Richard Smith Profile picture
Apr 18 119 tweets 70 min read
I'm heading to Portugal, for the first time travelling there from London without flying.

It's Day 5, and it's time for a new operator on this #SouthernRailways trip: CP (Comboios de Portugal), the national railway company of Portugal. Image
After picking up my free (but pointless?) reservation for the CP Internacional train to Porto, I had just under an hour to wander in Vigo. ImageImageImage
Maritime terminal; I think cruise ships still use it. ImageImageImage
A Galician contribution to @RateMyBuffers Image
Views down the Vigo Estuary out into the Atlantic. ImageImageImage
Harbour. ImageImageImage
The pleasant centre. ImageImageImageImage
I suspect there was a lot more to the centre, but it was a challenge to see it in the time available. ImageImageImage
Time for CP International 420 Vigo-Guixar to Porto-Campanhã

This train runs 2x a day: this train, at 08:58, and a later train, at 19:56. Only this train gets you into Porto with enough time to continue

Remember my train y'day arrived at 23:16. These links aren't thought through ImageImageImage
Passing the port on the way out of Vigo. It's not the quietest train! (Currently a short but key part of the route across the border is not electrified, I believe.)
Gorgeous views down the estuary. ImageImageImageImage
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Route maps. Image
Across the River Minho, which marks the Spanish 🇪🇸 - Portuguese 🇵🇹 border.

(@jonworth, watching this back, it looks like there's catenary right up to and over the border, so I assume the voltage issue is the reason these diesel units are used right now.)
Valença, first stop in Portugal. ImageImageImageImage
This signage feels very Rail Alphabet 2! (@_doublearrow @GarethDennis)

Apart from the electrification and the cedilla, I could be on Northern! Image
I like the look of Portuguese units; always a fan of yellow ends. ImageImageImage
The beautiful Atlantic Coast.
We had a prolonged stop at Viana do Castelo; yet it was only as I read the passage in @EuropeByRail about it making a good stop and checked train times that the doors closed. D'oh! ImageImageImage
Across the Ponte Eiffel (yes, again, that Eiffel) over the Lima River. It carries both rails and a road stacked atop. ImageImageImageImage
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My train was a bit delayed so I thought a quick side excursion to Braga wasn't an option (the next train was a while off and required a fee), but they held the suburban train for us!

(Oh what a joy, boarding a train without having to reserve!) ImageImageImage
Here's the train I arrived on departing. These should really be more frequent, and ideally electric; it's daft how weak cross border links can be in Europe.

(@jonworth is worth a follow on this, he's going to be embarking on a trip to cross every EU border by train soon!)
w i d e b o i ImageImageImage
Network map. Porto has quite an extensive suburban network.

In Portugal, you only have to reserve on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains with InterRail.

It's not perfect, but it's a relief after Spain. Image
Braga. ImageImageImage
@RateMyBuffers, you know what to do.

(Braga, Portugal, on my ongoing #SouthernRailways trip.) ImageImageImage
Booking.com if all hotels had to be honest. Image
Reservation bought for my train later. It was very straightforward, but wish it were on proper ticket stock. Image
The station building is very distinctive, especially with the globe on top. I'm not sure what to think of it, but it's unusual for sure! Image
Cursed vibes Image
The Arco de Porta Nova, marking the entry to the old city of Braga. ImageImageImage
The pretty centre. ImageImageImage
Sé de Brega ImageImageImageImage
I know this is meant to be holy and reverant, but something about the design of these unfortunately makes it instead a bit comic. (I think it's the expressions.) Image
Central courtyard fountain
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Stunning interior of the cathedral. ImageImageImageImage
Red post box! Image
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Fountain. (It's another gorgeous day.)
This is like but not exactly the same as a UK phone box. Image
I don't think I've ever seen such a floral city, from these beds near the cathedral... ImageImageImageImage
To these fat cacti. Image
To these beds running all the way up one of the main shopping areas. ImageImageImageImage
Just a gorgeous city. ImageImageImageImage
Time to board my train, an Alfa Pendular from Barga all the way to Lisbon; I'm just going to Porto. ImageImageImageImage
The train is a tilting Series 4000 Pendolino, much like the Class 390 Pendolinos operating on UK's West Coast Main Line, albeit marginally older and wider. (Same smaller windows, though!)

