Railway company admits defeat by Algarve graffiti vandals

graffitiThe 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."