History and Development of Palma Metro
The Palma Metro is a light metro system located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. This urban transportation system is managed by the Consorci de Transports de Mallorca, commonly abbreviated as CTM. As of 2025, the Palma Metro encompasses a singular line, the M1, which stretches over a length of 9.9 kilometers (6.2 miles) and encompasses ten stations. It links the city center of Palma with the University of the Balearic Islands, located on the outskirts of the city.
The journey towards establishing the Palma Metro dates back to 2005, when construction for the system commenced. The metro line was fully inaugurated and opened to passengers on April 25, 2007, at a significant cost of 312 million euros. However, operations were prematurely suspended within just five months due to recurrent flooding in the tunnels, posing substantial operational challenges.
In response to the growing demands of urban transportation and to enhance connectivity, the CTM announced the inception of a second line, the M2, in November 2012. This new line was designed to provide service to ten stations, extending from Palma's central areas to Marratxí station. This expansion marked a pivotal step in broadening the transportation network and improving accessibility for commuters in the region. Revenue service for the M2 line commenced on March 13, 2013.
By 2016, the Palma Metro had achieved a commendable milestone, transporting approximately 1.2 million passengers annually, averaging around 3,288 passengers per day. This achievement underscored the metro's role as a critical component of Palma's public transportation infrastructure.