The architect for the replacement, in a wrought iron renewal style was Alberto de Palacio Elissagne, who collaborated with Gustave Eiffel.

Like the Orsay Museum in Paris, the concourse has been given a new function, that being in the case of Atocha a stunning 4,000 m2 (43,056 sq ft) covered tropical garden.

[3] A modern terminal was also designed by Moneo, and built in adjacent land to serve both the new High Speed trains, regional and local commuter lines.

The main lines end in the new terminal; regional and commuter train platforms are located underground, at the ingress to a rail tunnel extending northward under the Paseo de la Castellana.

[6] The name change, which entailed replacing signage, updating maps and modifying station announcements, took effect on 1 February 2022.

[11][12] On 11 March 2004, packed arriving commuter trains were bombed in a series of coordinated attacks, killing 193 people and wounding 1,800.

Initially inaugurated as the Bosque de los Ausentes (Forest of the Departed)[13] the site was renamed on the first anniversary of the devastating attack.