Comboios de Portugal
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Type | Incorporation |
---|---|
Industry | Rail transport |
Founded | 1856 |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Nuno Pinho da Cruz Leite de Freitas, Pedro Miguel Sousa Pereira Guedes Moreira, Ana Maria dos Santos Malhó, Maria Isabel de Magalhães Ribeiro, Pedro Manuel Franco Ribeiro |
Products | Rail Transport (Passenger) |
Revenue | ![]() |
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Owner | Government of Portugal (100%) |
Number of employees | 2,658 (2018)[1] |
Website | www.cp.pt |
![]() Map showing the railway lines in Portugal operated by CP in 2007. Some closures have been held since then. | |
![]() A CP freight train in 2009 | |
Technical | |
---|---|
Track gauge | 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) Iberian gauge and 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge |
CP — Comboios de Portugal, EPE (CP; English: Trains of Portugal) is a state-owned company which operates passenger trains in Portugal. Before June 2009, CP stood for Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses (English: Portuguese Railways) although the company has been using its current designation as a brand name since 2004.
In 2019, CP transported 145 million passengers, 19 million more than in 2018.[2][3]
History
On 28 October 1856, the first railway line was inaugurated in Portugal, between Lisbon and Carregado: the Companhia dos Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses was born. The network was gradually expanded both south of the Tagus and to the north of the country, as well as in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto and to Spain. During the second half of the 20th century, much of CP's rolling stock was built in Portugal by Sorefame - notably carriages with stainless steel bodywork.
Gradually, electrification was put in place for a little less than half the network. In 1975, the company was nationalised, and its name was shortened to CP, A plan to finally connect all the district capitals by a fully electrified double line was to be implemented from 2010. Part of this plan is based on the Swiss Rail 2000 model.[4]
Manuel Antunes Frasquilho served as Chairman of the Board of directors between 1996 and 1997.[5]
The Vouga line is now the only narrow gauge line left in operation.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure of the Portuguese network is managed by Infraestruturas de Portugal, usually abbreviated to IP
Portuguese railway network extent:
- Broad gauge (1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in)): 2,603 km (1,617 mi), 1,351 km (839 mi) electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz AC and 25 km (16 mi) at 1.5 kV DC.
- Narrow gauge (metre gauge) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in): 188 km (117 mi) not electrified.
- The maximum extent of 3,592 km (2,232 mi) was reached in 1949, but in the late 1980s and early 1990s some lines were shortened and some totally closed.
Organisation
CP is split into three divisions:
- CP Longo Curso, long-distance mainline services (Alfa Pendular, Intercidades and International trains).
- CP Regional, regional services (Interregional and Regional).
- CP Urban Services
Services
CP offers the following types of trains:
- International (IN) is the service that connects Portugal with Spain and France. These are the Sud-Express (Lisbon-Hendaye), Lusitânia (Lisbon-Madrid) and Celta (Porto-Vigo). Both Sud Express and Lusitânia are night trains that run under Renfe's Trenhotel (Hotel Train) brand.
- Alfa Pendular (AP) is the fastest service, whose speeds can reach 220 km/h. This service runs from Lisbon to either Porto, Braga or Guimarães (passing through Coimbra, Aveiro and Porto) or between Porto and Faro.
- Intercidades (IC) is a fast long-distance service whose speeds can reach 200 km/h. All IC services (apart from the Beja Shuttle) run from Lisbon to either Porto, Braga, Guimarães, Guarda, Covilhã or Évora (with connection at Casa Branca to Beja), serving the majority of the Portuguese regions. Service to southern Portugal runs to cities including Tunes, Faro, and Albufeira.[6]
- Inter-Regional (IR) is a medium distance service which stops only at the main stations. Runs mainly on the routes Porto-Viana do Castelo-Valença (Minho Line), Porto-Régua-Pocinho (Douro Line), Lisbon-Caldas da Rainha-Leiria-Coimbra (West Line) and Lisbon-Tomar (North Line). Services are operated by the same trains as Regional service.
- Regional (R) is CP's local service, stopping at all stations, out of the Lisbon and Porto suburban areas.
