en 
Algarve
developments
The Algarve
railways present conditions are not appreciated by the population. The low
frequency of trains and even the conditions of the locomotives are some of the
reasons that led to the creation of Movimento + Ferrovia.
Developing
the railroad
Cristina
Grilo is the founder and coordinator of Movimento + Ferrovia (MMF) and told The
Portugal News that the group was founded in October 2018 with the aim of
defending and valuing the Algarve railroad. The project includes “technicians
and scholars with industry knowledge and experience.”
If the
Algarve aims to have a “balanced and sustainable development”, to match the
level of development of other Portuguese regions, the founder of the MMF says
that the investment must be made “in the realisation of this very important
dehydrate for mobility and transport.”
The MMF
states that the electrification of the Algarve Line is one of the most
important points to consider, however it is not the only problem. The
modernisation of the Algarve line and train fleet would also need some
adjustments.
Changes
to be made
Cristina Grilo mentions that “lighter trains, adapted to suburban transport” should be purchased, as well as increasing the frequency of trains running, increasing the crossing points along the route. In the opinion of the founder of the MMF, new stations should be opened, “increasing the proximity of access to the populations.” The intermodality of the stations should also be considered, such as, building car parks, “including cycling”, close to the stations. Intermodality would also be achieved if municipalities adapted public road transport, in a route between the stations and the final destination.
For
example, the Alcantarilha - Praia de Armação de Pêra stop, despite its name, is
located five kilometres away from Alcantarilha and over eight kilometres from
Armação de Pêra. However, as there is no public transport to facilitate the population's
arrival at their final destination, personal road transport ends up being the
most used.
Work
done
To date,
the MMF has already prepared a “Strategy Proposal for the Algarve Railway 2050”
and, according to Cristina Grilo, they have already contacted practically all
the municipalities served by the Algarve Line and responsible for entities such
as AMAL. The ministers and secretaries of State, responsible for the portfolio
of “Planning and Infrastructure, Development and Cohesion, Environment and
Energy Transition, Transport and Mobility” were also contacted. When questioned
to The Portugal News, the founder of MMF reveals that “formally, there has been
no feedback” and that the Government's decisions are currently awaited. The
group has an informal character, as such “the supporters of the MMF are all”
those who follow the movement's activities through social media or formalise a
request by email.
Deeply in love with music and with a guilty pleasure in criminal cases, Bruno G. Santos decided to study Journalism and Communication, hoping to combine both passions into writing. The journalist is also a passionate traveller who likes to write about other cultures and discover the various hidden gems from Portugal and the world. Press card: 8463.
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Will probably take another couple of decades before anything is done. The Portuguese LOVE wasting time and praising themselves but rarely actually do anything which is environmentally friendly and develops the country.
By S from Other on 18 Aug 2022, 19:29
Fortunately nothing much ever happens in Portugal, because many ideas are only good for the suppliers of Railway Technology and not for the Portuguese. Sure Germany and France want to support their industry. This is similar to idiotic ideas like a pipeline from Sines to Northern Europe.
By Tom from Lisbon on 19 Aug 2022, 10:20
In other EU countries where electrification of railway lines are difficult & costly hydrogen fuel cell electric trains are being used or hybrid mains & battery electric motor power. The technology is available now and is far cheaper & faster to implement compared to erecting overhead high voltage lines.
By Eddy Lagrand from Algarve on 19 Aug 2022, 18:38
The MMF proposals are baffling, and not just because 'locomotives' are not used on passenger services in the Algarve. Most of the proposals in your article are quite achievable - with some investment and the necessary political will - in a few years, and certainly well before 2050! Electrification will necessitate 'new' trains anyway (in reality probably older ones cascaded from elsewhere) in only two or three years and provides the perfect opportunity for a completely recast timetable, with modest accelerations and a regular interval service. There are probably enough passing places already in place for this. As for stations confusingly sited miles from where they purport to be, simply rename them after the nearest settlement (maybe adding 'Change here for bus to...' ).
The other urgently needed improvement - which could be made in weeks - is for passenger information. Every day many foreign tourists arrive at Faro station where there is minimal information available, and certainly none in any language other than Portuguese. The infrequent announcements are almost unintelligible, probably even to the locals. Please, please, CP, can you invest just a few euros in one or two information screens, showing clearly which train is going where, and when?
By David Collins from UK on 25 Aug 2022, 18:30