Railway company admits defeat by Algarve graffiti vandals

The deplorable state of many of the Algarve’s railway stations at last is being addressed with a cleaning, repair and painting programme.

Olhão’s tawdry offering is getting a lick of paint with Faro, Conceição de Tavira, Mexilhoeira Grande, Silves, Estômbar-Lagoa, Algoz, Poço Barreto and Fuzeta already tarted up.

Infraestruturas de Portugal said its contractors would be working away until the end of the year to make sure all the Algarve's regional stations were looking sharp and clean.

In the case of Olhão’s station, walls and roofs are being repaired and the graffiti painted over.

According to the railway company, much of the work is necessary due to the high level of vandalism that railway stations seem to attract and the spray-painting of graffiti.

Infraestruturas de Portugal said that graffiti has a negative visual impact and it is keen to clean up the mess left behind on station walls.

However, according to the company, it’s a losing battle, "despite the numerous and persistent repairs and improvements that are being undertaken, the frequency of these acts of vandalism is too high and it is not possible for the company, given the limited financial and human resources available, to remedy the situation each and every time."

Comments  

-2 #9 Mikez 2017-12-09 13:52

My line for visitors: "Oh, yeah. That's the Western Algarve Separatist Party. Police have 'em pretty much under control... couple of kidnappings, though." Eyes will get very, very big!

-1 #8 Christine Lopes 2017-10-10 20:23

I have recently moved to Portugal and am shocked at
the low standard graffiti that adorns the walls all over
this beautiful country!
Love Banksy but hate aggressive talentless art that
spoils places like Parede where I live. The graffiti on the railway line and underpasses has no artistic value and lacks talent!
These people who are spoiling the area need to either attend a proper art school or repaint the areas in white.
The beautiful stone walls on Parede beach have been
ruined - maybe these talentless people would be better occupied restoring the natural beauty by washing those beautiful walls!
You guys who do this may grow up one day and wish to leave this beautiful country in a decent state for
your grandchildren!

-1 #7 zoe derrick 2017-08-30 21:22

Love good graffiti, hate tags...meaningless disfacement of property. Please, if Wasp is so prolific, can we pay him to create art??

-1 #6 Matthewv 2017-07-23 18:31

I've seen this graffiti inPortugal, saw jams and wasp tagged on the m3 in England, ruin your own country

-4 #5 rob 2016-11-22 15:07

we used anti graffiti paint back in the uk ,stops the application of new graffiti also our local councils have van to cover the area also big fines for litter and illegal dumping

-5 #4 Ant 2016-11-18 16:47

The main artist lives in Olhao so I am sure it will be a matter of days before they are replaced

-2 #3 liveaboard 2016-11-18 11:33

Quoting Chip:

- if I spot these guys they'll need health insurance but perhaps others might dial 112.

Careful there, Chip; how do you know you'd emerge the victor instead of the victim?
In any case when the victims call 112, it's the victor who gets arrested.

-8 #2 Chip 2016-11-18 10:43

It's a shame as there's some fantastic street art around, especially in Lagos, but that's in a different class. See next issue of Tomorrow magazine.
But these scrawled "tags" are pure vandalism. Everywhere you go in the Western Algarve you will see WASP and KAMS crudely scrawled across walls - if I spot these guys they'll need health insurance but perhaps others might dial 112.

+4 #1 mj1 2016-11-17 20:50

well alcantarilha "station" or just a stop in fact was repainted and within 6 months was re coated with graffiti.

perhaps it would be better to sublet the empty building to someone to live in or work from even free of charge to give some protection from the vandals

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