Palma plans new subway connection to Son Espases - this is what the route could look like

Subway to Son Espases: A Step Forward for Palma

This is another one of those projects that has been discussed for years — and now momentum seems to be picking up. In Palma, the government announced plans to extend the metro to the Son Espases University Hospital. After discussions with the city, the technical work is expected to commence in the coming months.

Why this matters

For many commuters, patients, and visitors, a direct subway connection would be a real relief. Son Espases is a bit outside the inner ring; those who commute in the mornings from Plaça d'Espanya or from the city center know the traffic jams. An underground connection could noticeably reduce waiting times and parking pressure — and yes, it would also benefit night traffic.

Which routes are conceivable?

The debate now centers mainly on the question: tunnel under the Eixample district or a branch at Son Castelló? Two options are on the table. Option A would be a new tunnel running under the New Town to the hospital. Option B would diverge from the existing tunnel of line M1 in the Son Castelló area and bring it fairly directly to Son Espases.

Technically demanding is this project in any case. The most recent expansion of line M1 to the Parc Bit technology park cost just under 29 million euros — financed almost entirely from European Next Generation funds, plus about nine million from the insular capacity equalization. For the new route, similar or significantly higher amounts can be expected.

How does it fit into the network?

Palma already has several S-Bahn connections (T1, T2, T3) to Manacor, Sa Pobla, and Inca, as well as the metro lines M1 and the seasonal M2. M1 runs from the underground main station at Plaça d'Espanya to Parc Bit, M2 goes into the surrounding area. There is also a planned fourth rail line to Llucmajor via the airport and El Arenal, slated for the early 2030s.

With a branch or tunnel to Son Espases, the network would become denser and more functional. Is that the right priority? Many in the district will gauge the answer by the noise of construction and later by shorter travel times.

What happens now

The government has confirmed cooperation with the city administration; feasibility studies and technical reports now follow. Timelines are still vague — but it is said that preparatory work will begin in months, not years. If all goes smoothly, planners, construction firms, and residents could be talking more in the coming months than in the last ten years.

In short: good prospects for public transport — the details and the bill are still missing.