Railways of Portugal. Railways. Tickets - where to buy and prices
Train schedule, choice of the optimal route, transfers and ticket prices.
Most tourists who come are faced with the problem of moving around the country. The Internet is full of questions: how to get from Lisbon to Porto, Albufeira or Faro?
And here is the station Santa Apolonia it's more convenient to use if you coming from the city center. If you have time, the Military Museum is located opposite the entrance.
Return to search results "Back to the results list" and press the button "new search". Repeat the search by selecting Lisboa – Oriente or Lisboa – Santa Apolonia.
Do you see? Much better without transfers. If desired, you can print out the train schedule and take it with you on your trip. Or, you can buy a train ticket in Portugal directly on the website if you are sure of the date of your trip. Moreover, by purchasing a ticket in advance, you will receive a discount of up to 65% (the earlier you buy, the higher the discount). Tickets go on sale 30 days before the travel date.
note that Schedule may vary on different days of the week.
I want to give you some advice. Difference in comfort and speed of trains AP And IC small. At best, you will gain 30 minutes. The difference in price is more significant - 6 euros. This may not be a lot of money for you, but with it you can dine at an inexpensive establishment or buy a couple of bottles of inexpensive but decent wine. In my opinion, trains Alfa Pendular You should choose if their schedule suits you better.
Attention: You will not be able to travel to all cities without transfers.
But hopefully now you can handle any train route without any problems.
Using the principle described in this article, you can view the train schedule not only from Lisbon, but also from any other cities in Portugal. Create your ideal itinerary and travel with pleasure.
I wish you a pleasant journey. Questions for planning a train trip You can ask in the comments below, I will definitely try to help you.
Railways in Portugal, at that time one of the most backward countries Europe, appeared quite late - in 1856. The first line connected Lisbon and its northeastern suburb of Carregada. By the end of the 1870s, the railway linked the two main cities of Lisbon and Porto, connecting most regions of the country. By the end of the 1880s, railways covered most of the country and connected it with the rest of Europe through Spain - starting in 1887, the Southern Express began running regularly from Paris to Lisbon via Porto. In general, railway construction in Portugal, in comparison with leading European countries, was delayed by a couple of decades and proceeded approximately simultaneously with Russia; almost all existing railway lines in small country were built towards the end of the 1900s.
Even railway electrification in Portugal appeared in 1926, the same year as the USSR. Then a 40-kilometer commuter line was electrified, leading from Lisbon Cais do Sodre station to the west, to seaside resort Cascais.
However, subsequently some stagnation occurred in the national railway transport. Electrification of the country's main intercity lines began only after the Second World War, and it was not until 1966 that the country's main line between Lisbon and Porto was fully electrified; up to the 1960s. Steam traction predominated on the railway.
In the following decades, the development of the national railway network was reduced to gradual modernization of infrastructure and the gradual closure of narrow gauge lines.
With the general decline of rail transport in Western Europe by the early 1990s. almost all long-distance international trains from Portugal were gradually cancelled; the only one international route The train from Lisbon to Madrid remains. At the same time, three railway crossings of the Portuguese-Spanish border continue to operate.
Towards the end of the 1990s. The implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects began, including railway ones - such as the construction of a railway along the 25 April Bridge to connect Lisbon with its southern suburbs across the river. The reason for such large-scale investments in infrastructure was world exhibition Expo 1998, held in Lisbon.
Since 1999 there are high speed trains Alfa Pendular, plying along the main transport corridor parallel to the coast (Faro - Lisbon - Entroncamento - Coimbra - Porto - Braga).
Portugal now has almost 2,800 km of railways, of which 1,351 km (almost half) are electrified.
As you can see, the structure and density of the network approximately corresponds to the settlement structure - most lines are within the largest agglomerations (Porto and Lisbon), and in general along the east coast:
The density of the railway network is about 30 km per 1000 sq. km., which is slightly lower than the European average and approximately corresponds to the indicator of the Moscow region (the highest in Russia).
My acquaintance with Portuguese railways began from the Porto Campanha station:
It is less central and representative than the Sao Bento station, but it is now the main one for the entire Porto agglomeration - intercity trains, including high-speed ones, pass here.
But he, too, was deserted at this early hour:
We moved around the country exclusively by commuter trains(Urbano and Regional classes, there are also Interregional, Intercidades and the aforementioned Alfa Pendular), because with our Eurorailpass this did not require the purchase of tickets.
An Urbano train on the route Porto Campania - Aveiro, following the section of the country's main double-track electrified line Porto - Lisbon (Lihna do Norte, or Northern Line):
Portugal generally pleasantly amazes with its developed and multi-stage system of local railway communication- Urbano trains serve densely populated suburban areas, Regional trains serve the less populated periphery, while they are not more expensive and stop at every stop (analogous to our half-extinct long-distance trains). The frequency of commuter trains is higher than in France and not much less than in Germany, while in price they are closer to Russian ones (although still more expensive, of course).
