For extensive recent news and a comprehensive report by European Report's Mick Dunn press here.
1501 is due to be withdrawn from regular service in the new year. It will be re-allocated to Regua to work Douro Valley charters with the two wooden bodied vintage coaches. 51 years in service and still going strong!
Loco-Hauled to Setubal
It is reported that there are still two or three loco-hauled sets of stock on the Barreiro-Setubal/Prais Sado locals for now. They are still awaiting the arrival of a full compliment of units from up North. 1200, 1400 and 1500 power has been providing the thrash (or not in the case of 1200's)
(Gen from M. Da Silva)
5608 has been
out recently on the Lusitania from
Lisboa SA-Abrantes
for 333202 forward!
More gen shortly.
(Mick Dunn)
W/ending 2/10/99;
Porto freight
1400's on passenger - 1442/1447/1466/1467.
Tua line - 9028/9030.
2569 also viewed
on passenger. (Jason Warner/Nick Awberry)
Alco's appear to have taken over the 1400 diagram on the 16.35 Bar-Funcheira and early morning return. A 1400 is sometimes tucked inside d.i.t. to get to/from the Algarve, now the overnights have been caped.
However, it appears
the Overnights will now run but only Down FO and Up SUN O, after
much rioting by the mayor of Faro!
Barreiro 1400 diagrams from 26th September:
ALL trains between Lagos and Faro are hauled(6 x 1400 diagrams). All trains Faro to Vila Real are carts (4 x 600 diagrams)
1925 Lagos - Tunes is booked a pair of 1400's
(From Ruben Lopes via PTG)
Locos in major overhaul at Barreiro are:
1217, 1416, 1425
(in tests), 1456, 1512 has finished being repaired from her
accident, 1570,
1805, 1906 and 1910. 1972 is in her second intermediate
overhaul (V1).
New timetable started on 26th September.
BAD NEWS: All local services between Barreiro and Setubal/Prais Sado are now DMU's (ex Douro)...NO LOCOS
BAD NEWS: Barreiro - Vila Real overnights are NO MORE. Only run day before bank holiday.
Withdrawals: All 1501/21's to be withdrawn by end of 2004. However no other withdrawals are planned
Douro Valley: Porto - Cete is now electrified (using ex-Sintra units). Only 2 DMU turns. All trains beyond Regua are 1400's
Lines: Povoa-Famalicao has been lifted. Beja-Moura has reopened (but no traffic yet). Tua line to extend back to Macedo.
1400's: These still operate on the Algarve (Lagos-Faro) but some locos are expected to be transfered back to Porto.
Steam: After PTG special steam has been banned between Sernada and Espinho.
Steam: Only operational locos are: E113 (Sernada), 014 (Nine) and 0187 (Regua). E114, 0186, E214 awaiting restoration. E97 withdrawn.
1800s: 1805 is
currently on heavy overhaul at Barreiro. 1804 is next.
HERE'S SOME MORE INFORMATION ON CP FROM STEVE WIDDOWSON, WITH THE HELP OF DENISE JOHNSON, DAVID MEE & MARK BEGLEY.
WE WHERE TOLD THAT THE OVERNIGHT TRAIN WILL ONLY NOW RUN AT THE WEEKEND, HOWEVER THE LOCALS AT FARO ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE LOST OF THE SERVICE & ARE COMPLAINING TO CP, AND HOPING THAT IT WILL BE REINSTATED.
ELECTRIFICATION WORK ON THE SINES LINE HAS STARTED WITH THE PLANTING OF THE POLES IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE LINE AS FAR SOUTH AS FARO WILL BE ELECTRIC BY 2002/2003
NO MORE LOCO'S
ON BARREIRO/SETUBAL LOCO'S, ALL UNITS.
RENFE 333's INTO PORTUGAL!
RENFE Class 333's now travel into Portugal on the daily Madrid - Lisboa 'Lusitania' Talgo as far as Abrantes. These trains were formerly in the hands of CP diesels.
Gen c/o Phil
Wormald.
