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A minimum deposit of £50 will secure your seat on this Tour, and the balance must be received by 21st February 2025
The Portugal Tour 2025
£596.10
Our return to Portugal will cover all major works and depots in Country. In addition, we will travel on three very scenic lines, Linha do Douro, Linha do Oeste and Linha de Cascais in Lisbon. We will be using two hotels. The first three nights will be at the Mercure Porto Centro Santa, this is an eight-minute walk from San Bento station. The second hotel, also for three nights, is the Ibis Lisboa Jose Malhoa. The station at Sete Rios is less than a 10-minute walk and Campanha station is just over 15 minutes.
When travelling by rail in Portugal it is recommended the Portugal Rail Pass is used with three and seven day options. Current prices are, for three days, 73 Euros for second class and 109 Euros for first class. The seven days are 129 Euros for standard and 179 Euros for first. Interrail tickets are more expensive, but the choice is yours. Reservations are required on all Inter City trains.
Individuals will be responsible for arranging their own travel to and from Portugal. Flights to Portugal operate from most UK regional airports to Porto, Lisbon and Faro.
Remember- do not book your flight or travel arrangements until we have confirmed the tour as running.
What's not included?
- Hotel Single Room Supplement - £295.00 (Optional)
- Travel to and from Portugal
- Tickets for travel whilst in Portugal
Itinerary
Day One
Arrival. Porto Airport has a direct tram link to both Sao Bento and Campanha stations. No formal visits have been arranged for today. You could spend time exploring the extensive tram system, watching movements at Campanha station or exploring the city, the decision is yours.
Day Two
Today we concentrate on locations in Porto. Time will allow observation of the morning Porto rush hour. We then take the train to visit Porto Contumil Depot, the second largest in Portugal. Moving into the northern outskirts of Porto our next stop will be Guifoes Works were both locos and coaches are overhauled. Crossing the Douro River, we view the yard at Vila Nova de Gaia. This is a small yard which is used for PW and some locos should be stabled. The activities will conclude mid-afternoon with the remainder of the day your own.
Day Three
Today we take to the rails and travel the magnificent Linha do Douro. Starting at Sao Bento station, haulage will be courtesy of a class 1400 diesel, we will travel to Regua. Here we will have a break of just under an hour to view the yard and small depot. The journey then continues to the terminus of the line at Pocinho. Then sit back and enjoy the scenery for the journey back to Porto. Several Class 1400’s work the line with one usually spare at Regua.
Day Four
This is the transfer day south to Lisbon. With a mid-morning departure from Campanha. Changing trains at Granjo do Alfarelos we head to Ligeira do Foz were we visit the small depot. Heading south we take the Linha do Oeste to Torres Vedras and Mira Sintra. Arrival in Lisbon will be early evening. As an alternative you can take the much quicker mainline from Campanha to Lisbon, through Entroncamento arriving in Lisbon mid-afternoon.
Day Five
After a leisurely breakfast we head back north to Entroncamento, here we will visit the Depot and Works, the largest in Portugal. There are a handful of plinthed steam locos in the grounds of the adjacent collage to be photographed. Returning to the station we cross the footbridge and visit the National Railway Museum of Portugal. Returning to Lisbon we head to Cais do Sodre station to travel on the Linha de Cascais through the terminus at Cascais. Returning to Lisbon we will stop at Carcavois to view the unit SP.
Day Six
A short train ride from Sete Rios we arrive at Campolde for a depot visit. On completion we head to the Terreirad Returning Ferry terminal and a twenty-five-minute crossing of the Tagus River. A short walk will see our arrival at Barreiro Works where CP diesels are overhauled. Several stored locos will also be present. From Barreiro we take to the rails and pass through Setubal to Praias do Sada to view the yards which serve the local docks. Returning to Pinhal Novo we transfer to road transport (probably Taxi) to visit the small depot and PW yard at Poceirao. Enroute keep an eye open for the White Storks which nest in large numbers on the overhead pylons. We return to Lisbon on one of only two trains a day that stop at Poceirao.
Day Seven
Dispersal day
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