Western Line Electrification Project Advances on Mira Sintra-Torres Vedras Section
Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), the country's public entity for rail and road infrastructure, has announced the continuation of its project to electrify the Linha do Oeste (Western Line). The next phase will involve energizing the overhead catenary system on the segment between Mira Sintra/Meleças and Torres Vedras.
The process is scheduled to begin on Saturday, September 20. The catenary lines on this railway section will be placed under a tension of 25,000 volts at 50Hz. This marks a significant step in the modernization of the line, which has historically operated with diesel-powered trains on this stretch.
In a public statement, Infraestruturas de Portugal issued a safety alert regarding the upcoming changes. The authority warned of the "future existence of perigos no referido troço ferroviário relacionados com fenómenos elétricos" (dangers on the said railway section related to electrical phenomena). These dangers are a result of the high electrical tension, the presence of current in the rails, and the effects of electromagnetic induction.
Following the announcement from IP, the municipality of Torres Vedras has also released a notice to its residents. The local government cautioned the public about the new state of electrification on the railway line that passes through the municipality, particularly south of the Torres Vedras station.
The municipality's alert specified that certain behaviors are now considered extremely dangerous and will be "absolutamente proibidos" (absolutely prohibited). These actions include throwing water onto the cables, getting close to any fallen cables, or attempting to climb onto train carriages.
Furthermore, the notice advised that any individuals who need to cross the railway tracks within the affected area should exercise special caution, especially if they are carrying long objects that could potentially come into contact with the energized overhead lines.
Need Expert Guidance?
Get personalized insights from verified real estate professionals, lawyers, architects, and more.
The electrification project on the Linha do Oeste is part of a national plan to upgrade Portugal's railway infrastructure. The objective is to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and speed of the train services connecting the western region to the Lisbon metropolitan area.
The work involves installing the necessary infrastructure to allow electric trains to operate along the entire line, replacing the diesel units that have traditionally served this route. The project is expected to reduce travel times and improve service reliability once fully completed.
No specific date for the start of electric train circulation on this segment was provided in the announcement. The current phase is focused on the technical process of energizing the newly installed power lines.
Local authorities and IP will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as the project progresses towards completion.
Monitor new development opportunities at realestate-lisbon.com.