This just in from Richard Stevenson
Saturday 31/7/99 1972 was noted at Tua on a load seven charter, huge, but I wasn't able to blag my way onto it..... 1424 (blue) was also noted heading along the Duoro with the two wooden bodied coaches.
The 17:35 Barrerio - Prais Sado and return was yesterday (8/8/99) worked by 1505. HELLLLLFFFIIIRRE!!!!!
1427 was the
only other loco working on the Setubal locals (noted later working double
headed - don't know if both were under power, in service failure???)
Trucks of
more new July/August 1999 gen from Darren Walker is here.
It would appear that there are shortages again at Barreiro.
Tuesday 27/07/99
1807 07.50 Beja-Barreiro!!!!!!
Monday 26/07/99
1416 05.35 Tunes-Lagos
1421 07.03 Tunes-Lagos
1418 07.50 Tunes-Lagos
1422 05.55 Lagos-Faro
1432 06.45 Lagos-Faro,
08.30 Faro-Lagos, 17.00 Lagos-Faro
1421 21.43 VRDSA-Barreiro!
1937 08.35 Bar-VRDSA
1524+1937 d.i.t.
16.20 VRDSA-Barreiro!
Sunday 25/07/99
1423 19.00 Prais
Sado-Barreiro
1936 19.20 Barreiro-Beja
1510 16.20 VRDSA-Barreiro!
1203+1206 d.i.t.
20.28 Barreiro-Setubal
1524+1418 d.i.t.
23.54 Barreiro-VRDSA
1934 19.35 Barreiro-VRDSA
1501 20.05 Barreiro-Beja
Porto freight 1400's working - 1461/1445/1464/1440/1438/1449/1448/1454.
2511/2551 did ecs/banker turns (stock for, then banker for 17.45/18.50 off Sao Bento)
Tue 06/07/99
2504 16.10 Porto-Lisboa SA IR!!!!
Mirandela line
9028/9029/9030
working
9022 stabled
Carvailhas.
Fig line Wed 07/07/99
1435/1465/1462.
Thu 08/07/99
1501/1422/1426/1434
all working off Barreiro.
1432/1417/1421/1416/1423
all working in Algarve.
1510 worked 16.20 VRDSA-Barreiro (presumably did 08.35 Bar-VRDSA also)
Andy Sparkes' CP Gen
This sets out the main gen, and what we could work out of the diagrams in Portugal following the recent timetable change. It is based on our observations, and reports from the many other cranks around either side of the PTG tour of 26-28th June.
The Algarve
The local timetable on the Algarve has undergone a major rewrite, with no through workings from Lagos to Villa Real. The local services are all speeded up with some minor stations closed, and the 1200 class 'sewing machines' all banished. Trains are formed by four EE 1400s (not working west of Faro), five 0600 Sorefame units, and the engine (1500 Alco) off the overnight from Barreiro. However on three of the four days we observed services, CP were short of 1400s, and they were using a mixture of tightened up DMU diagrams and the Alsthom (1930) off the 1405 IC from Barreiro to make up the service.
