Linha do Tua

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See also: Narrow gauge railways in Portugal
Tua line
Dg114434 duartebelo.jpg
Tua line between Foz Tua and Mirandela, along Tua River
Overview
Native nameLinha do Tua
Locale Portugal
TerminiTua
Bragança
History
Opened1887
Closed2008
Technical
Line length133.8 km (83.1 mi)
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
hideRoute map
Km Station
Spain (cancelled proj.)
133,768
R. Bragança-Junta
route before 1960
×
125,529
122,198
119,960
(136 m)
(30 m)
 117,032
(155 m)
110,254
Highest point on the Portuguese railways (850 m)
×
104,553
102,343
100,873
099,301
096,834
094,630
091,394
Azibo Bridge × Azibo River
 089,240
085,280
→ (cancelled pj.)
082,774
078,791
074,097
067,108
×
065,307
061,142
×
058,138
056,446
R. Mirandela-SAPEC
056,390
Mirandela bridge
055,450
055,125
(128 m)
 054,681
→ (cancelled pj.)
054,200
054,092
(old station)
T. Valp.
→ / (cancelled pj.)
048,411
(72 m)
044,967
041,866
037,778
033,895
029,252
025,024
021,189
017,768
015,515
013,375
(formerly Amieiro)
(137 m)
 007,590
(38 m)
(99 m)
(45 m)
 004,261
(137 m)
L. Douro
→
000,000 Tua
L. Douro
→
L. F. T. a Viseu
→ (cancelled pj.)
Tunnel on the Tua line

The Tua line was a metre gauge railway line in northern Portugal, which connected Tua to . The line was opened in 1887 and closed in 2018. The section from to is planned to be reopened in 2019.

History[]

This highly scenic line ran north from a junction with the main Douro line at Tua Station, closely following the banks of the Tua River to the towns of Mirandela and Bragança. The railway opened in 1887. It was the first and longest (at 133.8 km) of all the narrow gauge railways built to serve the area north of the River Douro. It was originally operated by Companhia Nacional de Caminhos de Ferro (CN).[1][page needed] From 1947 onwards, until closure, the line was operated by CP.

Trains on the line were hauled by steam locomotives for much of the line's existence. From the 1970s onwards trains on the line were hauled by CP Class 9020 diesel locomotives, which were withdrawn when the line closed. Diesel railbuses, such as the Série 9300 and finally the Série 9500, were also used on some passenger trains.

Part of the route of the Tua line was submerged in 2016 after the conclusion of Foz Tua Dam.[2]

Other narrow gauge railways in northern Portugal included the Corgo line and the Tâmega line (both closed in 2009) and the Sabor line (closed in 1988).

Closure[]

The northern section of the line between Mirandela and Bragança was suddenly closed in December 1991, with the closure being formalised in 1992. The southern section between Tua and Mirandela remained in use.

Most of the remaining 54 km section south of Mirandela was closed abruptly in August 2008 on grounds that emergency track repairs were necessary.[3] This followed the derailment of a railcar near Brunheda, resulting in the death of a passenger and 25 injuries.[4]

A twice-daily taxi service replaced the train service, but was withdrawn on 1 July 2012 thus appearing to mark the final and formal closure of the line.[5] However, the taxi service was restarted on 9 July 2012 for a further initial three-month period, later extended indefinitely.[6] Though actual train services had been withdrawn, it was possible to travel as a passenger with a CP ticket using the replacement road service. In May 2016 the Mirandela local authority decided to withdraw funding for the replacement road service due to financial constraints.[7]

Budget cuts by the Portuguese Government led to a decision to permanently close the line, as announced in the Government's Strategic Transport Plan 2011–2015, published in October 2011. Actual train services were effectively withdrawn in 2008, apart from a short section around Mirandela which was operated as the Metro de Mirandela until December 2018.[8]

Future developments[]

As of 2018, the possibility of reopening the railway between Brunheda and Mirandela as a tourist attraction is being explored.[9] The trackbed south of Brunheda will be submerged by the Foz Tua Dam scheme.

A visitor centre for the Tua Valley (including features on the railway line) has been developed on the former Tua line platform at Tua station.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Organ, J. (2010). Portugal Narrow Gauge. Middleton Press. ISBN 978-1-906008-67-3.
  2. ^ Somague (18 February 2011). "Foz Tua Dam - Laying of the first stone" (Press release).
  3. ^ "Linha do Tua encerrada por ordem do Governo" [Tua line closed by order of the Government]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 22 August 2008.
  4. ^ "Acidente na Linha do Tua faz um morto e 25 feridos" [Accident on the Tua Line leaves one dead and 25 wounded]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 22 August 2008.
  5. ^ "Linha do Tua - Supressão Serviço Rodoviário - 1 julho 2012". CP (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 23 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Linha do Tua - Serviço Rodoviário Alternativo". CP (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 1 August 2012.
  7. ^ Suspension of the Metro de Mirandela, May 2016
  8. ^ "Metro para a partir de segunda para avançar plano de mobilidade do Tua". Notícias ao Minuto (in Portuguese). 12 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  9. ^ "Vale do Tua".

Coordinates: 41°12′14″N 7°25′15″W / 41.203957°N 7.420906°W / 41.203957; -7.420906

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