As of May 2 and throughout the summer, there will be interruptions in the circulation of trains on the Cascais Line at night and on weekends. Works will be conciliated with the NOS Alive days and major concerts at Passeio Marítimo de Algés.
Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) is going to start first phase of the modernization of the Cascais Line track and catenarywhich will require cuts in the circulation of trains between Cais do Sodré and Algés at night and on weekends for four and a half months.
Thus, as of Tuesday, May 2nd, CP trains on the Cascais Line will not be able to circulate on the mentioned section during the following periods:
- from Monday to Fridaybetween the 23 and 5 hours;
- from saturday to sundaybetween the 7:50 pm and 9:50 am;
- from sunday to mondaybetween the 7:50pm and 4:50am.
Replacement buses
"Infraestruturas de Portugal has been working closely with the railway operator CP, with the local authorities involved, namely Lisbon, Oeiras and Cascais and several interested local entities"IP says in a press release.
"In order to minimize the negative impacts arising from this constraint, and during the periods of interruption of rail service mentioned, alternative road transport will be made available to CP customers, which will ensure that the population will be able to maintain transport." In other words, between Cais do Sodré and Algés there will be no trains at the end of the night and early morning from Monday to Friday, and from the end of the day on weekends. As alternatives, there will be the usual Carris and Carris Metropolitana services, but also specific buses provided by CP.
| Station | Stopping place |
|---|---|
| Cais do Sodré | Duque da Terceira Square (in front of Fiori Gelateria) |
| Santos | Av. 24 de Julho (Cais do Sodré direction: on Carris stop at the station exit; Algés direction: on Carris stop (sidewalk opposite the station) |
| Alcantara-Mar | Av. da Índia (Cais do Sodré direction: at the Carris stop outside the station building; Algés direction: at the Carris stop, in front of CUF Tejo Hospital) |
| Bethlehem | Av. da Índia (Cais do Sodré direction: Carris stop at the exit of the station; Algés direction: Carris Metropolitana stop, near Jardim Afonso Albuquerque) |
| Algés | Largo da Estação de Algés (bus terminal, next to Av. Marginal) |
The replacement buses at CP's service will be identified as such and, according to the company, the "travel times may vary depending on traffic conditions"where "only bus connection to the last train of the night is guaranteed". The replacement road service has access ramps for people with reduced mobilityThe transportation of bicycles is not allowed, and the transportation of small pets is allowed. "if the animal travels packaged in an appropriate container that can be carried as a carry-on".
NOS Alive and concerts outside the cuts
In this first phase, the works to be executed are "related to the opening of catenary massifs"IP reports. "They will start at kilometer 2.850 in the direction Lisbon-Cascais and the following activities will start to be developed: prospection of cables in the area of opening of catenary masses (BILCS); baldeamento of cables; ballast activation; removal and replacement of fences, excavation of catenary masses, concreting of catenary masses, preparation of track works."
The works will last four and a half monthsand should be concluded by mid-September. Despite being carried out at times of less demand, the work will affect the operation of the Cascais Line in one of the busiest periods, the summer. Even so, there will be exceptions in the interruptions of train circulation on the days of the NOS Alive festival and other major events at Passeio Marítimo de Algés.
This means that from July 6 to 8, for example, there will be trains all night long, at the usual time, due to NOS Alive. Also on June 6, 12, 13 and 23 there will be no interruptions (there are concerts by The Weeknd, Maroon 5 and Mötley Crüe + Def Leppard in Algés). The same on July 18, Harry Styles' day. Also between June 28 and August 7, and on September 17, normal train services are planned.
The modernization of the Cascais Line will enable this line to be equipped with the electrification system of the remaining national railway network, which will allow other trains to circulate on this axis and also, in the future, to connect the Cascais Line to the Cintura Line in Alcântara. Thus, the electrification of the Cascais Line will go from 1.5 kV in direct current to 25 kV in alternating current, which requires the complete replacement of the existing overhead line between the stations of Cais do Sodré (inclusive) and Cascais (exclusive, because the migration has already been done in this station).
In addition, this modernization will involve improvements to stations and halts, the installation of new deviations in existing tracks (Santos, Belém and Santo Amaro), the construction of an Electric Traction Substation (SST) in Sete Rios to power the line, the installation of a new signaling and speed control system, the implementation of public information panels in all stations, etc.
"The integral modernization of the Cascais Line is of great importance, which, together with the acquisition of new trains for the suburban services that CP is promoting, will substantially reinforce and improve the quality of the public rail transport offer, boosting the growth in demand by the populations of the Lisbon metropolitan area served by the Cascais Line"recalls the IP.
15E with streetcars between Cais do Sodré and Algés
As of May 2nd, Carris promises improve the service of 15E, the only articulated tramway line in the city of Lisbon and which connects Praça da Figueira to Algés. In recent months, due to increased demand for this line and the limited availability of articulated streetcars, the company has been reinforcing the 15E with buses. Now, it intends to simplify the service that is offered on streetcars and that which is done on buses. Thus:
- between Cais do Sodré and Algés, the 15E will be assured by streetcars, mainly articulated;
- between Praça da Figueira and Belém, the service will be done by buses.
Passengers will be able to make transfers without any impediment between streetcar and bus mode on this line, informs Carris. According to the company, this change is intended to be a "improved accessibility and customer service, considering the existing works and disturbances in the downtown area"but points out that due to these circulation constraints, "the published timetables may be compromised, both at departures from terminals and at passage at the line stops".
Carris' Line 15E, in electric mode, may be a good alternative to the train between Cais do Sodré and Algés, when the Cascais Line is not operational in that section.
