Madrid Metro

LDA Audio Tech has deployed EN 54-certified voice evacuation systems across 17 stations of the Madrid Metro since 2019. The project combines the NEO platform with certified anti-vandal loudspeakers and a software integration that connects LDA systems with the operator’s own management platforms.

The Madrid Metro is the largest metropolitan transport network in Spain and one of the most important in Europe, with over 300 stations across 12 lines and close to 600 million passengers annually. An infrastructure of this scale demands PA/VA systems that meet the most stringent standards: EN 54-16 for control and EN 54-24 for loudspeakers, with guaranteed reliability in real emergency situations.

Since April 2019, LDA and Revenga Ingenieros have worked together on the progressive modernisation of the network’s PA/VA installations. The project covers 17 stations:

Atocha · Avenida de América · Begoña · Casa de Campo · Colombia · Conde de Casal · Cuatro Caminos · Duque de Pastrana · El Casar · Gran Vía · Joaquín Vilumbrales · Menéndez Pelayo · Príncipe de Vergara · Príncipe Pío · Pueblo Nuevo · Sevilla · Tribunal

Installed solution

The core of each station is the LDA NEO-8060 voice evacuation system, the central unit of the NEO range. Amplification power is adapted to the layout and passenger flow of each station through control and amplification extensions: NEO-4500 (4 × 500 W RMS) and NEO-8250 (8 × 250 W).

Thanks to its EN 54-16 certification, NEO helps to comply with the current Spanish regulations on fire safety and voice evacuation systems in public spaces.

Sound coverage in each station combines three loudspeaker models, all EN 54-certified:

• PCM-20TN, 5.25″ anti-vandal column projector, RAL 9006 finish, designed for platforms and high-traffic circulation areas.
• DS-60TN, 5″ surface-mount loudspeaker, for complementary zones.
• CI-225TN, 2 × 4″ IP66 anti-vandal loudspeaker enclosure, for environments with more demanding protection requirements.

Local control is handled via A-1 microphone consoles, with integrated Sennheiser microphone probes for continuous acoustic monitoring. Digital audio distribution relies on ZES-22 converters (4-channel analogue-to-digital audio over Ethernet) and TFL-2 line terminators.

Acoustic design and consultancy

Each station begins with an acoustic consultancy process that includes CAD modelling in EASE software and an on-site measurement day with a detailed technical report. This preliminary step ensures that sound coverage, speech intelligibility (STI) and sound pressure levels meet the operator’s regulatory and operational requirements prior to installation.

Integration with Madrid Metro platforms

One of the defining aspects of the project is the integration developed by Revenga Ingenieros. Their software connects LDA systems with Madrid Metro’s own management and control platforms, enabling centralised supervision, emergency message activation and operational coordination from the operator’s control centres. An integration that turns each installation into a node within a unified safety network.