Portuguese National Railway Plan

[Giugiaro]

Yesterday, the Portuguese National Railway Plan board presented the final draft, that'll be voted on in Parliament.

This plan defines the railway network for the next 30 years and should be independent of any political or EU funding cycles.

While the plan has been made for Portuguese consumption (bar some future copy for the EU) there are maps that could give an insight into what's been decided.

Some takeaways from this plan:

• Passenger market share for railways increased from 4,6% to a min. of 20%.
• Freight market share for railways increased from 13% to a min. of 40%.
• All district capitals will be connected by rail.
• All 28 most populous urban centres will be connected by high-performance, high-frequency rail.
• Four high-speed connections with Spain (Valença, Vilar Formoso, Elvas and Vila Real de Santo António).
• Three new commuter networks, based on Braga, Coimbra and Faro.
• International railway corridor between Sines and Badajoz for 1500m long trains.

PowerPoint presentation (in PDF)

Maps and Layouts (in PDF)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Looks very ambitious.
And includes rehabilitating the Douro line from Pocinho to Barca d'Alva?

 

[AlbertBeale]

A couple of questions...

1. Looking at the maps - is the idea of some trains from the Cascais line not continuing to their existing Lisbon terminus, but looping through Lisbon, making use of a line which doesn't currently carry passengers services at all?

2. Any hint of attempts to reinstate international overnight services? Faster connections to Madrid etc are fine for travel within Iberia, but only a direct overnight service to Hendaye again would (re-)enable London-Lisbon journeys within 24 hours. (And indeed Brussels etc etc to Lisbon that quickly.)

Thanks.

 

[Giugiaro]

And includes rehabilitating the Douro line from Pocinho to Barca d'Alva?

Yes and, if everything goes well, it should be achievable by the end of this decade!

1. Looking at the maps - is the idea of some trains from the Cascais line not continuing to their existing Lisbon terminus, but looping through Lisbon, making use of a line which doesn't currently carry passengers services at all?

It proposes a new connection starting from Oeiras and bound for Azambuja, through the current Lisbon Belt Railway, with two connections an hour up to Castanheira do Ribatejo, and two others all the way to Azambuja.

2. Any hint of attempts to reinstate international overnight services? Faster connections to Madrid etc are fine for travel within Iberia, but only a direct overnight service to Hendaye again would (re-)enable London-Lisbon journeys within 24 hours. (And indeed Brussels etc etc to Lisbon that quickly.)

No such mention of night services, although that is something that is entirely the railway operator's responsibility.
The market is also open for other operators, so it's very well possible that an outside player (ÖBB, Midnight Trains...) may take the initiative.

 

[edwin_m]

1. Looking at the maps - is the idea of some trains from the Cascais line not continuing to their existing Lisbon terminus, but looping through Lisbon, making use of a line which doesn't currently carry passengers services at all?

And would need considerable work to be able to do so. It has hand points and would need at least one crossing of a road junction to be converted into a "proper" level crossing. I presume it's only used for stock transfers and maintenance plant, and when it happens I suspect a lot of men with flags are needed!

How much of this is intended to be 1435mm gauge?

 

[52290]

Will the restoration of the Corgo line be narrow gauge? I hope so I'd love to see the 2-4-6-0's back there. But no mention of Miranda do Douro!

 

[the sniper]

What are the chances for reopening Linha do Corgo, Régua to Vila Real, at least? It's on the last map for potential tourist development. Such a shame that bit closed and so recently, seems like it would have been an obvious ideal choice for a British style preserved operation, rather like Pocinho to Torre de Moncorvo on the Linha do Sabor...

Linha do Vouga to be electrified 750v DC by 2030?

I certainly admire the ambition! Though expending the Douro line up to Barca d'Alva would probably be fairly low on my list of priorities.

 

[Giugiaro]

And would need considerable work to be able to do so. It has hand points and would need at least one crossing of a road junction to be converted into a "proper" level crossing. I presume it's only used for stock transfers and maintenance plant, and when it happens I suspect a lot of men with flags are needed!

The plan is to make a proper junction on a graded level. This has been planned since 70 years ago and what we currently have is nothing short of a bodge.

How much of this is intended to be 1435mm gauge?

None of it. Spain has said that they have no intention of extending the 1435mm gauge towards Portugal in the next 30 years, so why bother?
The two existing cargo franchises in Portugal are not worried about the issue. Even considering their existing cross-Pyrenees services.

Will the restoration of the Corgo line be narrow gauge? I hope so I'd love to see the 2-4-6-0's back there. But no mention of Miranda do Douro!

What are the chances for reopening Linha do Corgo, Régua to Vila Real, at least? It's on the last map for potential tourist development.

The issue is under study. It could reopen in metre gauge electrified at 750V DC like it's planned for the Vouga Line, but it's too early to say.
The fact it got mentioned is what surprised me the most!

Linha do Vouga to be electrified 750v DC by 2030?

Not sure if this is meant for 2030 or further down the line. ATM the plan was to convert the existing 7 EDMU's to use Hydrogen instead of Diesel, but I haven't seen any developments in that regard.

I certainly admire the ambition! Though expanding the Douro line up to Barca d'Alva would probably be fairly low on my list of priorities.

That particular detail was voted on by parliament and passed. The issue has been studied by the Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte.
The study was highly in favour of extending and electrifying the line all the way to Barca d'Alva ASAP.

