Torres Vedras, Portugal, Jan 5, 2025 (Lusa) - The Oeste line (Sintra/Figueira da Foz) is reopening to train traffic on Sunday on the section between Malveira (Mafra) and Torres Vedras stations, in the Lisbon district, CP and Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) said.

The reopening of the line to rail traffic comes after the work to replace the level crossing signalling cables has been completed as part of the modernisation and electrification works on the line, the two companies said in a joint statement.

IP also estimates trains will restart between Malveira and Meleças (in the municipality of Sintra) ‘in February’, considering the ‘extent of the damage at Meleças station’.

Until train traffic is restored on the entire line, alternative bus services will be provided.

As part of the works to modernise the line, train traffic between Meleças and Torres Vedras was suspended in April 2024 ‘to allow work to be carried out in the Sapataria tunnel’ in the municipality of Sobral de Monte Agraço.

The suspension was expected to last four months but was extended due to unforeseen situations in the work on the tunnel, whose rehabilitation and adaptation works for electrifying trains were completed in November.

The rest of the work between Mira-Sintra-Meleças and Torres Vedras ‘is practically finished’, but in the meantime, there have been acts of vandalism and theft of materials from the signalling, distribution and overhead power supply systems, and IP is in the process of restoring circulation and safety conditions.

The deadline for completion of the works has already been postponed several times.

FCC/ADB // ADB.

Lusa