Porto Metro
From Freepedia
The Porto Metro (Metro do Porto), part of the mass transit public transport system of Porto, Portugal, is a network of electrified railways that run underground in central Porto and above ground into the city's suburbs. The Porto Metro was founded in 2002, currently the major construction site in the European Union. It is a modern and open metro system, using a modern system of chip tickets, where the person does not need to take the ticket from ones wallet, just needing to put it in front of the scanner. The ticket is also suitable for other transport carriers in Porto Metropolitan Area.
The Metro uses modern Bombardier Flexity Outlook Eurotram low-floor trains.
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Line A: Senhor de Matosinhos - Estádio do Dragão
Travel time: 39 minutes and 4 seconds
- Senhor de Matosinhos
- Mercado
- Brito Capelo
- Matosinhos Sul
- Matosinhos - Câmara
- Parque de Real
- Pedro Hispano
- Estádio do Mar
- Vasco da Gama
- Senhora da Hora (link to lines B and C)
- Sete Bicas
- Viso
- Ramalde
- Francos
- Casa da Música
- Carolina Michaëlis
- Lapa
- Trindade (link to line D)
- Bolhão
- Campo 24 de Agosto
- Heroísmo
- Campanhã (link to trains to/from Lisbon)
- Estádio do Dragão
The 'linha azul' (Blue line, line A) between Senhor de Matosinhos, in central Matosinhos and Trindade (central Porto) opened Porto Metro in 2002. The line was extended in 2004 to Estádio do Dragão, just for the Euro 2004 Football championship started.
Line B: Pedras Rubras - Estádio do Dragão
Travel time: 31 minutes and 35 seconds
- Pedras Rubras
- Crestins (Metro Bus to/from Póvoa de Varzim)
- Esposade
- Custóias
- Fonte do Cuco (link to line C)
- Senhora da Hora (link to line A)
- Sete Bicas
- Viso
- Ramalde
- Francos
- Casa da Música
- Carolina Michaëlis
- Lapa
- Trindade (link to line D)
- Bolhão
- Campo 24 de Agosto
- Heroísmo
- Campanhã (link to trains to/from Lisbon)
- Estádio do Dragão
In April 2005 14th, the 'linha vermelha' (Red line, line B) opened in the same day as Casa da Música. For the moment, it links Pedras Rubras to Estádio do Dragão. Due to several delays and security issues, the line will only be extended by December 2005 to Póvoa de Varzim, with any section opening before it. Only two stations will open in this city in 2005 (Póvoa de Varzim and São Brás), the third one, within the interior of the city in 25 de Abril avenue has no date set.
The red line was expand to Mindelo, an industrial area of Vila do Conde in June 2005; and, by September 2005, to Póvoa de Varzim. A bus line, runned by Porto Metro, links Crestins to Póvoa de Varzim.
Line C: Fórum Maia - Estádio do Dragão
Travel time: 32 minutes e 44 seconds
- Fórum Maia (Metro Bus to/from Trofa)
- Parque Maia
- Custió
- Araújo
- Pias
- Cândido dos Reis
- Fonte do Cuco (link to line B)
- Senhora da Hora (link to lines A and B)
- Sete Bicas
- Viso
- Ramalde
- Francos
- Casa da Música
- Carolina Michaëlis
- Lapa
- Trindade (link to line D)
- Bolhão
- Campo 24 de Agosto
- Heroísmo
- Campanhã (link to trains to/from Lisbon)
- Estádio do Dragão
The 'Linha Verde' (Green line, line C) opened July 30, 2005. The first phase was completed in the summer of 2005, and reached the centre of the city of Maia. The second will reach Trofa by 2006. A bus line links Fórum Maia station to Trofa.
Line D: Câmara de Gaia - Pólo Universitário
Image:Estação trindade Metro do Porto.jpg Travel time: 14 minutes and 26 seconds
- Câmara de Gaia
- General Torres
- Jardim do Morro
- São bento
- Aliados
- Trindade (link to lines A, B, and C)
- Faria Guimarães
- Marquês
- Combatentes
- Salgueiros
- Pólo Universitário
The 'Linha Amarela' (Yellow line, line D) links the centre of Vila Nova de Gaia, to the northern-most area of Porto, near the universities and the central hospital of Porto, Hospital de São João.
There were serious difficulties in escavating an area in the centre of Porto, which delayed the opening of the line. A serious subject is the line section that is being built near the universities, colleges and São João Hospital. The hospital and faculties are against the metro coming above ground in a so clustering place. The tests for this line started on August 1st, 2005 and today only links, due to the problems previously described, Vila Nova de Gaia to the universities (Campus da Asprela), very near to São João Hospital (the proposed final destination). Thus, the line is expected to grow to São João Hospital and more stations will be added in the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia.
Line E (under construction)
The Line E is a sub-line of Line B, and, before the end of 2005, it will connect the Estádio do Dragão to Porto Airport. It will only have two independent stations and share the rest with other lines.
Funicular dos Guindais
The Metro do Porto company also operates the Funicular of Guindais. Built in 1891, it was recently remodeled. It connects the riverside area of Ribeira to Batalha.
Future expansion
After the first fase is complete, the second phase will link Maia to Hospital de São João, Porto. Another line, will link Gondomar to Hospital de São João. There are studies for a line in the Boavista Avenue (a second link between the centre of Porto and Matosinhos), but this is a controversial subject.