 

[the sniper]

That particular detail was voted on by parliament and passed. The issue has been studied by the Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte.
The study was highly in favour of extending and electrifying the line all the way to Barca d'Alva ASAP.

I can certainly see that electrifying the existing line is highly attractive, but am I missing something regarding Barca d'Alva, I can't see who that extension is intended to serve in any considerable numbers? I'll have to take a look at the translated document tomorrow to see what their reasoning is.

Nevertheless, it's great to hear of Portugal's continuing, renewed enthusiasm for railways. I appreciate your updates as usual, too!

 

[Dave W]

An extra unit or two on the peak trains out of Faro wouldn't go amiss I went at the start of October, travelled to Portimão (€7 a ticket!!!) but the train was properly WEDGED.

 

[duncanp]

Yesterday, the Portuguese National Railway Plan board presented the final draft, that'll be voted on in Parliament.

This plan defines the railway network for the next 30 years and should be independent of any political or EU funding cycles.

All this sounds very good, but a lot can happen in 30 years.

The government could change hands, and there may be a different economic outlook which could cause the government to reassess its spending priorities.

Unless there is a cross party consensus on the plan when it is voted on in parliament, then there is a risk that some parts of the plan may not be implemented.

 

[duesselmartin]

Villa Real der Santo Antonio? There is nothing at all on the Spanish side.

 

[edwin_m]

The plan is to make a proper junction on a graded level. This has been planned since 70 years ago and what we currently have is nothing short of a bodge.

Thanks for the comprehensive replies. That junction sounds pretty ambitious, as it's right underneath a grade-separated road junction where some of the roads are crossed on the flat. I didn't look at that one but I did see the south end of Alcantara Terra where there's a slightly less challenging but still difficult road crossing at the end of the station. If they try to grade-separate this one then they'll end up demolishing most of the station.

Little surprised also to see Sintra as a tourist line in the last map. It gets a lot of tourists on their way to see the palaces, but didn't seem particularly scenic itself.

 

[JonasB]

None of it. Spain has said that they have no intention of extending the 1435mm gauge towards Portugal in the next 30 years, so why bother?
The two existing cargo franchises in Portugal are not worried about the issue. Even considering their existing cross-Pyrenees services.

Isn't that attitude a bit counter productive? I can understand that Spain has no plans for extending the standard gauge lines to Portugal since Portugal (until recently) hasn't really shown any interest in upgrading their rail network.

I understand that the cargo operators are happy about it as it shields them from outside competition, but without standard gauge we can probably forget about night trains to Portugal. There is more low hanging fruit for ÖBB and other operators.

 

[Giugiaro]

The government could change hands, and there may be a different economic outlook which could cause the government to reassess its spending priorities.

Unless there is a cross party consensus on the plan when it is voted on in parliament, then there is a risk that some parts of the plan may not be implemented.

That's why it's a strategic plan. Not an expenditure plan.

The plan outlines the necessities regarding the railway network and its reasoning. This way, "what", "where" and "why" don't need to be discussed every 4 years or less.
It's also going to be voted on in Parliament and given presidential approval.

The only thing left to decide later on is the "when" and "for how much".

 

[37201xoIM]

I can certainly see that electrifying the existing line is highly attractive, but am I missing something regarding Barca d'Alva, I can't see who that extension is intended to serve in any considerable numbers? I'll have to take a look at the translated document tomorrow to see what their reasoning is.

Nevertheless, it's great to hear of Portugal's continuing, renewed enthusiasm for railways. I appreciate your updates as usual, too!

I agree as regards the Douro line.

The report and the business case look, as far as I can tell, only to be talking about transport of locals (a modest amount forecast to decline year-on-year - say 100-200 trips a day, if I read correctly) plus a modest but growing amount of tourist traffic (something like 300-400 a day but with stronger growth prospects). Looks to be a benefit:cost ratio of about 2 on that basis, which I would agree is surprising but perhaps reflects the reasonable costs assumed.

What does surprise me is that, as far as I can tell, there is no mention at all of continuation into Spain. Intuitively my assumption is that extending on to Fuente de San Esteban and then on the existing line to Salamanca would see a more obvious strategic role for the line. Is any such extension on the horizon? It seems not?

NB Anything I say above stands to be corrected: I don't actually speak Portuguese, but think I can get the gist of the document as I'm used to seeing the equivalents in other languages!

Anyway, back on the national rail strategy, I agree with others and can only praise the strategic ambition and underlying philosophy of the national strategy documents - and if only a fraction of it is realised, it will still be good for the country and for the environment, so I wish you every success...

 

[Giugiaro]

Is any such extension on the horizon? It seems not?

CCDR-N did the cost-benefit assessment on the worst-case scenario, where the Spanish won't extend the line beyond the border.

With cost-benefit approval, the Portuguese can reopen the line to the border without Spanish support.

The European Commission studied the whole connection to Spain. With the line reopened to the border, it'll give people on the Spanish side more reasons to demand the reopening of the Douro Line on their side.

 

[37201xoIM]

Thanks, Giugiaro - I can certainly see that logic. Good on yous!

 

[BahrainLad]

I appreciate this is years, even decades away but it seems from Map 9.5 that the "full" AV solution for the Algarve would be a new line south from Beja and then a 'parkway' station somewhere between Faro and Loule. Which makes sense in a practical sense but it does limit the possibility of easy connections from the Western Algarve (i.e. rather than being able to change at Tunes for stations north as you can at present, you'd need to head right into Faro and then out again). Is there any more detail on this available?