Alfa pendular high speed train

Key Data on the Alfa Pendular high speed train Lisbon - Porto:

Operator
Portuguese Railways (Comboios de Portugal - CP)

Date opened
2004 (Complete upgrading of Lisbon-Porto route)

Route length: Lisbon - Porto
329km

Maximum line speed
220km/h

Alfa Pendular high speed train

Since the late 1990s - for over 10 years now - Comboios de Portugal (CP) has run the Alfa Pendular high speed train service connecting Portugals mainland - from the north border to the Algarve - at a speed of up to 220 km per hour. The service is operated using 10 Italian-designed Pendolino tilting trains. Each of the carriages at the Alfa Pendular high speed train has a LCD display at both ends which show speed, time, temperature (inside and out) and status of the service.

In additon to these Alfa Pendular high speed trains, some Inter City "corail" coaches have been upgraded to 200km per hour. These are hauled by CP class 5600 locomotives. These "corail" coaches were based on French SNCF.

Time table of Alfa Pendular high speed trains

Trains run hourly between Lisbon and Porto - most being Alfa Pendular high speed trains, with two stops (Coimbra and Aveiro) on the fastest service, and some Inter City trains with 8-10 intermediate stops. Additionally Intercity trains run north to Guimaraes, and a couple of Alfa Pendular high speed trains run north to Braga. The journey between the two cities varies from 2 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours depending on the stops. You can read more about cities in Portugal here.

Southern line is serviced by two Alfa Pendular high speed trains (Porto - Faro) and four Inter City trains (Lisbon - Faro).

Price of ticket vary according to promotions, days and hours of travel. Roughly speaking a single will be around €25,- and a return around €40,-

Time table for Alfa Pendular high speed train - summer 2009:
Find full time table and prices for Alfa Pendular high speed train - buy your ticket:

More about the Alfa Pendular high speed train

The train is a smooth ride and there is plenty to see along the way. There are six carriages on each train - one of which is first class, all spotlessly clean on board. The trains got seating with resembles leather living room armchairs. There are televisions along the aisle roof (headphones are provided). There are two sets of toilets at each end of the Alfa Pendular high speed train. In the middle of the train there is a buffet - although a trolley will come round every half hour.

First class will give you some more legroom, free use of a phone, newspapers and coffee. Also you will get stewardesses and the children will be given complimentary games.

Future plans of the Alfa Pendular high speed train

The government of Portugal plans to build a high speed rail line from Lisbon to Madrid, Spain. The 7,8 billion Euro plan - announced in February 2009 - is part of an effort to stimulate the country's economy. The plan will create 100.000 jobs and link Portugal to Spain's southwest corridor.

The plan of building a new Alfa Pendular high speed train line to Spain was approved already in 2005 - along with two other new constructions.

These future plans will make the trip between the two main cities in Portugal - Lisbon and Porto - a trip of just over one hour, which will make mainland Portugal very axcessable with three international airports (Lisbon, Porto and Faro).

Here is a summary of the future plans of the Alfa Pendular high speed train lines:

LISBON - MADRID (Spain)
The two countries capitals will be reached within three hours of each other - a trip less than 2h45min is expected with an high speed of 350km/h. The line will be complete by 2013.

LISBON - PORTO
The two biggest cities of Portugal will be at a distance of a 1h15min train trip with a new Alfa Pendular high speed train to be finished in 2015 - making 300km/h.

PORTO - VIGO (Spain)
The two countries extremes will be reached in less than 45min with a new line between Braga and the border. Mixed traffic: 250km/h.