Linha do Algarve

Linha do Algarve
Linha do Algarve in Faro.
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Infraestruturas de Portugal
Locale	Faro District
Termini	Lagos Vila Real de Santo António
Service
Type	Regional rail, High-speed rail
Operator(s)	Comboios de Portugal
Rolling stock	CP 0450 CP 4000 CP 4700 CP 5600
Technical
Line length	139.5 km (86.7 mi)
Number of tracks	One
Track gauge	Iberian
Electrification	25 kV / 50 kHz Overhead line (Tunes to Faro)
Operating speed	Maximum 160 km/h (99 mph)
Signalling	Interposed Automatic Block
Train protection system	Automatic train control
Route map

Location on the network

+ Lagos × VRSA (🔎)

v t e Linha do Algarve
Legend
km cancelled extensions 347.305 Lagos original; now Lagos Railway Museum 347.210 Lagos 339.173 Mexilhoeira Grande 330.281 Portimão 325.186 Estômbar-Lagoa 319.181 Silves 310.444 Alcantarilha Linha do Sul 301.889 Tunes 307.082 Albufeira-Ferreiras 315.611 Boliqueime 324.220 Loulé 331.870 Parque das Cidades 340.008 Faro 349.951 Olhão 359.496 Fuseta 371.127 Tavira 384.058 Cacela 395.978 Vila Real de Santo António to Ayamonte, Spain
Detailed diagram km to Linha de Sines to Linha do Sul Odemira Aljezur cancelled extensions 347.305 Lagos original; now Lagos Railway Museum 347.210 Lagos 344.575 Meia Praia 341.403 Odiáxere Arão River 339.173 Mexilhoeira Grande Farelo River 337.662 Figueira Vale Grande Bridge across  N 125  Torre River 333.566 Alvor 330.281 Portimão Portimão Railway Bridge across Arade River 328.329 Ferragudo 328.100 Ramal de Ferragudo 327.040 Charuto Bridge 325.432 Lagoa Bridge Ramal da Ponta do Altar cancelled branch Mexilhoeira 325.186 Estômbar-Lagoa 319.181 Silves 319.000 Vale da Lama 317.351 Silves-Amorim 317.000 Vala 314.080 Poço Barreto 313.000 Lameira 310.444 Alcantarilha 309.130 Mesquita Bridge 310.000 Sobrado 306.251 Algoz 304.910 Alvalede underpass 304.556 Alvalede 303.205 Tunes-EDP 302.716 Tunes Junction 000.000 Linha do Sul to Lisbon Campolide-A [pt] 301.889 Tunes 307.082 Albufeira-Ferreiras 311.000 Fontainhas 312.000 Patã 315.611 Boliqueime 318.502 Benfarras 320.400 Vale Judeu 322.000 Várzea da Mão Ramal de Boliqueime cancelled branch 323.658 323.995 Loulé goods 324.220 Loulé Ramal de Loulé cancelled branch  N 396  Estr. Vale de Éguas 325.734 Vale de Éguas R. Vale Formoso 327.634 Almancil formerly Vale Formoso 331.175 Almancil-Nexe 331.870 Parque das Cidades 332.400 São João da Venda 334.000 Diogal 334.692 Provimi 335.000 Borgal 336.500 Patacão 338.170 Marchil Bridge 338.009 Marchil 340.008 Faro Faro Marina Bridge 334.700 Portas do Mar Ramal Loulé cancelled branch 341.148 São Francisco 342.060 Faro Harbour Faro-Vagarosa 342.200 Bom João ship yards Rua do Moinho da Palmeira Faro-Torpiva Lavadeiras River Seco River 344.600 Faro-Quimigal 343.700 Rio Seco 344.000 Garganta Meia-Légua River 346.000 Meia-Légua Bela Mandil River 349.455 São Bartolomeu 349.951 Olhão Porto de Olhão Marim River 353.605 Marim Fontes Santas River 355.828 Bias 358.645 Fuseta-A 359.496 Fuseta 361.993 Est. Fonte Sagrada 362.385 Livramento Mosqueiros River Luz River 365.716 Luz Arroio River 366.000 Pedras d’ El Rey 368.500 Varanda 371.127 Tavira Séqua River 372.770 Porta Nova 373.000 Pagapouco 373.245 Est. Fonte Sagrada 375.787 Almargem River 376.941 Conceição 378.880 Pinheiro 380.124 Santa Rita 381.576 Nora 384.058 Cacela 387.323 Aroeira 389.911 Castro Marim 393.354 Monte Gordo 395.978 Vila Real de Santo António Linha do Guadiana cancelled line VRSA mills 396.700 VRSA harbour 396.941 Vila Real de Santo António - Guadiana Guadiana River Portugal Spain border Ayamonte Renfe to Huelva & Zafra

