Portugal - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the service starting on 15 December 2024. CP's timetable periods nominally coincide with those in the rest of Europe, but in practice timetables are changed on an ad hoc basis, often with little notice.
CP no longer publishes a national railway timetable, so there are no table numbers.
Standard abbreviations are explained here.
Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA-E" refer to the European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball. References prefixed "ERA-R" refer to the European Railway Atlas (Regional Series: Book 1) by M.G. Ball.
Obscure services
Lisboa Santa Apolónia (Bif. Xabregas) — Roma Areeiro (Chelas)
[TCE 693] (ERA-E 21C1; ERA-R 42C2) PT25/1
This south to west curve links Santa Apolónia station with Entrecampos and beyond.
Owing to the complete replacement of train services between Mira Sintra and Torres Vedras by buses because of engineering work, there are no through trains between the Oeste line and Lisboa. The curve is used by three IR trains a day between Santa Apolónia and Mira Sintra. It is not known when the through train service will resume.
Louriçal (Amieira) — Bifurcação de Lares (— Figueira da Foz)
[TCE 693] (ERA-E 20C2; ERA-R 40C2) PT25/2
This south to west curve links the Linha do Oeste with the line to Figueira da Foz. The northbound timing is shown from Louriçal and the southbound timing from Figueira da Foz because Bifurcação de Lares is a "V" shaped station, with separate platforms on the two lines.
| R6457 | 14:20 Caldas da Rainha - 15:39 Louriçal - Figueira da Foz | ||
| R6459 | 17:17 Figueira da Foz - Caldas da Rainha |
Trams
See Portugal - Tram services over obscure routes
Other sparse services
The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) - fewer than four trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run every day of the week:
| Line | Route | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Linha da Beira Alta | Pampilhosa - Guarda - Vilar Formoso (- Fuentes de Oñoro (Spain)) | On 19 April 2022 all trains between Pampilhosa and Guarda were replaced by buses for major engineering work. Two regional trains a day each way run between Guarda and Vilar Formoso. Two regional trains a day each way between Celorico da Beira and Guarda restarted on 25 November 2024. |
| Linha do Minho | Valença - Tui/Guillarei (Spain) | Two Trencelta services per day to/from Vigo. RENFE Regionales trains are still suspended and seem unlikely to resume. |
| Linha do Leste | Entroncamento - Portalegre - Elvas - Badajoz (Spain) | Two regional trains a day each way. |
| Linha do Vouga | Oliveira de Azeméis - Sernada do Vouga | Passenger trains replaced by taxis because of condition of the track. There is no known date for resumption although funding has now been allocated for refurbishment. The line is still used by trains running empty to and from Sernada do Vouga depot. |
| Linha do Oeste | Lisboa - Caldas da Rainha - Figueira da Foz/Coimbra | All trains between Mira Sintra and Torres Vedras replaced by buses for major engineering work. |
Deletions since last edition
| None |
