Madrid's metro moonlights as a delivery service in 'Última Milla' pilots

While the Japanese government is working on a 310-mile automated cargo conveyor to replace 25,000 trucks, with the first stretch to be completed by 2034, the city of Madrid is rethinking existing infrastructure with a similar goal in mind. The Última Milla project, announced last month by regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso, will see packages skip delivery vans and take Madrid's metro instead. The initiative aims to move 5,000 parcels daily from congested streets to the city's underground trains.

The first phase of the pilot, just launched on MetroSur Line 12, has a dedicated train ferrying around 700 packages daily between 7 pm and 8 pm. Four stations will serve as collection points, with Metro employees overseeing the cargo before handoff to courier company GLS Spain for final delivery. The second phase is slated for Q4 2024 and will focus on transporting goods from Madrid's periphery into the city's low-emission zone. Before passenger services commence, an early morning train will take approximately 400 parcels to Embajadores station, where they'll be collected for delivery by bicycle or on foot.

As urban populations continue to grow and e-commerce booms, creative approaches to last-mile logistics like Madrid's Última Milla could provide a blueprint for other cities grappling with traffic jams and air pollution.