Comboios de Portugal

Comboios de Portugal

Founded	1951
Headquarters	Lisbon, Portugal
Website	www.cp.pt

CP's Alfa Pendular tilting train at Orient Station in Lisbon.

CP suburban trains at São Bento Station in Oporto.

CP — Comboios de Portugal, EPE (CP; English: Trains of Portugal) is a state-owned company which operates freight and 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.

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 Oporto 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 nationalized and its name was shortened to CP, which used to stand for Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses.

A plan to finally connect all the district capitals by a fully electrified double line will be implemented from 2010. Part of this plan is based on the Swiss Rail 2000 model.

As of 2012, the Portuguese rail system is facing the threat of considerable contraction due to spending cuts by the Portuguese government. The Vouga line is now the only narrow gauge line is left in operation and it is also slated for closure.

Organisation

CP is split into four divisions:

• CP Longo Curso, long-distance mainline services (Alfa Pendular, Intercidades and International trains).
• CP Regional, regional services (Interregional and Regional).
• CP Lisboa, Lisbon's suburban network.
• CP Porto, Porto's suburban network.

The network

CP's flagship service, introduced in 1999, is the Alfa Pendular which operates between Braga - Oporto - Lisbon - Faro, at a top speed of 220 km/h (138 mph) with FIAT/Siemens tilting trains. As of 2006, CP's network reaches most of the country.

CP inaugurated new trains in suburban service in the 1990s.

Lines/Routes

Network map

• Linha da Póvoa (Metro do Porto)
• Linha do Minho
• Ramal de Braga
• Linha de Guimarães
• Linha de Leixões
• Linha do Douro
• Linha do Norte
• Linha do Vale do Vouga
• Linha da Beira Alta
• Ramal da Figueira da Foz
• Ramal da Lousã
• Ramal de Alfarelos
• Linha do Oeste
• Ramal do Louriçal
• Ramal de Tomar
• Linha da Beira Baixa
• Linha do Leste
• Ramal de Cáceres
• Linha de Vendas Novas
• Linha da Matinha
• Linha de Cintura
• Linha de Sintra
• Linha de Cascais
• Linha do Alentejo
• Linha de Évora
• Ramal Neves Corvo
• Linha do Sul
• Linha de Sines
• Linha do Algarve

Former lines

• Linha do Corgo (metre gauge line, closed 2009)
• Linha de Sintra
• Linha do Tâmega (metre gauge line, closed 2009)
• Linha de Torres Vedras
• Linha do Tua (metre gauge line, closed 2009, apart from the Metro de Mirandela)
• Linha Lisboa-Carregado

REFER

Main article: REFER

Rede Ferroviária Nacional (National Railway Network) REFER, EP (EP stands for Empresa Publica, "public enterprise") became the Portuguese rail infrastructure manager in 1997.

Portuguese railway network extent:

• Broad gauge (1,668 mm/5 ft 5 ²⁄₃ in): 2603 km, 1351 km electrified at 25kV 50Hz AC and 25 km at 1.5kV DC.
• Narrow gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in): 188 km not electrified.
• The maximum extent of 3592 km was reached in 1949, but in the late 1980s and early 1990s some lines were shortened and some totally closed.

See also

• History of rail transport in Portugal
• Iberian gauge
• National Railway Museum (Portugal)
• Rail transport in Portugal

External links

• CP Official website
• REFER Official website
• OTLIS - The Consortium of Transport Operators in Lisbon Region
• CP official website: timeline of Portuguese railway history