The loco hauled diagrams (as far as we can tell given the above problems) are:
14.1 R5800, 0535
Tunes-Lagos (portion off overnight)
R5801,
0805 Lagos-Tunes
R5806,
1000 Tunes-Lagos
R5907,
1235 Lagos-Faro
R5908,
1615 Faro-Lagos
R5807,
1925 Lagos-Tunes
14.2 R5802, 0703
Tunes-Lagos
R5905,
0853 Lagos-Faro
R5902,
1147 Faro-Lagos
R5805,
1345 Lagos-Tunes
R5810,
1808 Tunes-Lagos
R5809,
2217 Lagos-Tunes (M.4, load 6, 3 coaches are portion for the o/night)
R5812,
2342 Tunes-Lagos
14.3 R5903, 0645
Lagos-Faro
R5904,
1300 Faro-Lagos
R5911,
1700 Lagos-Faro
R5722,
1925 Faro-Tunes
14.4 R5804, 0750
Tunes-Lagos
ECS, 09xx
Lagos-Tunes
R5808,
1120 Tunes-Lagos
R5909,
1430 Lagos-Faro
R5910,
1810 Faro-Lagos
R5809,
2217 Lagos-Tunes (M.2, load 6, 3 coaches are portion for the o/night)
1500 R4703,
2354(p) Barreiro-Vila Real SA
R5712,
1245 Vila Real SA-Faro? (not viewed)
R5717,
1705 Faro-Tavira
R5720,
1900 Tavira-Faro
R5725,
2013 Faro-Vila Real SA
R4702,
2143 Vila Real SA-Barreiro
One DMU turn seems to be stabled at Faro during then day and starts with the 1815 Faro to Vila Real. When short this unit is used elsewhere therefore look out for late afternoon trains from Faro to Vila Real SA. The 1815 down and 2027 return were hauled by the Alsthom (1933) off the 1405 Barreiro-Faro IC on Thursday 24th June, and something similar was reported on the Thursday with the 1742 down and 1930 return hauled by the Alsthom, and the 1815 caped.
The morning up IR now starts at 0740 with a +3 off the overnight, and the first three trains out of Vila Real are all units! The two morning IRs now cross at Funcheira but without a crew change. The Algarve and Beja IRs now generally get 1931s. The overnights are now booked to cross at Beja. The old 1200 changeover turn (0620 Barreiro-Tunes, 1715 return) now only runs to/from Funcheira with amended times and is formed by a Nohab railcar.
Barreiro Locals
Barriero local services run to fairly similar times to before, but some services are formed by 'sewing machine' junk, and a few Alcos and 1931s also worked. The 1635 to Funcheira was a solid 'sewing machine' including laying over at Funcheira like the Alcos used to do. The 1820 Barreiro-Praias Sado was a solid Alco, which goes on to work the overnight (1501/10/24/25 all worked during our stay).
The Evora portions off the Beja trains are still 'sewing machines', which get swapped over on the 1900 Barreiro-Casa Branca, returning on the 0557 from Casa Branca). The Vendas Novas - Setil service was also a 'sewing machine'.
Figueira de Foz
The Figueira line service has been thinned out, but there are still three 1400 diagrams. They have changed slightly with the turns looking like a truncated version of the previous Saturday turns. This creates a nice move at Fig Foz where you can do the 1310 from Lisbon throughout, and then go out on the 1739 to Leiria, before continuing with the 1807 back to Cacem, or picking up the third engine back to Fig Foz for a b&b. The diagrams below were compiled from our trip on a Wednesday, and reports from other cranks of sightings on Thursday and Friday.
14.1 0110 Cacem-Caldas
(guessed from previous diags)
0445 Caldas-Cacem
(guessed from previous diags)
0955 Cacem-
Caldas
1219 Caldas-Fig
Foz
1739 Fig
Foz-Leiria
14.2 0910 Leiria-Lisbon
SA
1753 Lisbon
SA-Fig Foz
14.3 0707 Fig
Foz- Lisbon SA
1310 Lisbon-Fig
Foz
1807 Fig
Foz-Cacem
Abrantes area
Disastrous just about sums up this previously excellent area!
Nearly all turns
to Covilha are 1931s although the 1205 Lisbon-Covilha was reported with
1559 on Friday 25th.
The Comboio
Acedemico is suspended from 19th June (presumably for the summer, but no
restart date is given on the posters).
The 2141 FO
Entroncamento to Covilha was 1944 on Friday 25th (which returned to Entroncamento
dead on rear of 0335 Covilha-Lisbon)
The Badejoz
line has been severely truncated with only the 0955 from Abrantes going
beyond Elvas to Badejoz, and no services working between Entroncamento
and Abrantes
And worst of
all the remnants of the Badejoz service are worked by sewing machines!
CAPITANO'S NEW TT SUMMARY (South of Tagus)
All Line Timetables are still not available and there have been pretty major changes on some routes, with much rationalisation of services. I never went North of the Tagus apart from on the tour, but the gen I have is as follows.
