Trindade station

Trindade
Porto Metro station
General information
Location	Porto Portugal
Coordinates	41°09′07″N 8°36′34″W
Line(s)
Platforms	6 side platforms
Tracks	5
Construction
Structure type	At Grade
Accessible	Yes
History
Opened	7 December 2002
Services
Preceding station   Porto Metro   Following station Lapa toward Senhor de Matosinhos   Line A   Bolhão toward Estádio do Dragão Lapa toward Póvoa de Varzim   Line B   Lapa toward ISMAI   Line C   Bolhão toward Campanhã Faria Guimarães toward Hospital São João   Line D   Aliados toward Santo Ovídio Lapa toward Aeroporto   Line E   Terminus Lapa toward Senhora da Hora   Line F   Bolhão toward Fânzeres

Trindade is a station on the Porto Metro system in Porto, Portugal. It is the system's principal interchange station, being the only station served by all lines. It is situated on the site of the former Porto-Trindade railway station, just to the north of City Hall.

History

Before 2001

Main article: Porto-Trindade railway station

The modern metro station was built on the site of the former Trindade railway station. The former station served as the city terminus for a network of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge railways that served the area to the north of the city, including lines stretching as far as Matosinhos, Póvoa de Varzim, Vila Nova de Famalicão and Guimarães. It was opened on 30 October 1938 and was closed on 28 April 2001.

The northern sections of lines A, B, C, E and F of the Porto Metro make use of much of the trackbed of the old 1000mm gauge railway lines, including the reuse of the Lapa Tunnel (formerly known as the Trindade Tunnel), which provided the northern rail approach to the railway station, and now fulfils the same role for the metro station.

Since 2001

After its closure, the former station was demolished and work started on the construction of the new metro station. The station was designed by the renowned Portuguese architect and Pritzker Prize winner Eduardo Souto de Moura, and was completed in 2002.

The section of the metro northwards from Trindade to Senhora da Hora, which follows the route of the former railway, was inaugurated on 7 December 2002 and commercial services started on 1 January 2003. This section was initially just served by line A operating between terminals at Trindade and Senhor de Matosinhos. The new tunnelled route eastwards from Trinidade to Estádio do Dragão was opened on 5 June 2004. Using the same tracks through Trindade, line B started operation on 13 March 2005, line C on 30 July 2005, line E on 27 May 2006, and line F on 2 January 2011.

In 2004, 14.8% of all ticket validations on the network were made at Trindade, down from 23.7% the previous year due to the opening of the Bolhão and Estádio do Dragão stations, but still comfortably the highest.

Meanwhile work was underway to build the separate line D route, which passes through Trindade station at a lower level. Trindade was the main entry point for the tunnel boring machines which excavated the tunnels for Line D in central Porto. This line opened through Trindade on 17 September 2005, with trains initially running between Câmara de Gaia and Pólo Universitário.

Services

Trindade is the only station where Lines A, B, C, E and F (which run as one line within the metropolitan area) intersect with Line D. It is in the centre of Porto and is the busiest station in the system by passenger numbers. On Lines A, B, C, E, and F it is preceded by Bolhão and followed by Lapa, while on Line D it is preceded by Aliados and followed by Faria Guimarães.

Building

The platforms used by lines ABCEF, with the through tracks to the left and terminal track to right

The platforms for the ABCEF line are at ground level under a roof. On this level, there are two through tracks and one terminal track, served by four side platforms. The terminal track, with platforms on either side, is the former terminus for line Bx, which has since moved to Estádio do Dragão. The main station access provides level access to the terminal and eastbound platforms, whilst a low level concourse provides access to the northbound platform.

The platforms used by line D, with the concourse above

The line D platforms are underground, at a lower level than the concourse, from which they are accessed. At this level there are two through tracks, each served by a side platform. The station entrance and lower concourse are often used for fundraising and promotional events.

The station seen from above the entrance to the Lapa Tunnel

In front of the main entrance is a paved trapezoidal plaza, bounded by the Rua de Camões, Rua do Alferes Malheiro and the single story station building. At the northern end of the plaza, a flight of stairs gives access to the roof of the station, which is grassed. On the opposite side of the station, stairs and a lift connect the station, the rooftop and an exit to the Travessa de Alferes Malheiro.

External links

Media related to Trindade metro station (Porto) at Wikimedia Commons