The new signaling system will allow, among other advantages, greater safety and frequency in the circulation of trains.
The Blue Line of the Lisbon Metro will be partially cut off between Pontinha and Praça de Espanha stations next Sunday, February 5th. Thus, the following stations will be closed: Carnide, Colégio Militar/Luz, Alto dos Moinhos, Laranjeiras and Jardim Zoológico. This temporary closure is part of a series of planned interventions aimed at replacing the signaling system currently existing on the Blue Line with a new train control system, which will be of the "Communications-Based Train Control" (CBTC) type and is expected to be completed on this line by the end of 2023.
What is this new signaling system?
This new CTBC signaling system is part of the modernization project for the Lisbon Metro and will be extended to the entire network, improving the safety of the train circulation but also the speed and supply. In the current signaling system, the line is divided into blocks and it is monitored in which blocks (parts of the line) each train is in, and a certain number of free blocks are kept between trains. In this system, it is not possible to know exactly where each train is, which implies limitations on the speed and frequency of these trains.
With a CTBC signaling system, it is possible to know exactly where each vehicle is, which will allow "increase the commercial speed and supply of the line, improve the regulation of traffic and, consequently, allow to improve the quality of service provided to the customer"but also to improve the "levels of traffic safety, including in the process of opening passenger doors".
The Lisbon Metro network modernization project foresees an investment of 114.5 million euros in a new CBTC signaling system on the Blue, Green and Yellow Lines, which includes the acquisition of 14 new triple units (41 carriages), and the adaptation of 70 triple units to the new signaling system.
What will be affected
The section between Carnide station and Jardim Zoológico station of the Lisbon Metro Blue Line will be closed on February 5th. The circulation on this line, on that day, will be between Reboleira/Pontinha and Praça de Espanha/Santa Apolónia. Full circulation on the Blue Line will resume as of 6:30 a.m. on Monday, February 6. Note that the circulation of trains on February 4th, Saturday, will be done normally until the network closes at 1am.
A Carris will reinforce the 701, 726, 729, 746, 768 and 58B lines this day 5, which can be used as an alternative.
