Portuguese national train operator CP began operating electric services on the Algarve line on July 19, following the completion of a €135 million project to electrify the 141 km route between Lagos, Faro and Vila Real de Santo António at 25 kV 50 Hz, according to railwaygazette.com.

Infraestruturas de Portugal said the electrification would improve the quality and sustainability of services on the line, which has seen growing ridership driven by both local commuter traffic and tourism.

Electrification has reduced the Lagos – Faro journey time by 15 minutes to 1 hour 26 minutes, while the Faro to Vila Real de Santo António journey has been reduced by 7 minutes to 57 minutes. CP has also increased the number of daily trains to provide an hourly service, and reinstated through journeys without a change in Faro.

Local services are operated by three-car Class 2240 electric multiple units dating from the 1970s and 1980s which have been redeployed from northern Portugal. These replace two-car Class 450 diesel multiple units which are being transferred to other non-electrified routes such as the Oeste, Douro and Alentejo lines.

The longer trains increase capacity from 164 seats and 224 standing passengers to 264 seats and 272 standees. They also offer lower noise, better passenger information systems and improved accessibility, including electric lifts and wheelchair spaces.

Other works covered by the electrification project include signalling and telecoms renewals and station enhancements. Passenger information systems from Hitachi Rail are also to be installed.

However, long-standing plans to build a 3 km rail link to Faro airport have stalled.