- Urbano (U) is the CP's urban service, in the regions of Lisbon and Porto and in the Coimbra-Figueira da Foz Line.
The network
CP's flagship service, introduced in 1999, is the Alfa Pendular which operates between Braga - Porto - Lisbon - Faro, with a maximum operating speed of 220km/h (138mph) with FIAT/Siemens tilting trains. As of 2006, CP's network reaches most of the country.[7]
CP inaugurated new trains in suburban service in the 1990s for Lisbon's Suburban service, and in 2001 in Porto's Suburban service.
Lines/Routes
The lines are no longer maintained by CP, due to EU regulations, so the infrastructure is now handled by the public company Infraestruturas de Portugal.
Line | Gauge | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Linha do Alentejo | Iberian | current | closed between Beja and Ourique; freight only from Ourique to Funcheira |
Ramal de Alfarelos | Iberian | current | |
Linha do Algarve | Iberian | current | |
Linha da Beira Alta | Iberian | current | |
Linha da Beira Baixa | Iberian | current | |
Ramal de Braga | Iberian | current | |
Ramal de Cáceres | Iberian | former | closed in 2012 |
Linha de Cascais | Iberian | current | |
Linha de Cintura | Iberian | current | |
Corgo line | metre | former | closed in 1990 between Vila Real and Chaves; remaining section closed in 2009 |
Dão line | metre | former | closed in 1989 |
Linha do Douro | Iberian | current | closed in 1988 between Pocinho and Barca d'Alva |
Ramal do Estádio Nacional | Iberian | former | closed in 1979 |
Linha de Évora | Iberian | current | closed in 1990 between Estremoz and Vila Viçosa; closed in 2009 between Évora and Estremoz |
Évora–Elvas high-speed rail line | Iberian | future | |
Ramal da Figueira da Foz | Iberian | former | closed in 2009 |
Guimarães line | metre | former | closed in 1986 between Guimarães and Fafe; closed in 2001 between ISMAI and Trofa; converted to Iberian gauge between Trofa and Guimarães in 2004; converted to Porto Metro between Senhora da Hora and ISMAI in 2005 |
Linha de Guimarães | Iberian | current | |
Linha de Leixões | Iberian | current | freight only |
Linha do Leste | Iberian | current | passenger service restored in 2017[8] |
Lisbon–Porto high-speed rail line | Iberian | future | |
Ramal do Louriçal | Iberian | current | freight only |
Ramal da Lousã | Iberian | former | closed in 2010 for construction of Metro Mondego; work halted due to lack of funds |
Linha da Matinha | Iberian | current | freight only |
Linha do Minho | Iberian | current | closed in 1990 between Valença and Monção |
Ramal de Montemor | Iberian | former | closed in 1989 |
Ramal do Montijo | Iberian | former | closed in 1989 |
Ramal de Mora | Iberian | former | closed in 1990 |
Ramal de Moura | Iberian | former | closed in 1990 |
Linha do Norte | Iberian | current | |
Linha do Oeste | Iberian | current | |
Ramal de Portalegre | Iberian | former | closed in 1990 |
Póvoa line | metre | former | closed in 1995 between Póvoa de Varzim and Famalicão; converted to Porto Metro between Porto and Póvoa de Varzim between 2002 and 2006 |
Porto-Vigo high-speed rail line | Iberian | future | |
Ramal Neves Corvo | Iberian | current | freight only |
Sabor line | metre | former | closed in 1988 |
Linha de Sines | Iberian | current | freight only |
Linha de Sintra | Iberian | current | |
Linha do Sul | Iberian | current | |
Tâmega line | metre | former | closed in 1990 between Amarante and Arco de Baúlhe; remaining section closed in 2009; there are efforts to partially reopen the line |
Ramal de Tomar | Iberian | current | |
Tua line | metre | former | closed in 1992 between Mirandela and Bragança; closed in 2008 between Tua and Cachão; Mirandela–Carvalhais section reopened 1995 to 2019 as Metro de Mirandela |
Linha de Vendas Novas | Iberian | current | freight only |
Ramal de Viseu | metre | former | closed in 1990 |
Linha do Vale do Vouga | metre | current | partially closed; last metre gauge line |
Current Rolling Stock
Locomotives
Image | Class (Nickname) | In Service
since |
Numbers | Traction | Gauge | Max Speed | Services | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
In Service | Total | |||||||
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0180 | 1924 | 1 | 2 | Steam | Iberian | Seasonal
Heritage | |
1150 (Sentinel) | 1967 | 4 | 36 | Diesel | Iberian 1668mm | 56km/h | Shunting | |
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1400 (English Electric/EE) | 1967 | 11 | 67 | Diesel | Iberian | 105 km/h | InterRegional
Shunting |
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1550 (MLW) | 1973 | 1 | 20 | Diesel | Iberian | 120 km/h | Rescue
