Linha da Beira Alta

Linha da Beira Alta
Linha da Beira Alta
	Linha da Beira Alta close to Pampilhosa.
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Infraestruturas de Portugal
Termini	Pampilhosa; Vilar Formoso;
Technical
Line length	202 km (126 mi)
Track gauge	Iberian
Electrification	25 kV / 50 kHz Overhead line
Route map

Location on the network

+ Pampilhosa × Vilar Formoso (🔎)

Linha da Beira Alta

Legend

				km
					Linha do Norte to Lisbon
				50.426	Pampilhosa
					Linha do Norte to Porto
				73.549	Mortágua
				85.474	Santa Comba Dão
				97.960	Carregal do Sal
				102.368	Oliveirinha-Cabanas
				109-097	Canas-Felgueira
				117.212	Nelas
				128.509	Mangualde
				133.799	Contenças
				144.208	Gouveia
				152.243	Fornos de Algodres
				167.919	Celorico da Beira
				181.834	Vila Franca das Naves
				206.307	Guarda
					Linha da Beira Baixa
				225.872	Cerdeira
				251.894	Vilar Formoso
					ADIF to Spain

Detailed diagram

km

Linha do Norte to Lisbon

50.426

Pampilhosa

Ramal da Figueira da Foz

Linha do Norte to Porto

54.052

Quinta do Valongo-Vacariça

56.320

Pego

Carpinteiros tunnel

58 m

59.220

Luso-Buçaco

Pequeno Salgueiral tunnel

103 m

Grande Salgueiral tunnel

1,096 m

Portinhas tunnel

76 m

Várzeas River

63.200

Trezói

Trezói tunnel

542 m

Azeval tunnel

200 m

67.407

Soito

Espinho tunnel

190 m

Ribeira tunnel

84 m

Monte Lobos tunnel

390 m

70.800

Monte dos Lobos/

Monte de Lobos

73.549

Mortágua

76.000

Freixo

Breda

Coval tunnel

33 m

Linha de Penacova
to Coimbra
(
cancelled
extension
)

85.474

Santa Comba Dão

Linha do Dão to Viseu

89.830

93.629

95.600

97.960

99.700

102.368

103.901

107.050

109.097

111.900

115.453

117.212

123.870

128.509

Murilo tunnel

228 m

133.799

Contenças

139.888

Abrunhosa

140.260

Abrunhosa

(original)

Abrunhosa tunnel

305 m

144.208

152.243

157.617

160.655

167.919

170.980

173.154

176.008

177.890

181.834

Vila Franca das Naves

Linha do Côa
to Pocinho
(
cancelled
branch
)

184.682

187.268

191.670

Trajinha / Trajadinha

199.572

Sobral

originally

Sobral-Avelãs

202.500

Alvendre

206.307

Guarda

Linha da Beira Baixa
to Entroncamento

210.395

Gata

Ramal de Monte Barro
to Sabugal
(
cancelled
branch
)

213.516

216.894

222.008

225.872

229.085

232.712

237.275

239.606

244.241

246.883

originally Aldeia

de São Sebastião

251.894

Vilar Formoso

252.161

Portugal

Spain

border

ADIF Line 120
to Ciudad Rodrigo,
Salamanca & Hendaye

Linha da Beira Alta is an international railway line which connects Pampilhosa on the Linha do Norte, close to Coimbra, to the border with Spain, at Vilar Formoso.

The electrified, mostly single-track, iberian gauge (1,668 m) line runs parallel to the Mondego River.^[2] It is the main railway access from Portugal to the rest of Europe.^[1] It was constructed by Companhia dos Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses da Beira Alta to open a new international link, closer to Coimbra, and to connect the line to the Port of Figueira da Foz. It was opened on 3 August 1882.^[3] During the modernisation and electrification in the 1980s and 90s the signalling and tracks were replaced.^[1]

As of June 2023, the entire line is closed for further modernisation work with buses replacing passenger trains. Completion date unknown. The works include construction of a new chord, the Concordância da Mealhada, allowing freight trains from the north to avoid the Pampilhosa area. Level (grade) crossings are to be eliminated and upgraded signalling installed. More information, in Portuguese, at https://www.infraestruturasdeportugal.pt/pt-pt/modernizacao-da-linha-da-beira-alta-2

Linha da Beira Alta diagram on azulejos artwork at the Vilar Formoso railway station

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c Martins et al, 1996:198-199
^ "Beira alta, Beira baja y los Ramales de Cáceres y Badajoz". Maquetren (in Spanish). Madrid: A. G. B., s. l. 1994.
^ Torres, Carlos Manitto (1 February 1958). "A evolução das linhas portuguesas e o seu significado ferroviário" (PDF). Gazeta dos Caminhos de Ferro. Retrieved 11 January 2019.

Sources[edit]

Martins, João; Brion, Madalena; Sousa, Miguel (1996). O Caminho de Ferro Revisitado (in Portuguese). Lisbon: Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses.
"2019 Network Statement" (PDF). 7 December 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2019. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

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[Marins-1] Martins et al, 1996:198-199

[2] "Beira alta, Beira baja y los Ramales de Cáceres y Badajoz". Maquetren (in Spanish). Madrid: A. G. B., s. l. 1994.

[3] Torres, Carlos Manitto (1 February 1958). "A evolução das linhas portuguesas e o seu significado ferroviário" (PDF). Gazeta dos Caminhos de Ferro. Retrieved 11 January 2019.

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