A big surprise for us was that the Portuguese trains were never late during the one and a half days we used them, unlike the trains of almost all other Western European countries I visited (Italy, France, Great Britain).
Like many things in Portugal, the railways are decorated elegantly and tastefully:
This is an ordinary stop in the Porto suburban area.
And this is the relatively large Aveiro station in the resort town of the same name:
Also typical of Portugal - retro elegance is combined with modern European convenience:
In Aveiro we transferred to the Regional train, which goes to Coimbra station along the same main line Porto - Lisbon.
This is already closer to the electric train in our understanding, the cars are no longer so modern:
The occupancy of trains on the main line is average or high (the photo was taken on a weekend); closer to large cities, passengers sometimes stand.
Arrived at the beautiful central station of ancient Coimbra:
From Coimbra, on another regional train, we made a short journey to Alfarelos, an inconspicuous but junction station:
This station is a hub for the Northern and Western lines (linha do Oeste), the Alfarelos station itself is located on the Northern line, but a connection to the Western line, several kilometers long, departs from it.
The station building is the ugliest I have seen in Portugal:
At many stations in Portugal, elements of locomotive infrastructure remain:
And at many stations, as elsewhere in Western Europe, traces of the decline in rail freight traffic are visible:
At Alfarelos we deviated from the main route of the Northern Line (linha do Norte), and headed towards Lisbon along a shorter, but slower and more scenic route.
The fact is that the coastal lihna do Oeste - single-track, non-electrified - is shorter than the section of the Northern line running to the east. Only regional trains, or rather diesel trains, or more precisely motrices, run along it:
There are already fewer people:
Motrica rides on high speed, very swaying, smells of diesel like in the old Icarus.
The line winds, the area is hilly and sparsely populated by European standards.
Provincial stops:
A couple of hours later we arrived in the medium-sized city of Caldas da Rainha, located closer to Lisbon than to Porto.
This is the most typical Portuguese station.
Typical but elegant concrete water tower:
But only for one stage.
Having passed it, we arrived at a stop at the foot of the picturesque Obidus fortress.
In the evening we boarded another motorcar
And an hour and a half later we reached the Mira Sintra station near the city of Sintra, already in the Lisbon agglomeration.
Here the western line connects with the heavily trafficked double-track Lisbon - Sintra electrified line (linha de Sintra) suburban electric trains Urbano class. The Lisbon suburban area, like Lisbon itself, differs from the rest of the country in being more unkempt and crime-prone - on trains you come across garbage and aggressive companies of black youth, azulejo tiles are almost never found at ordinary stations.
In Lisbon, the Sintra line joins the railway semi-circle passing north of center, there are several large stations with connections to the metro (Entrecampos, Areiro). But they are not the final destination for most trains; trains go to the magnificent Oriente station:
This station was built for the Expo 1998 in Lisbon and is located near the airport on the north-eastern outskirts of the city.
It is located on the main national lihna do Norte, close to the urban railway half-circle adjacent to it.
Oriente Station is the hub for Lisbon and the largest in the country: the routes of most trains in the Lisbon agglomeration (Urbano and Regional) and the main long-distance routes, mainly linked to the Northern Line, intersect here.
The next day we were in Lisbon and its suburbs, and could not miss some of the railway facilities of the Portuguese capital.
Santa Apollonia Station - historically the main Lisbon railroad station, one of the terminus of the Northern line:
Although the station building is new, it is the oldest station in the country: the Cais do Sodre - Cascais line was the first to be built in Portugal.
The line connects not only Lisbon with each other seaside resorts to the west, but also to the western region of the city of Belem, where the most valuable historical attractions of the Portuguese capital are concentrated.
It was also a day off, the queues were huge, our railpasses saved us once again:
We followed the oldest Portuguese railway for about ten kilometers to the suburb of Oeiros.
Around this point, the huge Douro River estuary meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Something like that, thank you for your attention.
Portugal can be proud of its simple and comfortable railway system, which connects remote parts of the country with comfortable and modern trains. As popular as buses and road transport, railways have the advantage of speed.
PORTUGAL RAILWAYS NOW
The Portuguese railway system is located at high level, although it is not very large. The comfort of the trains pleasantly surprises those who use them for the first time to travel around the country. Disabled people will be able to move around Portugal without any problems with all comforts.
