Latest news and stories about public transport in travel in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
Portugal's aviation sector is currently grappling with significant operational challenges, leading to widespread flight delays and passenger inconvenience across major airport hubs.
New border control systems are causing significant delays at major Portuguese airports, prompting political scrutiny over resource shortages, particularly in Ponta Delgada.
Biometric data collection at major Portuguese airports has been suspended again due to excessive passenger wait times, with authorities implementing an automatic suspension protocol when queues exceed reference limits.
The government has issued a formal warning to ANA regarding outdated passenger forecasts for the new airport, expressing concerns that the infrastructure will be undersized upon completion.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Government has received the first environmental report for the proposed new Lisbon airport, submitted by ANA – Airports of Portugal. The Ministry of Infrastructure said the next step is delivery of a technical report by 16 July, which will detail the project’s principal environmental impacts and justify the choice of location within the Campo de Tiro de Alcochete perimeter. The final environmental impact study is expected to be submitted to the Portuguese Environment Agency in the third quarter, marking a new phase in the planning and regulatory review of the airport project.
A commentary on the experience of travelling through Portuguese airports, highlighting the common issue of long waiting times.
The suspension is due to construction work on the future circular line.
The Oeste line remains interrupted due to damage caused by the passage of storm Kristin.
Following the derailment of the Glória elevator on September 3rd, the Lisbon City Council immediately suspended the operation of the Bica and Lavra lifts and the Graça funicular for inspection.
Railway services on the Northern Line will face three-hour night-time disruptions between Alverca and Azambuja.
After the detection of odors on board (so-called fume events) on a TAP flight from Lisbon to Frankfurt late Sunday, the plane made an emergency landing in Paris. This Monday, passengers resumed their journey to the German capital. The airline rules out health impacts.
The Airbus A321 was heading towards Frankfurt, Germany.
The captain decided to interrupt the flight and diverted to Orly airport
According to the Oeiras municipality, the overhead pedestrian walkway, promised several years ago by Isaltino Morais to facilitate pedestrian traffic for the NOS Alive festival, will be completed by Sunday morning.
Airports Council International warns that the situation - which was already serious in Lisbon - will worsen in the peak season months
The article discusses the severe congestion at Lisbon Airport, framing it as an 'impossible task' due to a combination of new EU border control requirements, infrastructure limitations, and a significant increase in passenger numbers. It highlights that while the PSP (Public Security Police) is working to manage the flow, the underlying issue is a lack of physical capacity that cannot be solved without a new airport. The text also notes that despite these challenges, the PSP has increased its proactive enforcement, including interceptions and arrests for document fraud and drug trafficking.
Work is expected to be completed by 05:00 on Sunday, at which time the Avenida Marginal and the railway line will be fully reopened to traffic.
Pavement improvement works on the IC19 and CREL require night-time closures. Brisa recommends planning journeys in advance.
The new electronic border system in Portugal has faced queues, with the Public Security Police (PSP) monitoring the situation closely. Superintendent Sérgio Soares explained that when wait times exceed 40 minutes, officers temporarily stop collecting photos and fingerprints to prevent excessive delays, though the system remains active. Similar issues have been reported across several European airports, including in Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands, leading to missed flights. Airlines are not held responsible for these delays, leaving passengers to file complaints with airport authorities or the Civil Aviation Authority.
Traffic on the A9-CREL motorway may face disruptions at the Queluz junction in Sintra from Monday, April 13, to Thursday, between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM, due to road surface repairs. The concessionaire, Brisa, stated that the work will have a localized impact on traffic and advised drivers to plan their journeys in advance and follow temporary signage.
The union guarantees that the conditions have been met to suspend the strike.
The new digital system at national airports continues to cause problems. In recent days, dozens of passengers have missed flights due to failures in the kiosks of the new entry and exit system for the Schengen area, which are unable to handle the high number of users. There are reports of malfunctions and delays at border control, and the PSP confirms that, at times, the collection of biometric data is even being suspended.
The official stressed that departure checks are being carried out safely, following the usual model and complying with established protocols, but without biometric data collection.
