals: Vicálvaro railway is the historical railway for the town of Vicálvaro when it was not yet part of the city of Madrid. Its station is located far from downtown. When the city of Madrid grew and "covered" Vicálvaro it was necessary to extend the Metro line, so Vicálvaro was the name chosen for the old town stop, and Puerta de Arganda (Door of Arganda) for the railway station to give a symbolic legitimisation for the extension of the line.
At Puerta de Arganda, an island platform was built, so passengers who required to use line 9B could do so by just crossing to the other side. Line 9B runs through mostly unpopulated areas connecting the three towns of Rivas, La Poveda and Arganda. The line runs with only two or three car trains at long intervals through very scenic landscape of Spanish desert. Rivas Urbanizaciones and Arganda del Rey are underground stations with large island platforms, and Rivas Futura, Rivas Vaciamadrid and La Poveda are surface stations with side platforms. There are many plans for the future of Line 9. Between Puerta de Arganda and Rivas Urbanizaciones, there are three stations currently planned but without date stated.
Class 5000 and 9000 usually run on Line 9A with occasional class 6000s, and class 6000s usually run on Line 9B.
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