Types of trains
Urbano(suburban trains) Has only second class service (tourist). The trains themselves are modern electric trains with climate control and information boards. The ticket is valid for 24 hours and you can take any available seat. Regional(regional) These trains connect nearby cities in the same region, which also only have second class service. The ticket is valid for 24 hours and you can take any available seat. Intercidades(intercity) Trains connecting major cities in Portugal are equipped with everything necessary for traveling in comfort. Cafeteria, air conditioning, toilets. The trains have two classes - tourist and high comfort. The ticket is valid for a specific train, the carriage and seat are indicated. Alfa Pendular(high-speed trains) Comfortable, safe and very fast trains accelerate to 220 km/h. Air conditioning system, cafe, space for oversized luggage, mother and child room, free wi-fi, in first class you can watch TV shows and films. Trains with two classes of service, tickets are valid for a specific train, the carriage and seat are indicated.
WHERE CAN I BUY A TICKET
Cash desk at the station Vending machine at the station ATM Website Comboios de Portugal Current prices and train departure times can also be found at official website Portuguese railway.
STATIONS IN LISBON
HISTORY OF RAILWAYS IN PORTUGAL
Almost until the end of the 19th century, passenger transportation and cargo delivery were carried out mainly by sea routes. In 1844, the Minister of the Interior, António Bernardo da Costa Cabral, decided to add railways to the poor transport system. The first project, which provided for a railway connection between Lisbon and Porto, did not seem interesting to the Portuguese government. He foreshadowed great expenses, and the connection between the two largest cities the country was well established and across the sea. The next idea was much closer to implementation. The railway to Spain seemed very promising, but the difficult political situation suspended any work in this direction.
As a result, it was decided to begin work on creating a railway network that would help develop important areas of the Portuguese economy, for example, connecting the capital with Alentejo, where grain was supplied from. In 1852, the Ministry appeared public works, trade and production. It is engaged in major national projects, which include the development of railways. On October 28, 1856, the inauguration of the railway section between Lisbon and Carregado took place, which became the birthday of the entire railway system in Portugal. The first train consisted of 14 carriages and two locomotives and bore the name of the royal heir - “D. Luis”.
From this moment on, the development of railways became much more active. Already in 1963 the road reached the border with Spain. The development of the northern direction begins. On May 1, 1865, Lisbon Santa Apolonia Station, one of the most important stations in the country, opens. Ten years later the railway enters spanish region Galicia. There were minor difficulties with this, since the Portuguese engineers initially chose a gauge size of 1435 mm, although Spain was already using a gauge of 1668 mm. Therefore, the Portuguese later changed their gauge to the “Iberian” one. In 1891, Lisbon received another famous station - Rossio. Built according to the design of the architect José Luis Monteiro, until 1957 it bore the proud name - Central station(Estação Central). In November 1897, Sud-Express appeared - a railway connection between Lisbon and St. Petersburg.
The course of development of the entire transport system in Portugal changes with the outbreak of the First World War, especially the railway. The shortage of coal leads to the need to heat locomotives with wood, many companies go bankrupt and are absorbed by others. But large companies are coping with the crisis and continue to develop the railway network. In 1926, the Cascais Line was electrified, which gave rise to the emergence of electric trains. Second World War hinders progress even more. Fuel problems are becoming global. Coal, firewood, fuel oil - the government is trying to find the most economical solution. But even after the end of the war, it is not possible to get out of the crisis immediately, although Portugal has an advantage over other European countries, since their railways were not damaged by direct military action.
The Portuguese Railways (Rede Ferroviaria Portuguesa, REFER) is represented by the main passenger rail carrier - (Comboios de Portugal,). The second company (Fertagus) operates the Lisbon - Setúbal line.
Understanding passenger rail transport in Portugal and train classifications is not difficult.
1 - "Urban Lines"- these are urban and suburban (Urbano, Suburbano - U) modern electric trains of Lisbon (Urbanos de Lisboa) and Porto (Urbanos do Porto). From Lisbon, for example, they are good for getting to Sintra Line, Cascais Line, or to the center, to Rossio station. From the city of Porto using these commuter trains you can drive to the city of Guimarães. If you need to travel by train in Lisbon or in the city of Porto, click “Timetables in PDF Format” and download a map of lines and train stops in Lisbon, Porto for your further use on the spot.
2 - "Alfa"PendularandIntercidades« - these are intercity high-speed "Alfa Pendular" (AP), an analogue of Eurostars, which will help you quickly get from the capital to Faro, Coimbra, Porto, Braga, etc. (Faro, Loulé, Tunes, Albufeira, Entecampos, Lisboa Oriente, Santarém, Entroncamento , Pombal, Coimbra B, Aveiro, Espinho, Gaia, Porto Campanha, Braga) or back to Lisbon.
The usual intercity Intercidades (IC), with stops in the same and other significant cities and their connections with Lisbon. Tickets on these trains are valid for a specific train, indicating the carriage number and seat. The difference in ticket price depends on the speed of the train, class of service and quality of service.
