| Founded | 1951 |
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| Headquarters | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Website | www.cp.pt |
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.
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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.
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[1].
CP is split into four divisions:
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.[2]
CP inaugurated new trains in suburban service in the 1990s.
Former lines
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:
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