January 15 marked the fifth anniversary of the reopening of CP – Comboios de Portugal’s Guifões Workshops, where 50 carriages of various types have been restored since 2020. This restoration effort has expanded the availability of trains in Portugal.
The workshops’ reopening in January 2020 represented a turning point for CP during a period marked by reduced services and operational challenges. “The reopening of the Guifões Workshop had a special meaning, enabling CP to grow again. The results speak for themselves and make us proud,” said Pedro Moreira, Chairman of the Board of Directors of CP, reflecting on the significance of this milestone.
According to Moreira, the efforts to restore rolling stock—not only at Guifões but also at other facilities like Contumil, Entroncamento, and Barreiro—have been instrumental in boosting passenger transport capacity and enhancing service quality. These initiatives were crucial in accommodating the surge in rail transport demand over the past five years. Preliminary data for 2024 indicates that over 185 million passengers used CP services, an increase of 12.8 million compared to the previous year and a substantial rise from the 126.2 million passengers recorded in 2018.
EUR 2.5 million invested in Guifões Workshops
The restoration and modernization of the Guifões Workshops required an investment of approximately EUR 2.5 million and led to the creation of 79 jobs. Over the past five years, the facility has played a key role in CP’s operations, restoring:
- 13 Schindler carriages, primarily serving the Douro Line and special services on the Beira Baixa Line.
- 14 Sorefame carriages, also deployed on the Douro Line.
- 23 Arco carriages, used for inter-regional services on the Minho Line and connections between Valença and Figueira da Foz.
The workshop also conducts general overhauls of railcars and other maintenance tasks, ensuring the continued reliability of CP’s rolling stock.
By reopening workshops and restoring immobilized rolling stock—including railcars, locomotives, and carriages—CP has been able to respond effectively to the growing number of passengers. This approach supports territorial cohesion and promotes the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of the country.
Over the past six years, CP has seen passenger numbers grow by more than 46%, a testament to public confidence in rail services and the efficiency of trains as a sustainable transport option. Pedro Moreira credited CP’s workforce for this success, stating: “It is thanks to the commitment, dedication, and professionalism of our employees that Comboios de Portugal continues to grow and deliver higher quality services to the Portuguese people.”
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