Passenger trains to return to Leixões branch in Portugal

Lisbon: Infrastructure Portugal (IP), national operator Portuguese Trains (CP) and the municipality of Matosinhos have signed an agreement to reintroduce passenger services on a 10.7km section of the branch serving the port of Leixões within the Porto metropolitan area.

The 18.7km electrified branch from Contumil on the Porto – Valença main line to Leixões has been closed to passenger traffic since May 29 1987, and will now be upgraded over 10.7km to enable passenger services to operate between Porto and Leça do Balio.

Infrastructure manager IP will be responsible for building two new stops at Hospital de São João and Arroteia, and providing an additional platform at São Gemil.

It will also strengthen the formation at Contumil and São Gemil, and undertake other work required for the reintroduction of passenger trains.

CP will operate the new service between Porto and Leça do Balio, which will call at São Gemil and São Mamede de Infesta as well as the new stops. Passenger trains are due to return to the Leixões branch in December.

The municipality of Matosinhos will ensure accessibility and the necessary safety conditions are met for the new stops and the existing stations at São Mamede de Infesta and Leça do Balio.

The Leixões branch serves an area of the Porto metropolitan region that is currently experiencing strong population growth, including parts of the municipalities of Porto, Gondomar, Maia and Matosinhos.

IP says that the new passenger service will make an important contribution to promoting the use of rail, which offers important safety, efficiency and environmental sustainability benefits when compared with the private car.