Portugal has introduced a new transport initiative which is the green railway pass. This is going to start on October 21. This new pass costs 20 euros per month. It replaces the old national rail pass and aims to make train travel easier and cheaper. It covers several train services, but there are some rules and restrictions to know about.
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New Green Rail Pass In Portugal
The green rail pass lets you travel on regional and inter-regional trains. It also covers urban trains in Coimbra, Lisbon, and Porto, as well as second class inter city trains. The pass is affordable and a good choice for those who use these routes often.
You need to reserve a seat if you want to use the intercity services. You must do this up to one day before your trip. You can only reserve one seat per trip and take up to two different trips each day. This rule helps ensure that all pass users have access to seats when they travel.
Green Rail Pass Limitations in Urban Areas
The green rail pass has some limits, especially in Lisbon and Porto. In these cities, it is only valid on certain lines. The pass does not work on routes covered by the metropolitan intermodal passes, like the Navegante pass in Lisbon and the Andante pass in Porto. These passes cost up to 40 euros a month and cover more types of transport, such as buses and metro lines.
With the green rail pass, you can only use a few railway lines in these cities. In Lisbon, it covers the Carregado to Azambuja line. In Porto, it works on lines like Vila das Aves to Guimarães, Paredes to Marco de Canaveses, Paramos to Aveiro, and Lousado to Braga. These routes connect suburban and nearby areas and are helpful for people living or working outside the city centers.
The pass does not cover every type of train service. For example, it does not include high speed trains like the Alfa Pendular which connects major cities quickly. It also does not apply to international trains, like the Celta service between Portugal and Spain.
Additionally, the pass only allows travel in second class on intercity and inter-regional trains. If you want to travel in first class, you need a different ticket. It also does not work for urban trains within the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto. For these areas, other intermodal passes or tickets are required.
How To Use The Green Rail Pass
You have to load a green rail pass onto a CP Card to use it. The CP Card is the official travel card from CP ( Comboios de Portugal) which is the country’s railway company. Once loaded, the pass is valid for 30 consecutive days from the date of purchase. This one does not offer extra discounts or savings.
The price of 20 euros is set so that everyone can afford it. The goal is to keep things simple. So users know exactly what they are getting for the price. The pass is designed to make train travel easy for frequent commuters.
Government Funding And Transition Period For The National Rail Pass
The government supports the green rail pass with funding. It is part of Portugal’s plan to offer cheap and sustainable transport options. The funding comes from a public service contract between the State and CP.
In 2024, the government has set five million euros for the pass. In 2025, the budget will increase to 19 million euros.
The old national rail pass will still work until October 31. This allows current users to switch to the new green rail pass smoothly. It also gives new users time to learn about the system and decide if the green rail pass suits their needs.
The pass is great for people who live outside city centers or need to travel between regions. It may not cover all services, but it offers a lot of value for the price.