Shunting |
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2600 (Alstom) | 1974 | 5 | 12 | Electric | Iberian | 160 km/h | InterRegional |
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2620 (Alstom) | 1987 | 4 | 9 | Electric | Iberian | 160 km/h | InterRegional |
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5600 | 1993 | 19 | 24 | Electric | Iberian | 220 km/h | InterCidades |
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E200 | 1911 - 1923 | 1 | 6 | Steam | Meter | 50 Km/h | Seasonal
Heritage |
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9000 | 1975 | 1 | 3 | Diesel | Meter | 70 Km/h | Seasonal
Heritage |
Multiple Units
Image | Class | Type | In Service
since |
Built in | Numbers | Traction | Gauge | Max Operational
Speed |
Services | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
In Service | Total | |||||||||
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0350 (Allan) | 1 Car DMU | 2000 | 2000 | 3 | 18 | Diesel | Iberian | 100 km/h | Regional |
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0450 (UDD) | 2 Car DMU | 1998 | 1998 | 19 | 19 | Diesel | Iberian | 120 km/h | Regional
InterRegional |
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592 | 3 Car DMU | 2011 | 1984
(Refurbished in 2001) |
20 | 24 | Diesel | Iberian | 140 km/h | Regional
InterRegional International (Celta) |
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9630 | 2 Car DMU | 1991 | 1991 | 7 | 7 | Diesel | Meter | 90 km/h | Regional |
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2240 | 3 Car EMU | 2004 | 2003 | 55 | 55 | Electric | Iberian | 120 km/h | Urban
Regional InterRegional |
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2300 | 4 Car EMU | 1992 | 1992 | 42 | 42 | Electric | Iberian | 120 km/h | Urban |
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2400 | 4 Car EMU | 1997 | 1997 | 14 | 14 | Electric | Iberian | 120 km/h | Urban |
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3150 | 3 Car EMU | 1998 | 1998 | 13 | 13 | Electric | Iberian | 90 km/h | Urban |
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3250 | 4 Car EMU | 1998 | 1998 | 18 | 21 | Electric | Iberian | 90 km/h | Urban |
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3400 | 4 Car EMU | 2002 | 2002 | 34 | 34 | Electric | Iberian | 140 km/h | Urban |
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3500 | 4 Car 2-floor EMU | 1999 | 1999 | 12 | 12 | Electric | Iberian | 140 km/h | Urban |
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4000 | 6 Car
High Speed EMU |
1999 (Refurbished
in 2017) |
1998 | 9 | 10 | Electric | Iberian | 220 km/h | Alfa Pendular |
Passenger Cars
Image | Name | In Service
since |
Numbers | Gauge | Max Speed | Services | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
In Service | Total | |||||||
Stainless Steel Cars with A/C | ||||||||
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Corail | 1985 | 58 | 58 | Iberian | 200 km/h
(originally 160) |
InterCidades | Modernized over
the years, first used on the now-extinct "Alfa service" |
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Sorefame
Modernizada |
1993-1996 | 45 | 45 | Iberian | 200 km/h | InterCidades | Modernized for
IC services |
Mild Steel Cars with A/C | ||||||||
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Arco | 2021 | 0 | 36 | Iberian | 200 km/h | InterRegional | Purchased
from Renfe in 2020. 4 refurbished cars ready to enter InterRegional service |
9000 | N/A | 0 | 4 | Iberian | 160 km/h | Not in Service | Purchased
from Renfe in 2020 | |
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Gran Confort | N/A | 0 | 5 | Iberian | 160 km/h | Not in Service | Purchased
from Renfe in 2020 |
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Corail | N/A | 0 | 5 | Iberian | 160 km/h | Not in Service | Purchased
from Renfe in 2020 |
Stainless Steel Cars without A/C | ||||||||
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Sorefame
Classic |
1963-1984 | 9 | 74 | Iberian | 140 km/h | Regional
InterRegional |
Most withdrawn
from service or modernized for IC services |
Mild Steel Cars without A/C | ||||||||
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Schindler | 1948–1949 | 17 | 19 | Iberian | 120 km/h | Regional
InterRegional |
Out of service
between 1996 and 2017. Refurbished from 2017 to 2021 |
Napolitanas | 1931 | 1 | 5 | Meter | Seasonal
Heritage |
Used on the
Vouga Historic Steam Train |
CP's 5600 Series (19 units) are responsible for all Intercity services. Four sold and five leased to Medway for freight use. One is here seen on the Linha do Sul, near Alcácer do Sal.
