Latest news and stories about public transport in daily life in Portugal for expats and residents.
Glória and Lavra will have to wait, as they are more problematic.
Recent storms affected approximately 280,000 mobile network users in Portugal, with over 99% of outages now resolved, according to the Minister of Infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz. While mobile services have largely been restored, the recovery of the fixed network is expected to take longer. The storms also caused significant damage to road and rail infrastructure, with over 336 national road closures reported, 90% of which have been cleared. The Beira Baixa railway line is expected to remain interrupted for about six months due to the complexity of repairs. In total, over 4,700 workers have been involved in recovery efforts across the country, with Arruda dos Vinhos estimating 20 million euros in road reconstruction costs.
The lack of a successor for Luís Neves as Director-General of the Judiciary Police (PJ) is the main topic in the online edition of Expresso this Tuesday, March 17. It was announced on February 21 that he would replace Maria Lúcia Amaral at the Ministry of Internal Administration, and no one has been appointed to his former position yet, which the newspaper reports is causing 'perplexity' and 'concern' within the PJ. Público reports that the PJ has opened nearly 1,400 investigations into sextortion over the last two years, with the majority of victims being men. Jornal de Notícias writes that home auctions have halved in the last seven years, a decline driven by banks due to a reduction in non-performing loans. Correio da Manhã highlights that five ministers—Labour, Economy, Parliamentary Affairs, Justice, and Defence—are required to disclose their client lists to the Transparency Entity, a consequence of the Constitutional Court rejecting the Prime Minister's appeal regarding Spinumviva. CNN Portugal reports that violent WhatsApp conversations have left the school community in Oeiras concerned, involving threats such as 'You were supposed to bring the guns' and 'I'll bring the knives,' along with photos of teachers taken from Teams shared among dozens of students at Quinta do Marquês Secondary School. Diário de Notícias focuses on public transport prices in Lisbon, which are among the highest relative to income, and notes that the Western Lisbon Local Health Unit (ULS) is requiring Portuguese nationality for recruitment competitions, a practice lawyers claim is illegal. Negócios reports that REN anticipates rising energy bills due to fuel costs, with CEO Rodrigo Costa stating that while Portugal is better prepared for energy shocks than in 2022, the market escalation will likely impact gas and electricity prices.
A recent report reveals that half of Europeans do not utilize public transport, with Portugal exceeding this average, while countries like Luxembourg, Estonia, and Sweden show the highest usage rates.
Infraestruturas de Portugal has announced that the metrobus service in Coimbra is scheduled to extend its operations to Coimbra-B station and Praça da República by mid-August, following strong initial demand.
The Porto Brandão river station, located in the municipality of Almada, which had been closed since February 11 due to road access being blocked by a landslide, resumed operations today, announced Transtejo.
The issue at hand is the allowance for passengers to be transported daily in conditions that are “below European standards” and pose health risks.
The controlled discharge from the Aguieira Dam has raised the Mondego’s level and increased the likelihood of a centennial-level flood in central Coimbra. Several railway links and roads are already affected, with transport disruptions and infrastructure at risk. Local authorities and emergency services are monitoring the river closely, issuing advisories and managing responses; residents and travellers are advised to follow minute-by-minute updates as flood forecasts and dam releases evolve. The situation poses short-term travel, safety and logistical challenges and will require coordinated emergency and transport management if levels continue to rise.
The Lisbon Metro has announced preventive measures in response to forecasted bad weather, which may lead to delays in the opening of the Blue and Green lines on Saturday. These measures include the installation of protective barriers at critical access points and the temporary closure of access to six stations.
The PSD parliamentary group has tabled a bill to amend TVDE rules so that taxis can operate under TVDE, caps on dynamic fares would be removed, vehicles such as tricycles and quadricycles could be used, and passengers could be subject to ratings. The proposal would further blur the regulatory distinction between traditional taxis and app-based ride-hailing, increase fare volatility through unconstrained dynamic pricing, and broaden the fleet types competing on platforms. Key implications include questions over safety, insurance and enforcement for non‑standard vehicles, the effects of passenger ratings on access and fairness, and the need for regulatory safeguards to protect drivers and consumers.
Rail services on the Linha do Norte between Castanheira do Ribatejo and Alverca (Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon) were suspended at about 06:00 due to flooding of the track, CP – Comboios de Portugal confirmed. The suspension affects local commuter links on this section and comes as the declared state of calamity for the area has been extended until 8 February; authorities and the operator are monitoring conditions and assessing restoration timelines.
