Some decades ago, Atocha became a point of reference in Madrid. This was due not only to its roundabout but also to its railway station. At present, both places are always busy and crowded. Throughout the years, this area has undergone countless remodellings until it has become what it is nowadays. In the blog of Estate One we think it is worthwhile to take A Walk into the Past in order to see how this area has developed. Currently, it is a key site for everybody who comes to Madrid. In the blog of Estate One some weeks ago we have seen what Puerta del Sol was like; today we are going to talk about Atocha.

HOW A SMALL STATION BECAME A LARGE RAILWAY STATION

When we talk about Atocha, what always comes to mind is the railway station. However, there is also a roundabout and a street with the same name.

Atocha Railway Station is one of the most important in Madrid. It was inaugurated in 1851, and it was just a simple building which was named Embarcadero de Atocha.

The train ride had only one return journey which was Madrid-Aranjuez. Nevertheless, only the Royal family could use it. Some years later, the size of the station was extended, due to the fact that travelling by train became more and more popular. Important building work took place even though the 1864 fire damaged much of its framework. Finally, in 1892 it was finished and inaugurated with the name Estación del Mediodía.

A FAST GROWING RAILWAY STATION

Madrid is a lively and dynamic city which grows day by day. Therefore, Estación del Mediodía needed constant remodelling in order to adapt to new times.

As the years went by, it changed its name to Estación de Atocha. At the beginning of the 1920´s the station was connected to the underground Line 1.

In the 50´s it was electrified and in the 60´s a complicated traffic interchange (scalextric), was built in Glorieta de Atocha with a length of more than one kilometre. This changed the physiognomy of the roundabout completely.

Suburban trains linked the city of Madrid to the outskirts. This led to the creation of Estación de Cercanías. At the end of the 80´s the trains of the railway station connected with the new underground stations. The final remodelling was finished in 1992.

At that time, Estación Puerta de Atocha not only had the high-speed train but also an immense hall with a magnificent tropical garden inside.

DID YOU KNOW?

Alberto de Palacio, who was the assistant of Gustave Eiffel, supervised the building work when its construction started in 1890. Do you see similarities between the framework of the station and the famous tower in Paris?

Old pictures: Madrid Antiguo