Linha do Algarve is a railway line in the region of Algarve, in southern Portugal, which connects the stations of Lagos to the west and Vila Real de Santo António to the east of the Portuguese region.

The line runs east to west along the southern municipalities of the Algarve, except for part of Lagos municipality and all of Vila do Bispo municipality which doesn't have railway. The main stations are Vila Real de Santo António, Tavira, Olhão, Faro, Albufeira, Tunes, Silves, Portimão and Lagos. Other stations include Fuseta, Bom João (Faro), Almancil, Algoz and Estômbar.

All passenger services are run by the national railway operator Comboios de Portugal. Cargo services are operated by Medway. The infrastructure is owned and maintained by Infraestruturas de Portugal. The main railway station is Faro, the most important cargo terminal is Loulé.

Four passenger services operate on the Linha do Algarve. The Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, CP Regional, and a special service during the summer, the InterRegional. The CP Regional trains operate the line completely from east to west with an interchange at Faro. The Alfa Pendular, Intercidades and InterRegional only serve Messines-Alte, Tunes, Albufeira, Loulé, and Faro.^[1]

The track from Vila Real de Santo António to Vila Real de Santo António - Guadiana, which linked the line to the ferries to Ayamonte, in Spain, is closed.^[2]

In 1858, the expansion of the Linha do Sul, today Linha do Alentejo, from Beja to Algarve was planned;^[3] in 1864, the contract between Companhia dos Caminhos de Ferro de Sul e Sueste and the Portuguese state was signed.^[4]

The connection to Faro was completed on 21 February 1889,^[5] but only opened on 1 July of the same year.^[6]

The railway reached Olhão on 28 March 1904 (although the station was only opened on 15 May of that year^[7]), Fuseta railway station on 1 September,^[7] Luz on 31 January 1905,^[7] Tavira on 19 March, and Vila Real de Santo António on 14 April 1906.^[8] Towards Lagos, the stations of Algoz, Ferragudo and Lagos were opened on 10 October 1889,^[4] 15 February 1903^[9] and 30 July 1922.^[10] The Vila Real de Santo António – Guadiana station was opened in the 1940's and closed in 1998. Trains now finish their journey at the 'town' station some 1km short of the river and ferry.^[8]

Work began in late 2022 on a project to modernise and electify the Faro to Vila Real de Santo António and Tunes to Lagos sections. As of May 2024, work between Faro and Vila Real de Santo António is well advanced. The Tunes to Lagos section is several months behind, having started later. The smaller stations are being equipped with modern high platforms, along with new shelters and lighting. Several level (Grade) crossings are to be eliminated by the construction of bridges.^[11]

• List of railway lines in Portugal
• List of Portuguese locomotives and railcars
• History of rail transport in Portugal

• Cabrita, Aurélio Nuno (2014). O comboio no Algarve: festejos e inaugurações. Lisboa e Portimão: Casa do Algarve e Centro de Arte e Cultura Teixeira Gomes. ISBN 978-989-96133-3-1.
• Marques, Maria da Graça Maia (1999). O Algarve Da Antiguidade aos Nossos Dias. Lisboa: Edições Colibri. ISBN 972-772-064-1.
• Santos, Luís Filipe Rosa (1995). Os Acessos a Faro e aos Concelhos Limítrofes na Segunda Metade do Séc. XIX. Faro: Câmara Municipal. ISBN 972-772-064-1.
• Santos, Luís Filipe Rosa (1997). Faro: um Olhar sobre o Passado Recente. Faro: Câmara Municipal. ISBN 972-772-064-1.