The privatisation jury for Azores Airlines has recommended rejecting the Atlantic Connect Group's sole admitted bid — an offer of €17 million for 85% of Azores Airlines' share capital — on the grounds that it does not safeguard the interests of SATA and the Azores region. SATA said it is analysing the panel's recommendation.
After Lisbon and Porto urban lines were opened to the possibility of sub‑concession, the mayor of Cascais has proposed that Cascais — together with Oeiras and Lisbon — take over management of the Cascais suburban line and make train journeys within the municipality free for residents, workers and students. The proposal reframes the sub‑concession debate as an opportunity for local control but raises practical questions about funding the revenue shortfall, coordinating services across municipalities, the legal and contractual steps required, and the potential impacts on ridership, local traffic and equity.
Lisbon’s Marquês de Pombal metro station will undergo around four months of maintenance works aimed at improving user conditions and overall upkeep; authorities stress the station will remain open and train services will be uninterrupted. The intervention is presented as routine maintenance with minimal impact on commuters, with operations and timetables maintained throughout the works.
Two people were reportedly stabbed near Trindade metro station in Porto; suspects fled the scene. One man sustained minor injuries and was taken to Santo António Hospital. The incident raises concerns about safety at a major transport hub and is likely to prompt a police investigation and reviews of security and emergency response measures to reassure the public and protect commuters.
Transtejo has suspended vehicle transport for an indefinite period because of Depression Ingrid and adverse forecasts from the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). Passenger services have been restricted to the Porto Brandão–Belém route and are operating to the timetables in force. The measure is expected to disrupt vehicle crossings and related travel plans; no date for resumption has been announced.
Storm Ingrid swept across mainland Portugal, bringing worsening weather that forced the closure of dozens of schools—especially in northern districts—and disrupted transport and public services. This live tracker monitors minute-by-minute developments, reports on emergency services' response, safety advisories for the public, transport interruptions and localised impacts on communities and infrastructure. The page focuses on evolving risks, operational updates from authorities and practical guidance for parents, commuters and vulnerable residents.
Lisbon Metro has opened three central stations overnight to provide emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness amid cold weather. Oriente (Red Line), Rossio (Green Line) and Santa Apolónia (Blue Line) will be accessible from Friday through the early hours of Tuesday at least, a period that the city warns may be extended or shortened depending on ongoing weather assessments. The move — driven by concern from Lisbon City Council — uses transport infrastructure as temporary refuge and highlights the need for coordinated short-term protection and wider services for people sleeping rough during extreme conditions.
Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) and CP have postponed a planned maintenance intervention on the Cascais Line that was due to take place on Sunday, citing adverse weather. As a result, there will be no timetable changes on the section between São Pedro do Estoril and Cascais for that day. The decision prioritises safety and the continuity of services, with the intervention to be rescheduled when conditions allow to minimise disruption to passengers.
Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) will deliver to the Government “in the coming days” a proposed management model for the three Tagus crossings. If approved, the proposal will move to a concession tender covering the two existing bridges and the planned Third Tagus Crossing (TTT), signalling a move towards outsourced management that could affect tolling, maintenance responsibilities and wider transport policy. Key details on timeline, contract structure and public‑private risk allocation remain to be confirmed.
IPMA has issued a red warning after heavy snow affected Porto, Braga and three other districts for several hours. Authorities warn of possible serious traffic disruptions and localized impacts on supplies and services; emergency and transport agencies are being mobilised to maintain safety and restore critical links.
Metro do Porto has announced that the new Pink Line, linking São Bento and Casa da Música, will be operational by March 2027. Company president Emídio Gomes said this despite construction works being completed this year, indicating a multi-month gap between project completion and passenger service commencement. The announcement clarifies the timetable for a key expansion of Porto’s public transport network.
Locating a high-speed rail station in Barreiro should be viewed not as a political concession but as a strategic, evidence-led decision in national spatial planning. A station there would strengthen public transport links across the Tagus, rebalance regional development, integrate the south bank into the Alta Velocidade network and deliver long‑term economic and mobility benefits that align with coherent infrastructure and urban‑planning objectives.
Comboios de Portugal (CP) is weighing changes to a recent rail pass after operators say more than 50,000 monthly users are increasing demand on regional services and Intercidades trains. The operator cites so-called “ghost trips” — journeys that distort load figures — together with roughly 20% of its fleet temporarily sidelined, creating capacity pressure and service disruption. CP is considering adjustments to the pass to better manage demand, reduce distorted ridership patterns and relieve stress on constrained Intercidades services.