Table 300/310 highlights
06.20 Bar-Tunes
now 06.50 Bar-Funcheira via Beja and booked NOHAB unit.
08.35 Bar-VRDSA
now stops all shacks Fucheira-Tunes to replace above. Solid 1930.
New train-13.23
Bar-Vendas Novas (NOHAB unit)
1600 Bar-Beja
now departs 16.25.
16.35 Bar-Funcheira
appears to be booked 1200.
19.35 Bar-VRDSA
now booked 1930 not 1500.
23.54 Bar-VRDSA
seems to be booked 1500 not 1930! (Solid every night when I was there)
05.15 Evora-Bar
runs 20 odd earlier.(1200)
05.50 Funcheira-Bar,
appears to be booked 1200.
06.35 VRDSA-Bar
now departs 07.40, meaning you can do the down midnight to VRDSA for it.
21.40 VRDSA-Bar
is now 21.43 and runs faster and is booked 1500 not 1930.
Overnights now
cross at Beja. Still convey Lagos portion both ways.
ALCO gen
1501, 1510, 1524,
1525 all seen on overnight diagram.
1505, 1512 out
of action at Barreiro.
NO 1800 passenger work. Viewed all 1800's on freight, apart from 1801 (in works)
Table 312
Some services are retimed by a few minutes either way, but the service pattern is exactly the same. Diagrams appear to have been fine tuned with the Alco off the 18.20 Bar-Prais going onto do the down overnight. Stacks of 1200 out - desperate. Only interest was 1432 out on Set locals then Algarve locals this week and 1434 on Set locals this week. Entronc. choppers reallocated to Barreiro?
Table 314
The arse has really dropped out down here. Solid unit turns between Faro and VRDSA apart from a 1930 fill in turn off the Rap and the 1500 off the overnight doing a fill in turn by working blur VRDSA-Faro, 17.05 Faro-Tavira, 1900 Tavira-Faro, 20.13 Faro-VRDSA and then onto up overnight.
North of Tagus.
T140
Re-diagrammed - see Andy Sparkes gen above.
Recommended move to get all 3:
13.10 SA-Fig
17.39 Fig-Leira
17.53 SA-Fig
from Leira
T120
Desperate. 1400's
gone, replaced by 1200's! Now only one working to Badajoz.
Mysterious
May Changes
Sketchy gen is
emerging regarding the new timetable (or lack of it - the all liner not
being available as of yet!)
There's also
reportedly a 1551 turn!!! As previously reported the Lagos line has not
gone over to unit operation just yet and is for now in the hands of 1400's
and 3 car Soreframe units terminating at Faro.
1400's for the Algarve?
It has been rumoured that the 1200's will be replaced by 1400's on the Algarve passenger services from the start of the Summer timetable. There's also gen on the PTG website that through Lagos-Vila Real DSA workings may be discontinued, which if true, will be a terrible shame.
Strike proves a winner for cranks
Riot in Portugal due to strike. 1800 and Alco rule on the Algarve Inter Regionals. Highlights are 1810 on the Blue Train Faro-Entroncamento via run round at Setil!!!! on Friday 14/05/99. Also 1810+1501 Dead in tow on IR871 Barreiro-Faro, where 1501 was fired up and continued alone to the Real!! Outrageous. Full details available here.
The following services are now booked for a freight sector 1400! This is due to a shortage of passenger sector machines in Porto and is expected to continue for some time.
MON-FRI
15506 05.30
Marco DC-Porto SB
15510 06.32
Marco DC-Porto SB
15516 21.10
Marco DC-Porto Camphana (2x1400 freight)
15501 17.19 Porto
SB-Marco DC
15505 18.30
Porto SB-Marco DC
15507 18.37
Porto SB-Marco DC
15509 18.56
Porto SB-Marco DC
15511 19.21
Porto SB-Marco DC
Thanks to Mick Dunn and his 'contact' for these.