Only ten were built (1 then scrapped), so the fleet winds up being stretched rather thin. ImageImageImageImage
Here you can see the tilting at work.
Tilting does what cant can't.
Heritage stock and Renfe coaches in the yard. ImageImageImage
Porto-Campanhã, complete with very BR signage. (Including the shade of teal used for other languages.)

But I think it's just Arial. ImageImageImageImage
River valley views on the short hop to Porto-Sao Bento station, in the centre. ImageImageImage
Sao Bento station. ImageImageImageImage
Grand murals in the ticket hall. ImageImageImageImage
I'm sure those warning stripes will stop a train. @RateMyBuffers ImageImage
Cathedral adopt a hill overlooking the valley at the heart of the city. ImageImageImage
The Luís I Bridge, a double deck bridge with a low level and high level deck (pictured).

The high level is shared between trams and pedestrians, with a series of bollards separating them flexibly in a way that railings couldn't. ImageImageImage
Stunning views from the high level, especially on a glorious day like this. The water is so blue. ImageImageImageImage
Former monastery on a hill. Image
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A cable car runs down to the river bank. (I didn't check this time, but last time I think it was quite expensive.) Image
Pretty boats (some with port barrels onboard) bobbing in the river. ImageImageImageImage
Nice, if a bit touristy embankment. Image
I took a boat across to the north bank. ImageImageImageImage
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And then hurried up the hill to catch a train south.

I'd been planning to take another AP, but the ticket office said all the AP/IC trains were full until 17:30 (though there's a gap in service so that's not that many trains!).

Scuppered some plans.

#BanCompulsoryReservation ImageImageImageImage
I booked the 17:30, but still want to see some other places first.

So it's time for a very full commuter train instead.

A lot of people had suitcases, which suggests quite a few people couldn't get the train.

I hope CP orders more trains next time renewal is needed. ImageImageImage
We waited past our departure time at Porto-Campanhã to ensure a connection from a longer distance train.

This is good, but mostly driven by the relatively poor frequencies. I have also found real time information on CP is basically absent, unless I'm missing something online. ImageImageImage
We reversed and crossed over the River Douruo.

The bridge you can see isn't the one I showed you earlier; it's actually an old railway bridge. ImageImageImage
Views of the sea between houses. Image
We crawled for a while; probably due to works but possibly because we were following something. (Unlikely as we were an all stations train.)

The works appear to be for adding extra tracks/platforms, hopefully to enhance the service. ImageImageImageImage
Views of the Atlantic on our way south.
Beautiful painted tiles at Ovar station. ImageImage
Almost everyone onboard alighted at the terminus of this Suburban train, Aveiro.

I'm wondering if the frequency is affected by the works. (It's currently only twin track, shared with long distance trains)? ImageImageImage
Beautiful old station building and smart new building. ImageImageImageImage
Vending machine shop. As in, a shop full of vending machines, not a vending machine vendor. Image
Even in the best of circumstances I wasn't going to have much time in Aveiro, but with the delay I only had time to walk to the nearest bit of canal in the 'Venice of Portugal' and take this photo.

So... extrapolate what the place is like from this, I guess. Image
There was also this nice art deco building.

I'm regretting my side trip to Barga a bit as it ate up more time than I'd hoped (it was pretty though), but I suspect I'd just have hit the same issues later otherwise. Image
Time for a Regional Express onwards to Coimbra. ImageImageImage
With this roof design present at many stations, I bet this line/stations was refurbished in the 80s/90s at the same time as various Network SouthEast stations and the NS line via Almere. ImageImageImage
Coimbra-B (I believe B stands for Bifurcação = Junction).

My train dwelled here for long enough that I could have a wander, and discover that the whole station relies on a flat crossing to access every platform (w lights).

