Lisbon Metro Work Disrupts Cascais Line This Weekend
Ongoing infrastructure work on the Lisbon Metro is causing significant mobility disruptions this weekend. Commuters on the Cascais Line are particularly affected by temporary closures and reduced service, with authorities providing bus replacements to mitigate the impact.
- The disruption is necessary for the construction of a new tunnel connecting the future Santos station to the Cais do Sodré station. This work is a critical part of the project to create a new Circular Line on the Lisbon Metro. - This new Circular Line will connect the existing Green and Yellow lines, forming a loop around the city center and is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2027. The total investment for this project, including the new CBTC signaling system and modernization of 26 train units, is approximately €344.2 million. - In addition to the Circular Line, the Lisbon Metro is also extending its Red Line by four kilometers from São Sebastião to Alcântara, with four new stations: Amoreiras, Campo de Ourique, Infante Santo, and Alcântara. This separate project has an estimated cost of €405.4 million and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. - The future Alcântara station is designed to be a major transport hub, directly linking the Metro's Red Line with the Cascais suburban train line and the future Sustainable Intermodal Line (LIOS Ocidental). - Projections for the Red Line extension anticipate an increase of 11 million passengers annually on the metro network, which could lead to a reduction of 3,700 private cars on the streets each day. - The overall expansion projects have faced delays of between 18 and 30 months and budget deviations of around €500 million across the three lines being extended (Yellow/Green, Red, and Violet). - The modernization of the Cascais Line itself is a separate, ongoing project under the responsibility of Infraestruturas de Portugal, with works largely taking place at night and on weekends to minimize service impact. The completion of these modernization works is expected in 2026. - During the weekend disruption, CP will provide a replacement bus service between Cais do Sodré and Algés, stopping at Santos, Alcântara-Mar, and Belém stations. These buses will be equipped with access ramps for people with reduced mobility, but will not permit the transport of bicycles or scooters.
