Storm damage: Part of the West Line reopens this Monday
Partial service on the West Line resumes this Monday following severe storm damage, though long-term recovery efforts continue.

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Partial service on the West Line resumes this Monday following severe storm damage, though long-term recovery efforts continue.

Infraestruturas de Portugal has announced the partial reopening of the Oeste Line between Caldas da Rainha and Louriçal on March 16 following storm damage repairs, while the Beira Baixa Line will implement partial bus replacement services.
The contrast between the propaganda and the daily lack of rolling stock and qualified workshop personnel is evident. The Oeste and Beira Baixa lines are operating at half capacity with no visible major infrastructure works.

Purchases are only available between April 22 and May 6 on the company's website and app.

The Secretary of State for Mobility acknowledged in parliament that rail constraints between Lisbon and Setúbal are due to a lack of trains, caused by decades of underinvestment. Cristina Pinto Dias stated that the government is seeking compatible rolling stock, likely from Spain, to address the shortage, as purchasing new trains would take up to a decade. Opposition parties criticized the government for operational chaos and overcrowding, while the government maintained that safety standards are being met and ruled out an immediate takeover by the national rail operator, CP, due to existing concession contracts.

A warning to avoid train travel in Portugal, reported by the Canadian edition of Correio da Manhã.

At the end of January, IP also admitted to postponing the operation of electric trains on the Oeste Line until 2028.

The Government met with transport companies “to present a national-scale intermodal pass in the coming months”. The green pass will be available on the Gov.pt portal.

The green rail pass came into effect on 21 October 2024

Civic commissions from the West and Beira Baixa regions are dissatisfied with the alternative road transport provided by CP.

Trains between Lisbon, Évora, and Beja are accumulating hours of delay due to breakdowns and a shortage of rolling stock.

Demand for the Tagus river crossing has grown by 50% since 2018. The administrator admits to the discomfort during peak hours and states that the decision regarding a new fleet lies with the State.

Two and a half months after the storms, there are sections without any repairs. The CPDLO threatens a new demonstration in Lisbon and demands trains as the works progress.

Speed restrictions skyrocketed at Fertagus before the service increase in Setúbal. At the end of 2024, when the company changed its timetables, trains had speed restrictions in seven sections, and the situation worsened in 2025. IP rejects any link to the changes, while the Government and Fertagus have not commented on this specific issue.
EU regulations require operators to provide passengers with live information, but 'civil society' went further than CP.

After five months of construction work, passengers will see the Douro Line fully reopened, with the restoration of the section between Marco de Canaveses and Régua on April 2nd.
CP will use 2240 series electric multiple units while the international Celta train, which connects Porto to Vigo, requires a road transfer in Galicia for one year.

The Alstom factory in Matosinhos, to be built as part of the purchase of 153 trains by CP, will manufacture 81 trainsets for the suburban lines of Cascais, Lisbon, and Porto, with the remaining 72 being manufactured in Barcelona, Lusa reported. According to the amendment to the contract signed between CP, the French multinational Alstom, and...

Overcrowded carriages and constant delays are an everyday scenario for those who use Fertagus trains, which connect Setúbal to Lisbon.
The delays in the inauguration of the electrification of the Algarve line and the delays in high-speed rail are other topics in this episode.

The opening of this section of the Oeste Line will take place on Monday, “following the completion of work to restore circulation conditions, after damage caused by severe weather.”

After confirming to Antena 1 that safety conditions had been met, IP - Infraestruturas de Portugal indicates that trains will partially return to the Oeste Line between Caldas da Rainha and Louriçal on March 16th. The return of service between Mira Sintra - Meleças and Caldas is still without a date, a route that will also be served by buses on Monday.
The Passengers' Committee reports that the situation has worsened since 2025, with daily train delays and operations at very reduced speeds, as well as frequent breakdowns.

An addendum to the contract with the Alstom-DST consortium was signed in Aveiro. Between 2025 and 2031, there will not be a single year without the delivery of new rolling stock.

The Minister of Infrastructure stated this Tuesday that between 2025 and 2031 there will not be a single year at CP without the delivery of new rolling stock. There are almost 200 new units in an investment of 1.8 billion euros, highlighted Miguel Pinto Luz.
CP signed an amendment to the purchase contract with Alstom-DST this Tuesday for the acquisition of 36 additional trainsets for urban service. The new trains will begin arriving in 2029, with the final delivery scheduled for 2031, two years earlier than originally planned. The Government authorised the purchase in October of last year.

A month and a half after storm Kristin, CP still does not have replacement bus services on any of the lines closed due to bad weather.

Home News Portugal makes its largest-ever purchase of trains Portugal makes its largest-ever purchase of trains On 10 March, the Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, said that the Government is making the largest investment in the purchase of trains in Portugal with the acqu