Between it and the steel cars, it felt almost American. ImageImageImageImage
Coimbra station, in the centre of town. It's aging gracefully. ImageImageImage
Don't worry, if the buffers don't stop the train, that hosepipe must be at least a bit elastic?

Hmm, you're right, that might not work, let's put down a block of wood too.

Okay fine, let's cover our bases, can't be too safe etc.

Put a rock on it.

@RateMyBuffers ImageImageImageImage
Views of the River Mondego, which runs through Coimbra. ImageImageImage
I only had maybe 25-30 minutes here, so yet again today it was time for speed tourism. (I do this a lot!) ImageImageImageImage
Body horror statue. ImageImage
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University atop a very steep hill. ImageImageImage
Views of the city. ImageImageImage
A really pleasant and labyrinthine old city on a hill. ImageImageImageImage
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Multi coloured post boxes! Image
Back to Coimbra-B. ImageImageImageImage
Coimbra-B is definitely a 'non-standard' station, even ignoring the level crossing. The main platform gets very narrow to fit around some disused sheds shoved between two running lines. ImageImageImageImage
And then, of course, there's all the level crossing weirdness.
This is fine.gif
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Here's my train: an Intercidades (InterCity), with a loco pulling Corail coaches. These seem to run 5-20 minutes after an AP and take (currently, including engineering work impacts) 15 minutes longer (with older, but still comfy stock; and more stops).
Unmistakably Corail. ImageImageImageImage
A smooth and gently scenic journey south. ImageImageImageImage
Entroncamento, complete with railway museum. (Sadly was closed today, otherwise I would have gone!) ImageImageImageImage
Lots of old and disused stock and facilities. ImageImageImageImage
Will have to come back here some day; even putting the museum aside there's a fascinating quantity of railway stuff around. ImageImageImageImage
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Lisbon Oriente station; a grand roof designed by Calatrava, and so it's inevitably a high wavy thing that acts as a wind trap.

Will try and pop by here during my time in Lisbon. Image
Lisbon Santa Apolonia station, end of the line. Its grandeur is hidden behind scaffolding, but it's still an exciting place to be, and really 'felt' like the kind of place InterRail trips are made of. ImageImageImageImage
Oh, and they still practice the 'shunter release' method of working with coaches here!
Leaving this loco behind to depart light engine. ImageImageImage
Time to grab food and go to my hotel.

First, the metro.
The first thing I encounter on leaving the metro in Lisbon: people outside a bar dancing to La Bamba.

(Bit on the nose, don't you think?)
And then a tram goes by.
I'd better get my boat before I encounter any more clichés. ImageImageImage
I've got a whole day in Lisbon tomorrow, and so I'm probably going to tweet a lot less, possibly just a couple highlights.

It's tough to tweet when exploring a city, and it's good not to burn out too much as there's a risk of getting distracted from enjoying the experience. ImageImageImageImage
So for now, from Lisbon, I bid you a boa noite!

(Thanks to everyone who followed me today, I seem to have picked up most transport/travel fans in Portugal!)

#SouthernRailways
#Worldle #88 1/6 (100%)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🎉
worldle.teuteuf.fr

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More from @richardavsmith

Apr 20
It's Day 7 of my #SouthernRailways trip, and I'm heading from Lisbon 🇵🇹 to Seville 🇪🇸.

I've really enjoyed my time in Portugal, I need to come here more often. Image
A pleasant walk to Pragal station, spotting the morning commuter traffic into Lisbon heading towards the bridge, and a TAAG Angola Airways jet. (Always love a dot on the front end of a jet.) ImageImageImage
Read 33 tweets
Apr 19
I spent Day 6 of my #SouthernRailways trip in and around Lisbon, so here's some highlights.
A very windy crossing.
Cais do Sodre station. ImageImageImage
Read 22 tweets
Aug 21, 2019
You can find my journeys by train in Europe earlier this year here. #springoftrains

You've got to hand it to Eurostar: it takes a lot of self confidence and optimism to claim you have WiFi time and time again despite all evidence to the contrary. We could all learn a thing or two

(My first tweet was initially sent in London. It didn't make it up until Calais!)
Read 320 tweets

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