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

Porto Campanhã via diveunder to Contumil

[TCE ?] (ERA-E 20C1; ERA-R 40B1 not shown) PT25/3

Since the line from Contumil to Leça do Balio reopened to passengers on 9 February 2025, all services run through from/to stations on the Aviero line. Trains towards Leça do Balio are usually scheduled from high numbered platforms at Porto Campanhã, and any from P6 - P9 may be routed via the diveunder to avoid conflicts. An April 2025 ERG post stated that "the majority" of departures from P9 used the diveunder but which services are booked that way is not known, so reports would be appreciated by the Compilers.

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