Summary:
Rail services have resumed on the Beira Alta line, reconnecting Porto and the Spanish border.
Only two passenger trains per day will operate initially, with full services expected by early 2025.
The modernization project faced delays, starting four years behind schedule.
The project is budgeted at €600 million, with 85% funded by the EU.
The route aims to handle up to 5,700 freight trains annually by 2045.
Rail Services Resume on Beira Alta Line
PORTUGAL: Rail services have officially resumed on a crucial segment of the Beira Alta line in northern Portugal, reconnecting the Porto – Lisboa main line with the Spanish border at Vilar Formoso. The reopening of this 38 km section between Celorico da Beira and Guarda on November 25 is a significant milestone in the ongoing modernization program of the 202 km Pampilhosa – Guarda route.
Limited Initial Service
Initially, there will be only two passenger trains per day on the reopened segment. However, full inter-city services to Vilar Formoso are anticipated to resume by early 2025.
Background on the Modernization Project
The modernization plan, part of the Ferrovia 2020 initiative launched in the mid-2010s, faced delays, starting four years behind schedule. The line was closed for upgrades in April 2022, although the section from Guarda to Vilar Formoso remained operational for freight. The project is budgeted at €600 million, with 85% funded by the EU.
Looking Ahead
The installation of ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) is planned, but it will not go live until at least the end of 2025. In the meantime, legacy signaling will be used for the reopened section. The delays have resulted in over €12 million in compensation payments by Infraestruturas de Portugal to national passenger operator CP and freight operators Medway and Captrain.
One of the project's primary objectives is to increase freight capacity, allowing trains up to 750 meters long, compared to the previous 400 meters. By 2045, the route aims to handle up to 5,700 freight trains annually.
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