Rail Enthusiast? What to see in the Algarve.

Because of the travel restrictions that have been in place for most of the past year, it has not been possible to get any recent pictures. Not that much has changed! Algarve train times here. Some of the links to other picture albums do not seem to be working. I am checking these but so far cannot understand the problem!.

For those who are keen, the freight terminal at Loulé generates fairly regular trains of aviation fuel traffic (destined for Faro airport) also irregular brick and sand trains. At Vila Real de Santo António the unloading of bagged cement has now ceased. Traffic was lost during strikes about six years ago. Delivery is now by road. Tunes is a good place for a couple of hours of train watching. Unfortunately the brick siding is not in regular use, which limits the activity. A small shed houses a track inspection machine, which rarely ventures out in daylight.

The empty fuel tankers from Loulé being taken back the refinery at Sines (pics below) normally pass through Albufeira between 1145am and 12noon but not necessarily every day. The loaded train goes through in the evening.

The centre of passenger operations is at Faro. There are several platforms and much shunting to and fro. The whole line is single track with passing places. It is electrified between Lisbon, Tunes and Faro with modern signalling etc installed in 2003/2004. The section between Faro and Vila Real has recently been modernised, with new high platforms at the stations and, for the first time in the line's history, SIGNALS!! Previously the line was operated under written train orders. Electrically controlled points (switches) have replaced the old manual systems. Work on building the new platforms at stations is complete although some stations still do not have high platforms.

Other, similar, work has been completed on the western section of the line between Tunes and Lagos

The museum building at Lagos' old station has been closed to the public for many years. I did have some pictures but these are now lost.

It had been announced (again!) that the remainder of the line would be electrified, with initial work commencing in 2019 with completion in 2021. That however has gone by the wayside following (apparently) objections by environmentalists to the installation of overhead electric power systems to enable the ancient diesel trains to be replaced.Last I read as 2023 was the new target date.New stations are a possibility as it was said that 'things have changed since the line was built over 100 years ago!' There was also a study being made into a fairly bonkers scheme to build a branch line to the airport. That idea has been re-activated but the chances of it happening are less than zero.

Attitudes to railway safety would give the UK's various authorities heart failure! It is nothing unusual to see people strolling alongside or across the track. There are few fences. US citizens be warned - unlike examples I have read about in your country, it will be your fault entirely if you get hurt. However please exercise common sense when taking pictures near railway land, especially if there are no fences. The electric trains in particular are silent, fast and deadly.

Some more pictures including a few from a temporary railway history exhibition at Faro are via this link.

Algarve trains -  some more pictures

Alfa Pendular High Speed Train at Tunes Station	Older diesel locomotive not seen here now	Freight passing Tunes heading towards Lisbon - these trains are no longer diesel hauled and most have ceased.
Track in the countryside north of Messines station	Messines old station building      Vila Real de Santo António Station - click or tap for full size	Freight train carrying sand passing Tunes heading for Loulé
TUNES STATION	Regional train boarding at Faro 01.07.14 - click or tap for full size	TRAINS AT FARO 01.07.14 LEFT ALFA PENDULAR, CENTRE INTERCITY, RIGHT EXCURSION SPECIAL - click or tap for full size
Intercity train near Messines click or tap to see full sized	At Vila Real there is an excellent steam train turntable in fairly good condition. Sorry about the sky. That picture was taken some years ago. I had a more second visit  and you can see some pictures of the much changed area at the end of this album.	Faro main station building click or tap for full size image.
Faro sea wall, October 2011 thanks to Steve Widdowson click or tap to see full sized	Unit 0462 at Tavira February 2012 click or tap to see full sized	Regional train Faro to Tavira on the sea wall just east of Faro 1st July 2014. click or tap to see full size.
Algarve Regional Train interior - once these were First Class seats now declassified. click or tap for full size.	Alfa Pendular train at Faro - click or tap to see full size.	For some more pictures of Faro station and trains on 1st July 2014 please visit my picture album
The little station at Boliqueime cleaned of graffiti and looking quite nice - 7th July 2014. click or tap to see full sized. It has since been comprehensively vandalised at least twice. In terrible condition August 2017.	Disused freight shed at Boliqueime station same day. click or tap to see full sized.	Steve Widdowson sent me some excellent pictures of trains in the Algarve taken in October 2014 - take a look at them here. There are hundreds of great pictures of the Algarve line from the past forty years or so at http://www.flickriver.com/groups/1519610@N21/pool/interesting/
Conceição station December 2014 - click or tap to see full size	Cacela station December 2014 - click or tap to see full size	Faro station May 6th 2015 - click or tap to see full size
Some kit that does not normally venture out in daylight click or tap to see full sized	Stabled in Faro click or tap to see full sized
	This is why those less able have problems with our trains! This the step into the Alfa Pendular trains click or tap to see full sized	Lagos station June 2015 - click or tap each picture to see full sized
Portimão station  - classic design on a dull 17th February 2016 - click or tap to see full size	Portimão - the 1329 to Faro enters the station on 17th February 2016. Needs a clean! click or tap to see full size	Disused crane at Portimão - British made! click or tap to see full sized
Thanks to Steve Widdowson once again for these next four pictures taken in April 2016	The old steam train ash pit at Lagos - click for full size	Unusual livery on an Intercity train carriage click for full size
A very unusual sight - this Intercity train at Tunes is formed of nine carriages! Normally they are only three or four. Taken 25th April 2016 click for full size	The aviation fuel train empties passing Tunes heading north. Now in the hands of Takargo, its load was taken off at Loulé freight terminal and shipped by road to Faro airport. Click for full size. Thanks to Steve Widdowson.	Another shot of the fuel train, waiting to pass a passenger train at Albufeira on 5th October 2016 - taken by me. Click to see full size.
The last few of a sizeable number of people leaving the Lagos to Faro train at Faro on 5th October 2016. Like most of the trains down here, it is covered in graffiti tags. Click or tap for larger size	Silves station 27th October 2016 after remodelling, completion of new high platforms and track renewal. Click to see full size.	One of the refurbished Alfa Pendular trains in the new grey livery at Faro station, 31st August 2017. Click for full size.
The unacceptable face of the railway here. With nowhere to store trains securely, vandalism of this type is endemic. I don't know if the railway is unable, unwilling or both to prevent this. Also at Faro, 31st August 2017. Again, click for full size.	Intercity train from Lisbon entering Albufeira 8th May 2018. Click for larger size Some more pictures by Steve Widdowson mostly taken June 2018 here - will open a new window	Sad to relate that nothing is being done about the repeated vandalism. Faro, 14th October 2018
The railway is still either unwilling or unable to combat the vandalism perpetrated by children and young adults. All the trains now look like this. Picture dated 16.1.19	Ferragudo - Parchal station 24 January 2019 A café / bar occupies the left hand side of the building. The station is unstaffed and actually located in Parchal.	Albufeira - Ferreiras station 4 May 2019 click to see full size
The afternoon train to Lisbon arrives 4 May 2019 click to see full size	A fair few board the train - click for full size	The 1429 to Faro enters the station - click for full size
The same graffiti smothered train on arrival at Almancil click for full size	I hope to fill these boxes soon!