Disruptions Impacting Train Operations
The construction of the Metro do Porto's Rubi Line is underway, causing temporary restrictions on rail traffic between Porto-Campanhã and Aveiro. These suspensions and limitations are mainly during nights and weekends to facilitate construction work, particularly at Gaia-Devesas station and the new metro bridge over the Douro River.
Key Points:
- Rail traffic restrictions occur on weekends and weekdays from mid-August to December 2025, including overnight restrictions roughly from 10 pm to 10 am on weekends and 11 pm to 5 am on weekdays, coordinated with Infraestruturas de Portugal and CP (Comboios de Portugal).
- These restrictions are linked to construction activities such as building an underpass at Gaia-Devesas station and works on the new metro bridge (D. Antónia Ferreira Bridge) that the Rubi Line will use exclusively, affecting train circulation on the Porto–Aveiro line.
- The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 for the Rubi Line in general, but the bridge finishing works are projected to continue into 2027, which may extend certain restrictions or impacts on rail traffic beyond 2026.
- The Rubi Line, a 6.4 km metro line with 8 stations including Casa da Música and Santo Ovídio, will ultimately provide a direct metro crossing over the Douro River and relieve congested existing bridges, benefiting commuter flow between Porto and Gaia once finished.
During the construction period, Metro do Porto will provide road transfers for CP passengers. The stops for these road transfers will be at Porto-São Bento, Porto-Campanhã, General Torres, Gaia-Devesas, Coimbrões, Madalena, Valadares, Francelos, Miramar, Aguda, Granja, Espinho, Ovar, and Aveiro for long-distance services.
It's important to note that the August 15th holiday and the holidays on December 1st and 8th will have work restrictions on weekdays. The construction will not affect the rail traffic on weekends from October 2nd to 5th. Train service restrictions will be in effect on weekends from August 10th to 17th, and from September 28th to October 5th, from 11:50 pm to 7:50 am.
The Rubi Line project, initially expected to cost 435 million euros, will now cost an additional 50 million euros. The project's president has admitted that the total cost of the Rubi Line may still increase.
The planned stations for the Rubi Line in Gaia are Santo Ovídio, Soares dos Reis, Devesas, Rotunda, Candal, and Arrábida, and in Porto, Campo Alegre and Casa da Música. The construction is currently underway between Casa da Música and Santo Ovídio.
The Rubi Line includes an exclusive reserve for the metro, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic. The construction of the underpass at the Gaia-Devesas station was coordinated with Infraestruturas de Portugal and CP - Comboios de Portugal. The total cost of the Rubi Line, including the bridge, is yet to be determined.
Once completed, the Rubi Line will connect important hubs in Porto and Gaia, enhancing mobility across the Douro River.
- Despite the temporary traffic restrictions on the Porto-Aveiro line due to the construction of the Rubi Line, particularly during the nights and weekends, the financial aspect of the project is escalating, with the initial cost of 435 million euros increasing to 485 million euros.
- The construction of the Rubi Line, including the new metro bridge over the Douro River and the underpass at Gaia-Devesas station, will not only revolutionize transportation in Portugal's industry and finance sectors by providing a direct metro crossing over the Douro River, but it will also prompt the use of road transfers for CP passengers at several stations along the Porto–Aveiro line.
