World News
THE newly electrified ‘Minho Line’ from Porto to Valença and the Spanish border was officially opened by Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa on
April 26.
Electric trains have replaced DMUs and several of Portuguese Railways (CP) Class 2600 electric locos, built by Alsthom based on the similar French BB15000 design in 1974-75, have been reinstated after nine years in storage and are now working some of the regional trains on the line; in June four daily diagrams for the class were being operated.
Following electrification, a through Valença-Lisbon intercity service has been introduced, removing the need to change in Porto. In the longer term, electrically-hauled freight is expected to use the line to and from Spain, although initially a shortage of Iberian gauge dual voltage locos able to operate from 25kV AC in Portugal and 3kV DC in Spain limits this.
The Porto-Vigo international passenger service remains DMU operated for the same reason.
CP has also increased usage of its remaining 1400 Class diesel locos, working passenger trains on the Douro Valley line from Porto with about seven locos in regular use, although some are used for empty stock movements. The CP 1400 Class have an 8CSVT English Electric diesel engine rated at 1330HP.
The first 10 locos (of 67) were built at Vulcan Foundry and the rest were built during 1967-69 under licence in Portugal by Sorefame. CP ceased regular passenger use around 10 years ago and sold several to Argentina, although not all those earmarked for export were actually sold and some of these are now back in use.
After limited use working tourist trains in the last few years, the 1400 Class now has several daily passenger diagrams. While some have been scrapped, multiple 1400 Class locos are also in use with freight operators.
12-year closure
On May 2 the northern Covilhã-Guarda section of the ‘Beira Baixa’ Line in the east of Portugal reopened after a 12-year closure for rebuilding and electrification. The line now has six daily passenger trains. As part of the rebuilding, a new chord avoiding Guarda has been built for freight to or from Spain, avoiding the need for reversal.