RAILWAY STRIKES AND OTHER ACTIONS

YET MORE STRIKES!

This time a WHOLE MONTH of strikes and other actions from 5th June to 5th July.
The strikes and other actions are not continuous but will cause huge disruption to train service across the whole country.
Please check your journey at the company website https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times/Alerts/strike

NEW PAGES

Direct coach /long distance bus Faro - Albufeira - Cascais** - Sintra twice daily for the summer. Details here. ** The stop 'in Cascais' is in fact 7km from the town itself.

Summary of coaches between Armação de Pêra and Lisbon here. A fairly absurd 29 departures daily to Lisbon between the two companies!

REDE- EXPRESSOS CROSS BORDER COACH / LONG DISTANCE BUS SERVICE TO SPAIN -

SERVICE INCREASED FOR THE SUMMER

The cross border coach / long distance bus service  of Rede Expressos / ALSA between Lagos and Seville will be operating four journeys per day in each direction until at least 30th June, calling at Portimão, Albufeira, Faro Airport, Faro and Tavira in Portugal. There may be be more journeys in the peak summer months. There is now also a Seville to Albufeira and return journey, allowing connections by local buses to and from Portimão and Lagos.The night-time journey and two daytime journeys Lisbon - Albufeira - Faro - Tavira - Seville are also operating.  Some journeys also stop in Huelva. Times here.

CLIFFS LINE BUS ROUTE 52 ALVOR - PORTIMÃO - FERRAGUDO - CARVOEIRO - BENAGIL - ARMAÇÃO DE PÊRA

Now in operation. Runs every two hours, every day. Details and link to timetable etc here.

TIMETABLE CHANGE AEROBUS FARO - AIRPORT - ALBUFEIRA - LAGOA - PORTIMÃO - LAGOS

A change to the timetable came into effect on 1st June. Service increased for the summer to seven journeys each way, every day. Details and link to new timetable here.

CHANGES TO TRANSRÁPIDO BUS TIMETABLE - VAMUS ROUTE 57

There were changes to the times on this route in effect from 1st June. This is to allow more time because of traffic congestion. Some buses will run EARLIER! Overall journey time Faro to Lagos extended by 15 minutes. New times from 1st June here.

ALBUFEIRA GIRO BUS SERVICE -  STILL ABSOLUTELY NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT BUS STOPS

There is STILL NO INFORMATION about the 'new' routes and timetables at the bus stops and very little at the bus station except for paper maps and timetables posted at the various stops. The network was changed in December2022! Some timetables have changed five times since then. People are still having to stop drivers to ask if it's the right bus for them. Not everyone is holding a mobile phone and even those who do have little or no idea where to look for information!

It's www.vamusalgarve.pt/giro - or find the VAMUS app. Click 'Idioma' to see the site in American English, French and Spanish. So it's 'line' not 'route' and 'schedule' not timetable.

I have managed to construct new timetables, using official information, which can be accessed here. I will keep checking and update as often as I can. In the meantime, I apologise for errors or omissions!

TRANSPORT ON DEMAND BUSES IN VERY RURAL AREAS

I have added a page to list the 'on demand' buses that operate in some of the Algarve's very rural areas. Typically, these run two or three times a week to take people into town during the morning and take them back early afternoon. Some routes are available every day, some only during school holidays. All 'on demand' buses operate only on weekdays and must be pre booked. Check here.

BUS TICKET MACHINES NOW BEING INSTALLED AT BUS STATIONS

VAMUS, the regional bus company, is installing ticket machines at bus stations. These will make it easier to purchase tickets and recharge pre paid passes. They are now up and running at Faro, Lagos, Albufeira and Tavira bus stations, also at the Faro Airport bus stop. Soon to follow at Loulé and Quarteira bus stations, also at Aqua Shopping at Portimão. They work in English and Portuguese, but will not sell tickets and passes for the urban networks such as Vai e Vem in Portimão and Giro in Albufeira. I have read that these will be available at some future date.

OPERATOR FOR ALGARVE REGIONAL BUSES

Bus Station ticket office hours

Paying for the bus - local buses in the Algarve region

Discounts for long distance train travel!

OTHER DISCOUNTS ON TRAIN TICKETS

If you are aged 25 or under, CP is offering a 25% discount on all Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, InterRegional and Regional train tickets. You can use this discount in any class, any day of the week. Just show official ID with proof of your age such as a Citizen card, ID card, driving licence or passport. You can buy your tickets from long-distance ticket offices, netTICKET travel agents. These tickets can be reissued or refunded.

Young people aged 26 or over can still enjoy the Cartão Jovem discount for individual journeys.

In addition, a 40% or higher discount is available to all travellers on long distance Intercity and Alfa Pendular trains who make reservations on line eight days or more in advance. Reservations open 60 days before travel. On some trains the number of these discounted tickets is limited. These tickets can be exchanged for a different train, but are not refunded if you don't make the trip. You can buy your print at home tickets at www.cp.pt and in English. DO NOT buy tickets from RailEurope or any other site as they cannot offer the discount and cannot provide you with the mandatory seat reservations. These you would have to obtain locally and pay an additional fee for them. Anyone over 65 can travel half fare on trains so long they have ID eg passport.

STEP FREE ACCESS TO TRAINS - NOT POSSIBLE

TAXIS INCLUDING UBER ETC