The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, alongside the delegate for Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility, Borja Carabante, has today closed the training course for a new cohort of 59 drivers who will join the city's urban bus network tomorrow. This addition is part of the ongoing efforts by the City Council and EMT Madrid, the public transport operator, to strengthen the growing service demands of the capital.
During the ceremony, Almeida congratulated the new drivers for successfully completing a "challenging selection process" and assured them that "tomorrow marks the beginning of the best journey of your lives." He emphasised the "sense of belonging" that characterises EMT Madrid and reiterated that its primary mission is to "serve the people of Madrid." Furthermore, he highlighted that the professionals of the municipal company are "the backbone of this city" and praised their contribution to a public service that is "one of the most highly valued by the people of Madrid."
With a fleet of over 2,140 buses and a steadily increasing passenger demand (more than 512 million in 2025), the reinforcement of the driving staff, along with the ongoing decarbonisation of the fleet (currently 452 electric buses, representing more than 20% of the total), aligns with the City Council's commitment to promoting public transport and sustainable, healthy, safe, and efficient mobility in Madrid.
The new drivers have completed a four-week programme comprising 140 hours of training designed to prepare them for the demands of their roles. The course included theoretical content and practical training on the operation of the bus network, operational procedures, and safety regulations that must be adhered to during service delivery. The training involved driving practice without passengers and in real traffic conditions to familiarise the future drivers with the situations they will encounter in their daily activities. Additionally, all participants have passed a medical examination prior to their appointment, a necessary requirement to begin their duties.
With this new cohort, EMT Madrid has now incorporated 386 drivers in 2026, five of whom have come from internal mobility processes. The addition of these 59 new professionals will help strengthen the workforce and address the needs of the municipal bus service.
