Diesel trains continue operations for an additional two years due to chronological hold-ups.
Here's the Lowdown on the Diesel Railcar Lease Extension
It's all about the diesel railcars once more, with CP, the Portuguese railway company, given the green light to foot the bill for a multi-year contract extension. This extension pertains to the rental of diesel railcars series 592, a move aimed at offering services on non-electrified lines, specifically the Douro and Oeste lines and the international Porto-Vigo service.
Why the fuss about the Porto-Vigo service, you ask? Well, the Minho Line it operates on might be electrified, but the electrical voltage isn't uniform between Portugal and Spain. Since no dual-voltage trains have been rented, service still relies on diesel equipment.
The extension of this lease will last until 2028, tackling costs for 2026, 2027, and a chunk of 2028. The total cost for this extension? A solid €4,960,720.30. Breaking it down, you'll see €2.4 million in 2026, €2.1 million in 2027, and €355,000 in 2028.
Curious about the papers behind this decision? They were signed by none other than José Maria Brandão de Brito, Deputy Secretary of State for Budget, and Cristina Pinto Dias, Secretary of State for Mobility. The order was tossed down on May 27th.
A Few Extra Bits- The extended lease period is necessary due to delays in the electrification of railway infrastructure and the absence of alternative rolling stock.- The Porto-Vigo service operates on the Minho Line, which is already electrified, but the electrical voltage varies between Portugal and Spain, making it unsuitable for current rolling stock. Despite rental attempts for dual-voltage trains, none have materialized as yet.- The lease extension covers costs that will be incurred through 2028. Leased locomotives for this service hail from the Spanish company Renfe.
- Although the Minho Line is already electrified, the electrical voltage variation between Portugal and Spain necessitates the continued use of diesel equipment for the Porto-Vigo service, as no dual-voltage trains have been rented.
- The Portuguese automotive industry might potentially benefit from the extended lease period of the diesel railcars, as the delay in electrifying railway infrastructure and the absence of alternative rolling stock have prolonged the need for these diesel railcars.
- The Portuguese finance and transportation sectors collaborated on the lease extension of the diesel railcars series 592, which includes funding for these non-electrified lines, such as the Douro and Oeste lines, and the international Porto-Vigo service, as shown in the signed papers by José Maria Brandão de Brito and Cristina Pinto Dias.
