Portuguese cutbacks

These cutbacks, as part of the austerity programme, are being swiftly carried out. Already Abrantes to Badajoz and Beja to Funcheira have lost their passenger services.

The narrow gauge system around Sernada do Vouga was planned to close at the end of January, but this seems to be delayed for road replacements to be sorted out. Traffic was very light on my visit this week, but school traffic remains. Stations generally well kept apart from some graffiti at Espinho (Vouga) station. Trains have been badly hit though and it covers the windows often. It is a big problem in Portugal.

The Douro valley branches are looking very sad, with no traffic apart from top end of Mirandela (Tua) branch, which once went on to Braganca. Some derelict Mallet 2-4-6-0T engines can still be seen at Regua, Tua and Pocinho.

To one who went there for the first time in 1971, it is very sad.

 

Very sad news, happy memories of inter railing in 1974 on some of these lines

 

one more sordid and crappy effect of that evil neo liberalism and UE dictatorshipoor Portugal!shame on you liberals and eurocrats!
I, too, visited the Portugal (in 1994) no more steam (on metric gauge) but a very good and efficient railway sustem!
sad regards
Noel

 

With a spare evening in the hotel and free internet, I googled Portuguese railways and got some very interesting u-tube on the Tua to Mirandela and Braganca line in particular; especially a documentary about the loss of much of the line because of a new reservoir, which seemed controversial and I wish I could understand Portuguese.

I must see if I can get my hands on 'Railway Holiday in Northern Spain and Portugal' by D W Winkworth, published about 1967,

On a more general note, I fear that in the present economic crisis (courtesy of the bankers), several European countries may see this kind of cutback, and it seems to happen very suddenly. I remember years ago that Pakistan was 'advised' by the IMF to close its narrow gauge system. Just as in the Beeching Plan in Britain, closing branch lines is more symbolic than effective in cutting railway operating deficits.

 

Railway Holiday in Portugal, Winkworth, D & C, 1968, covers his journey via Galicia into Portugal where he visits the northern half, at that time he records 135 BG and 68 NG steam and English Electric had just exported their first main line diesel to Europe in the form of Bo-Bo nos 1401-1410, the NG was little used then he notes and even less when I visited in the early 70s.