Besides the extensive metro network, Madrid also has a dense network of suburban trains called Cercanías. On some routes a metro-like service is provided, e.g.

- 10-12 trains per hour between Atocha and Chamartín
- 6 trains per hour from Atocha to Alcalá de Henares
- 6 trains per hour on line C-5 between Móstoles-El Soto and Fuenlabrada
- 4 trains per hour between Atocha and Las Rozas via Príncipe Pío

The following lines are currently operated (see map below):

C-1: Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes - Chamartín - Atocha - Alcalá de Henares
- along mainline to Zaragoza and Barcelona, so-called Corredor del Henares.
-every 30 minutes

C-2: Chamartín - Atocha - Guadalajara
- every 30 minutes, overlapping with C-8, C-8a, C-8b.

C-3: Atocha - Aranjuez
- along Spain's second oldest railway line from 1851.
- to be extended north to Chamartín/Airport through second north-south tunnel now under construction.
- every 30 minutes

  C-3a: Pinto - San Martín de la Vega
     - 15.3 km branch opened on 4 April 2002 to serve a new amusement park.
    - every 30 minutes

C-4: Atocha - Parla
- to be extended north to Chamartín/Airport through second north-south tunnel now under construction.
- every 15 minutes

C-5: Móstoles-El Soto - Atocha - Humanes
- running entirely on separate tracks in ATO mode, with trains every few minutes during peak hours and every 10 minutes during normal daytime service (with 8 underground stations).
- The western leg was from Aluche to Móstoles replaced a former narrow-gauge line to Villaviciosa de Odón.
- 1 Aug 2002 - station Las Retamas added.
- Extended from Fuenlabrada to Humanes (6.2km) on 27 Feb 2004.
- 9 June 2004 - station Parque Polvoranca added.
- every 10 minutes (every other trains continues from Fuenlabrada to Humanes)

C-7: Colmenar Viejo - Atocha - Príncipe Pío - Las Rozas - Chamartín - Atocha - Alcalá de Henares
- running through the north-south tunnel twice.
- the underground link from Príncipe Pío to Delicias and on the surface to Atocha (so-called Pasillo Verde) opened in 1996 taking advantage of a former freight link.
- every 30 minutes

C-8: Atocha - Chamartín - Villalba
- every 30 minutes, overlapping with C-2

  C-8a: Atocha - Chamartín - El Escorial
  - hourly service, extended C-8 service

  C-8b: Atocha - Chamartín - Cercedilla
   - hourly service, extended C-8 service

C-9: Cercedilla - Cotos
- actually a mountain railway, metre-gauge, opened in 1923.
- every 60-120 minutes

C-10: Villalba - Príncipe Pío - Atocha - Chamartín (- Tres Cantos)
- every 30 minutes Príncipe Pío - Atocha - Chamartín
- hourly Príncipe Pío - Villalba