CP's 4000 Series work all Alfa Pendular services. Here on is seen at Entroncamento on the Linha do Norte.
CP's 2240 Series are responsible for Urban (Lisbon's Sado Line and the Coimbra to Figueira da Foz urban service), Regional and Inter-Regional services. Unit 2295 is here seen with a now outdated red color scheme, on the Linha do Norte, near Entroncamento.
Most of Lisbon's suburban trains (except the Cascais Line services), are in the hands of CP's 2300/2400 Series. Two are here seen on the Linha do Norte, near Santa Iria de Azoia .
All Linha de Cascais urban trains are in the hands of CP's 3150/3250 Series.Two are here seen near Cruz Quebrada.
CP's 3400 are responsible for all Porto urban services. One is here seen at São Bento station.
CP's 1900/1930 Series were responsible for passenger (1930 only) and freight (both) services. Several sold to Medway and Ferrocentral (Argentina). All of CP uinits are withdrawn from service.
CP's 4700 Series were the backbone of their freight business. All 25 units were sold to Medway.
Major stations
Lisbon
- Cais do Sodré - for local trains from Lisbon to Cascais. Portugal's busiest interchange station (train/ferry/metro/tram/bus)
- Oriente - for trains to the north and to the Algarve
- Rossio - for local trains to Sintra
- Santa Apolónia - terminus station, for trains to the north and to Spain
Porto
- Campanhã - Porto's main station, including use by Alfa Pendular high speed trains
- São Bento - city centre terminus, for local services, northbound and Douro line trains
Other
Accidents and Incidents
On the 21st of January 2013, two trains crashed on the Portuguese Northern Line in Alfarelos. 25 people were injured and the line was closed for 3 days.
On the 31st of July 2020, an Alfa Pendular Train collided with a track maintenance vehicle at Soure, Portugal. Two people were killed and 43 were injured, three seriously.
See also
- History of rail transport in Portugal
- Iberian gauge
- Narrow gauge railways in Portugal
- National Railway Museum (Portugal)
- Rail transport in Portugal
- High-speed rail in Portugal
References
- ^ a b c d Comboios de Portugal (2018). "Relatório & Contas Consolidado" (PDF) (in Portuguese).
- ^ "A Empresa | CP - Comboios de Portugal".
- ^ "Passageiros e receitas da CP aumentam em 2019". Sol. 2020-03-08. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
- ^ Stohler, Werner. "Modernização do sistema da exploração ferroviária da Região de Coimbra" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ CEEP Portugal - A Regulação dos Preços Como Instrumento de Regulação Pública dos Serviços de Interesse Geral
- ^ See the timetable at www.cp.pt
- ^ "CP route map" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2011.
- ^ "Linha do Leste - Comboios Regionais 5500 e 5501| CP". Archived from the original on 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
External links

- CS1 Portuguese-language sources (pt)
- Articles with short description
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