Portugal's railways now open to foreign operators

Paul Rees 01 January 2019

tgv Rail transport services have been liberalised in Portugal, after an EU-driven law was introduced, active as from Tuesday, January 1^st, 2019.

A number of legislative changes have been announced by the Government which aims to stimulate competition on the national rail network.

Private rail operators now are allowed to take over rail services with the expectation that foreign operators will be interested, despite decades of under-investment in the national network.

"This new paradigm is essentially characterised by the right of access to railway infrastructures of all member states of the European Union on a fair, non-discriminatory and transparent basis for the operation of passenger services and, as well as by reinforcing the obligation to follow a competitive procedure for the award of public service contracts," according to the new Decree-Law.

According to this law, any Portuguese or international company may operate services on the country's railway lines.

Comments

+2 #8 Carl S 2019-01-06 11:15

The railways in the UK since privatisation has been an expensive and complicated disaster . Portugal stick with what you have one, railway company as now, I have used it fairly often and have not had reason to complain, certainly not with respect to the fares !

+1 #7 AL 2019-01-03 10:40

Yesterday I traveled from Lisbon to the Algarve, my pre paid ticket was for the 2pm train but I wanted to travel on the 10am train the change cost me 30 cents per ticket. Would a private company charge me the same for this change.
Just hope this government doesn't do a Public Private Partnership with the Portuguese trains.

0 #6 Peter Booker 2019-01-03 09:05

I was an infrequent user of BR and I never had a problem with those services that I used. From what I read of the present circumstances, the privatisation cure is worse than the nationalised disease.

0 #5 mj1 2019-01-02 11:35

denby ...did you ever use british rail.?
.known for its advert slogan "were not getting there"

+1 #4 Denby 2019-01-02 10:15

This new law is like making a bad situation worse.
Just look what happened in the UK when British rail was privatised. There are daily delays and sometimes cancellations across the board as the network can't cope with the different companies occupying the British rail network.

0 #3 Plutarch 2019-01-02 10:01

And privatisation of electricity and mail wént so well!

-1 #2 Jeff Brown 2019-01-02 09:48

Being Portugal nothing will be that simple. At the least we will have a telecoms scenario whereby Portugal Telecom in some shape or form holds substantial shares or control in any competition. Or, as so many of us recognise from years back, inordinate delays switching from Portugal Telecom to a competitor with invented extra bills long after closure of the account. So expect here 'complications' getting your ticket or connecting your 'private operator' journey to the remaining public Portugal Railways one. Arriving just in time to see your connection mysteriously departing early.

+1 #1 Boris H 2019-01-02 00:54

Look What happened to Britain when the Government privatized and sold of the railways to the highest bidder. Trains get cancelled at the last moment and are often late and they cease to be value for money to the average rail users.

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