After an experiment in 2013 with six carriages, the Lisbon Metro began two years ago to change the covering of the seats of its entire fleet to cork. The process was completed only last April.
The Lisbon Metro concluded, last week, the replacement works of the old cloth lining of the seats of its entire fleet. Now all the passenger seats on the operator's trains are lined with the new cork flooring.
It was two years ago, at the beginning of 2020, that the Lisbon Metro started to change the covering of its benches to cork, after in 2013 experimenting with this material on six carriages and about 200 seats. A company says that the new material is "a nationally sourced product, easier to maintain and environmentally friendly".
The new seat and back material, which replaced the previous fabric material, is made of a cork composite, making its texture and natural color more perceptible. According to Metro de Lisboa, the "expected durability of the new cork-covered seats is estimated at 15 years, being longer than that of the previous fabric covering".
"The seats and seat backs have been sized for full strength in daily use, and are, by the properties of the materials chosen, easy to clean."also indicates the transport company. "More ergonomic and sturdier"the new banks seek to offer "better conditions" passengers, while at the same time giving the interior of the carriages "a rejuvenated and modernized look".
This intervention on the Lisbon Metro rolling stock was carried out entirely using the company's internal resources in its workshops. In January 2020the Lisbon Metro planned to renew the benches at the rate of two new triple units (three-car trainsets) per week. As the company has 111 triple units, the transition would take 56 weeks, and should be completed by the end of 2020. The pandemic will have delayed the process.
