PORTUGESE national rail operator Comboios de Portugal (CP) is planning to reinstate loco-hauled regional trains and expand inter-city services.
This follows a decade where services were cut back, and nonelectrified routes were mostly operated using hired DMUs from RENFE in neighbouring Spain.
CP has re-opened its workshops at Guifoes, near Porto, to overhaul rolling stock and several 1400 class diesel locos, which were built by English Electric/Sorefame 1967- 1969 with 1,300hp EE 8CSVT engines, have been in regular use working services on the Porto to Regua line in the Douro Valley since July.
CP has also sent several 2600/2620 Class electric locos - built by Alsthom/Sorefame 1974-987, based on the French 'BBl 5000' design - for overhaul.
These were all stored by 2012 and 19will be reinstated to operate services on the country's main electrified routes.