Constant delays, train cancellations, ageing carriages with little comfort or hygiene, and the lack of a full connection from the west to the east, are among the grievances voiced by users of the Algarve’s railway system. Many passengers say they feel “abandoned” and forced to rely on what they describe as “a third-world service”.
This Wednesday, 1 October, a group of commuters, Sandra, Luísa, Rosa, Manuela, Raquel and others, arrived by train at Faro Station. The absence of luggage and the rush in their steps suggested that most were travelling for work. On this occasion, the train had run on time. Some had boarded in towns across the western municipalities of the Algarve, with Faro as their final destination. Others, however, needed to change trains in Faro to continue eastwards to Tavira, Olhão or even Vila Real de Santo António.
Among them was Luísa, who catches the 7:14am service from Portimão every day in order to reach Olhão by 9:20am. “There’s no justification for the train not running straight through to Vila Real de Santo António,” she complained. “Every day I have to wait here, watching the planes overhead for half an hour before I can take the connection to Olhão. Back and forth, day after day – it’s exhausting and hours are wasted.”
Such frustrations multiply when trains are cancelled or delayed without warning. One passenger noted that even Trains of Portugal's (Comboios de Portugal, otherwise known as CP) official app – once a key source for up-to-date schedules – “stopped working two weeks ago”.
Raquel Varela, who also travels daily from Portimão, recalled a particularly chaotic week: “Only four trains were running; the rest were broken down and in workshops. When I arrived in Faro, the replacement bus to Tavira only showed up an hour later. I reached work just before lunch. Then I had to request a justification for my absence – and not every employer accepts these constant delays.”
For Sandra Moreira, the route is shorter, running only between Silves and Faro. Yet even she describes her daily journey as “a gamble”, often resorting to driving to avoid risks, despite spending almost the same as her monthly rail pass on fuel in a single trip. “People have no idea how many of us rely on this line for work, and it’s the mode of transport with the least investment I’ve ever seen. The trains are old, the track was recently upgraded for electrification but nothing has improved. We’re still stuck with the same carriages – sometimes only four in service. We’ll be waiting years for the new electric stock, and until then we’re left with this. It’s unbearable.”
On 24 June this year, Infraestruturas de Portugal announced the first experimental run of an electric train between Faro and Vila Real de Santo António. The company claimed the introduction of electric traction would bring “significant improvements to operations, service and sustainability” for the region’s rail network. Yet, according to passengers, nothing has changed. Electrification may be nearly complete, but the trains themselves are not yet in service.
Just last week, Sandra Moreira again faced disruption on her journey home from work. At 4:17pm, she found the Alfa Pendular service – due to leave at 4:00pm – still idling at Faro, while the regional train had simply failed to appear. “They told us a replacement bus would come, but it never materialised – apparently they couldn’t hire one. In the end, I had to plead with the Alfa Pendular conductor, who kindly let me board despite the train already running 40 minutes late. Often, it’s only thanks to the goodwill of the staff that we’re able to travel at all. They’re the ones who warn us about cancellations or delays. The whole thing is a lottery.”
Other recurring complaints include broken air conditioning, with temperatures inside carriages reaching 40ºC in summer, windows that cannot be opened, and a lack of basic cleanliness. Passengers frequently describe the smell of urine in the carriages.
These issues concern not only daily commuters but also the region’s image for visitors. “Tourists are shocked – they never expected to find trains in such a state on a European Union line,” said Moreira.
Another passenger added: “This is a third-world line. I doubt you’d even find conditions like this in Morocco.”
For many Algarve residents, however, the train remains the only viable option for getting to work. Passengers stress the urgent need for proper investment to improve quality of life and restore respect for rail users.On Wednesday, services happened to run on time. As for the return journey – and the days ahead – no one could say what to expect.
CP were contacted for comment, but no response had been received by the time of publication.
Credit to Sul Informação
