"We will have five vehicles making the loop on the first line with frequencies of about 10 minutes during peak hours and a quarter of an hour off-peak. We will try to adjust the frequency and level of service depending on demand during operation," said the director of operations for Metro do Porto, João Nuno Aleluia, to journalists.

The official was speaking after a test trip lasting 13 minutes between Praça do Império and Casa da Música at 11 am, during which the vehicle took about three minutes to go around the Boavista roundabout, without traffic.

"Returning to the roundabout will be an issue during the hours when traffic capacity is restricted. Experience will indicate the measures to adopt. Initially, we will have an extra bus - a fifth bus - to regulate the start on Avenida da Boavista," he said.

Free of charge

The experimental phase, operating between 6 am and 10 pm, will last one month and will be free of charge, with commercial service scheduled to begin on 1 April, according to information from Metro do Porto.

As the vehicle will share the road with cars on Avenida Marechal Gomes da Costa, João Nuno Aleluia admitted that the metrobus will be subject to "traffic conditions" and "have to live with them."

"The traffic light system will help us to ensure that road traffic also flows efficiently," he said, since it ends up conditioning it.

When the vehicle is stopped, the system will "facilitate crossing traffic" by "open the traffic light" to let the metrobus and other traffic pass. Regarding the lack of audible warnings about approaching stations, the official said they are "in the process of connecting all the support systems for the operation," admitting that "not all of them will be working on the first day," which will be fine-tuned during the testing phase.

Bus stop distance

Regarding the distance of the bus to the stops and conditions for passengers with reduced mobility, João Nuno Aleluia said that "the issue of wheelchairs has been studied from the beginning," and that access for them "is through the front door."

"With training, we will achieve increasingly comfortable and closer stopping distances. When the driver sees a wheelchair, or knows that there is a wheelchair inside the vehicle, he will take special care with the stopping distance," he emphasised.

Regarding the fact that the metro network map inside the vehicle already includes the second phase of the metrobus (up to Anémona) and the Pink Line, which are still under construction, he said, "There will be an indication of what is in operation and what is not in operation."

Eco-friendly vehicle

The hydrogen-powered bus also has an area for luggage and surfboards, as well as standard USB and USB-C charging ports. During the trip, it was possible to observe the traffic light system working under the watchful eyes of curious onlookers on the street, who were photographing the vehicle.

The official also considered it "it is not feasible" to share the metrobus lane with soft-mobility modes.

"In the initial phase, of course, people were using the metro lane for running and cycling. Now, naturally, with the service underway, people will leave the lane. I think it's a normal process," he stressed.

The Porto metrobus will be a hydrogen-powered bus service connecting Casa da Música to Praça do Império and Anémona (in the second phase) in 12 and 17 minutes, respectively, representing a total investment of €76 million financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Environmental Fund, and the State Budget.