3 - "Regional"(R), Interregional(IR) servicesandCoimbraUrbantrains« - these are regional trains and interregional trains running in the regions and following with all stops*. Tickets can be purchased either at the ticket office or from the train conductor. Valid for one day for one trip, without specifying the location. The train always has a very comfortable and clean toilet. The carriages of all trains are equipped with air conditioning, which makes the trip more comfortable. To open the doors, use buttons or the door handle; they close automatically.
For those who want to plan their route around Portugal, or get from the south of the country to the northern region by train, these are the types of trains you will need. You can see the movement directions and stops made by trains on a schematic map by selecting “by clicking on the menu “Train Times” / Timetables in PDF Format” - one of the routes.
4 - "International"« - These are high-speed trains with international connections (Lusitânia Comboio Hotel, Sud Expresso, Celta, InterRail). Such trains will be of interest primarily to those who decide to visit neighboring Spain, others European countries or travel by train to Portugal itself. A schematic map of each route can also be viewed by “clicking” on this type of train.
Trains in Portugal- This is not only a convenient and fast means of transportation around the country, but also enjoying a wonderful view from the window, especially in the northern region of the country. By the way, using the northernmost railway line of Portugal - the Minho line (Linha do Minho) you can conveniently “cross the border” with Spain and comfortably continue your journey to Santiago de Compostelo. We recommend! We also recommend taking a ride on the regional Douro line (Linha do Douro) on a real historical train with a steam locomotive (Comboio Histórico) through the most picturesque corner of the country, Porto - Douro. This is a popular route along the famous wine-growing Douro River (Régua > Tua > Régua). All the details of this historical line can be found on the official website (Comboios de Portugal) or read in our special section. This excursion is in particular demand among tourists, because... has accessible connections to major rail transport and discounts.
ScheduletrainsPortugal(Horários os comboios de Portugal)
Depending on your direction, or creating your own route using the services of the Portuguese railway, you can always find out the train schedule using the Portuguese railway website navigator.
You can choose from results of city, suburban, regional, intercity and high-speed connections on intercity lines.
In the “Timetables and Prices” column, select the departure and arrival stations, date, number of people and “OK”. On the next page, check out the results of the route; train type “service”, departure time, arrival time, prices and additional information “detail”. Keep in mind that if you do not receive a response from the station finder in your request, then enter the departure/arrival station correctly. For example, in the city of Lisbon there are two different railways station; Lisbon Santa Apolonia (Lisboa - Santa Apolónia) and Lisbon Oriente (Lisboa - Gare do Oriente). There are also two railway stations in the city of Porto; Porto Campanhã and Porto São Bento.
Print in advance or download online train schedules for Portugal to your mobile phone. This will help you plan your day's itinerary in Portugal more accurately, locally. You may need to remember a few words of Portuguese when using the trains; Comboio - train, Origem - where from, Destino - where the train is going, Hora - its departure time. Braga, Aveiro, Guimarães, Coimbra.
Tickets and fares
If you are in Lisbon or Porto, then to travel on city and suburban trains (electric trains) you will use universal city cards public transport. Read about this in our special sections “Buy a train ticket in Lisbon” and “Ticket for passenger transport in the city of Porto”.
For intercity traffic, study the schedule and ticket price to finally decide whether you need to travel by train, or whether it is better to use an alternative mode of transport on the chosen route - buses. If you are satisfied with everything, then the next step is to buy a ticket.
Tickets can be purchased from vending machines, ticket offices, directly at the station or central station city, before departure, or better in advance. The ticket sellers are amazingly understanding people, they speak excellent Portuguese, but weak English, while understanding all other languages of the world. You can also book a ticket through the online system. However, there are no discounts on tickets for this type of booking. There are no problems with a lack of free places. Therefore, with the exception of the month of August, there is no point in purchasing an electronic version of the ticket. Don’t worry if there are no tickets available at the time of train departure, be sure to go next or consider an equally convenient and more economical backup option - by bus.
Discounts (up to 50%) in one direction are available only for groups of 4 people. For example, the price of a ticket for 4 passengers traveling on the route Lisbon - O Porto will cost only 15.50 euros per passenger. Lisbon - Faro and Lisbon - Coimbra - 11.50 euros. Discounts are available under special conditions: buy a two-way ticket on the same day - on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
In the usual version on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades, there is no point in buying a first class ticket, the services of which are practically no different from the second.
In regional traffic at provincial stations where there are no ticket offices, a ticket is purchased from the train conductor-controller (Regional. InterRegional). He will definitely come up to you and ask where you are from and where.
On the Lisbon - Setúbal - Lisboa line operated by the Fertagus company, tickets are purchased at the company's ticket offices (Bilheteiras Fertagus) located at the stations or in special machines of blue color(Fertagus). A green “Viva Viagem” card and a blue “Set Colinas” (7 Colinas) card filled using the “Zapping” system also gives the right to travel to Fertagus.
Map of passenger rail services in Portugal