OTHER DIAGRAM AMMENDMENTS/UPDATE
Also worth watching are the 17.05 Tua-Porto SB (quoted 1400 hauled at weekends - here's this from Andy Sparkes - 'I have viewed it on all three occassions that I have been in the area on a Saturday - I suspect that when this happens it also does 12.16 Porto-Tua forward from Regua, and then the 21.21 Porto-Regua, but this is little more than speculation'.
Also the 18.30 Porto C-Pocinho on a Friday is booked 1400.
The 07.44 Porto-Pocinho on Saturdays and 1905 return on Sundays are strengthened to 6 or 7 coaches and according to Andy Sparkes are 'excellent trains for tharsh'.
There are also regular diagrams up to Valenca/Viana now. Trains are:
3003 08.21 Porto
SB-Valenca
3105 17.58 Porto
SB-Viana
3109 21.49 Porto
SB-Viana
3111 00.35 Porto
SB-Viana
3100 05.03 Viana-Porto
SB
3102 06.00 Viana-Porto
SB
3104 07.25 Viana-Porto
SB
3004 14.21 Valenca-Porto
SB
These are all thought to be seven days a week.
Is it or isn't it?
Vila Real Do Sto Antonio Guardiana is SHUT again!
Non Alco-Holic!
Very few Alco 1501's out there working. Their booked turns have been seen mostly covered by 1931's, especially the long distance 19.35 Barreiro-Vila Real DSA and 06.35 return.
Look at the stock on that!
Well worth checking out is an additional service from Castelo Branco-Porto Camphana(FO) and the return Porto Camphana-Castelo Branco(SUN). It only runs during term time, as it is a college train ('Comboio Academico')for students.
It mostly drops
an early electric (well rateable) for the Guarda-Porto section, with usually
a 1400 for the other bit.
The stock is
usually a few FO comps and a bar coach.Fill this with a load of young Latin
female students and it's pretty close to my idea of heaven!
Timings are: FO (read down) SUN (read up)
Castelo Branco
1445d
0045a
Guarda
1738d
2227d
Pamphilosa
1959d
2020d
Porto Camp
2120a
1855d
Sectorisation will take effect from Sunday 07/03/99. The sectors are as follows.
USGL - Suburban
Unit of Greater Lisboa
USGP - Suburban
Unit of Greater Porto
UTML - Unit
of Transportation, Merchandise and Logistics
UVIR - Unit
of Voyages of Inter-Regional and Regional.
There will be some use of freight sector locomotives contradictory to what has previously been rumoured.
Misc.
The 1500 'Alcos' are safe at least until well into 2000!
There have been
massive changes to the allocation of the CP fleet in the run up to sectorisation.
For latest allocations, workings and sightings view the Portuguese
Stock
List.
Exported
It has been reported
that some time ago three of the early generation ex-Spanish metre gauge
locos, no.s 9001/9002/9003 have been sold for export to Angola via France's
CFD.
The deal also
include four of the later generation batch no.s 9024/9025/9026/9027.
Vintage
9004 has been painted into 'heritage' blue/white and will be preserved and used for charter work in a similar way to 1801, 1501/1525 & 1424/1453.
Misc.
New Sectorisation
pools come into effect from 01/01/99 although they are unlikely to be implemented
fully until early March.
Bulletin dated
Jan 1998
Ex RENFE Class 313's bow out
The entire 1300 Class (1321 - 1338) has been withdrawn in late 1997. The locos came to Portugal as cast offs from Spain in late 1989 and date from 1965.
They had been unpopular with CP drivers for some time due to draughty and uncomfortable cabs. The class were virtual strangers to passenger services and we would be extremely interested to hear from anyone who had a haulage from one of these.
It has recently been reported on the PTG pages that two of these fine beasts have been reprieved for departmental use. Loco's involved are 1331(Poceiro) and 1322(Cete). HELLFIRE!
Any Portuguese info. is warmly welcomed especially any gen on 1400,1500,1800 or 1961 workings! Send us your moves and we'll publish them here.
Press
here to
e-mail us any CP (Portuguese) information.