Comboios de Portugal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Comboios de Portugal (CP; English: Trains of Portugal) is the name of the state railway company in Portugal. The name was changed from Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses in 2004 following the separation of train and infrastructure ownership, although retaining the "CP" acronym and logo.
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[edit] History
On October 28, 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 Porto and to Spain.
Slowly, electrification was put in place for a little less than half of the network. In 1975, the company was nationalized and its name was shortened to CP, which used to stand for Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses. However, in 2004, the meaning changed to Comboios de Portugal because CP now only operates trains, since the railway infrastructure is maintained by REFER.
A plan to finally connect all the district capitals by a double line, fully electrified will be taking place from 2010. Part of this plan was drawn taking in consideration the Swiss Rail2000 model.
[edit] Organisation
CP is split into six divisions:
- CP Alta Velocidade, the high-speed services.
- CP Longo Curso, long distance mainline services ( Alfa Pendular and Intercidades ).
- CP Regional, regional services ( Interregional and Regional ).
- CP Lisboa, Lisbon's suburban network.
- CP Porto, Porto's suburban network.
- CP Carga, freight.
[edit] The network
CP's top service, introduced in 1999, is the Alfa Pendular which operates between Braga - Porto - 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 route map).
CP inaugurated new trains in suburban service in the 1990s.
[edit] Lines/Routes
- Linha da Póvoa (Metro do Porto)
- Linha do Minho
- Ramal de Braga
- Linha de Guimarães
- Linha de Leixões
- Linha do Douro
- Linha do Tâmega
- Linha do Corgo
- Linha do Tua (through concession withMetro de Mirandela)
- Linha do Norte
- Linha 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 Lisboa-Carregado
- Linha de Sintra
- Linha de Torres Vedras
[edit] REFER
Rede Ferroviária Nacional (National Railway Network) REFER, EP (EP stands for Empresa Publica, "public enterprise") is the Portuguese rail infrastructure manager, since 1997.
Portuguese railway network extent:
- Broad gauge (1668 mm): 2603 km, 1351 km electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz and 25 km at 1.5kV DC.
- narrow gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3⅜ 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.
[edit] External links
- CP Official website
- Refer Official website
- OTLIS - The Consortium of Transport Operators in Lisbon Region
