Sintra 1

The Sintra tramway has only operated a limited service between the outskirts of Sintra and Ribeira during 2008 due to flood damage to parts of the line.
1. The outer terminus at Praia das Macas.
2. The closure notice.
3 & 4. The depot at Ribeira.

Goodbye Lisbon

1. Parked cars and vans often delay the tram service.
2. In 1978 route 12 operated on this street in both directions. Now it is only in the uphill direction returning to Martim Moniz via the Catherdral and Praca Figheira.
3. The junction of routes 12 and 28.
4. Goodbye Lisbon.

Staff and tickets

1 - 3. In 1978 all the trams had both a driver and a conductor and the trailers also had their own conductors, now there are no conductors. In 1978 all the drivers and conductors were men, now there are a lot of women drivers and they have their own smart uniform with a yellow shirt and cravat whereas the drivers have blue shirts and ties.
In 1978 fares were paid in cash. There were two fares - one or two stages and all the way. The conductors issued simple flimsey paper tickets which were clipped with very British looking hand nippers.
4. Nowadays there is flat fare a single ticket issued by driver for 1.40 Euros (Tarifa de Bordo). All other tickets use some form of smart card which itself costs 50 cents. Multi-journey and day tickets can be bought from machines in metro stations. A day ticket costs 3.70 Euros (Bilhete 1 Dia (24h) Rede) plus 50 cents for the smart card. However the next day the smart card can be re-validated for only 3.70 Euros using one of the same machines.

5. Two designs of smart card were in use and as far as I could make out they were interchangeable. The blue one came from a Fertagus booking office and the green from a Metro machine.

6. Having got your smart ticket you now have to persuade the electronic conductor that it is valid. There is nothing on the ticket to indicate its validity. The smart card reader simply has green light with benign beep and a red light with a raucious sod off beep.

Evening

I think that it is easier to take night shots with digital cameras. These were taken on 1st and 2nd Oct.

Praca dos Camoes

There was some disruption to public services on 1st October. A good old fashioned day of action. Most of the buses at Cacilhas were parked in the bus station and some of the commuter trains were not running. For their part the Carris trams staged a pantomime at Praca dos Cameos.

1. When we arrived (on foot), it appeared that the trams were turning short rather than continuing to Prazeres - the point is set for the curve.

2. But it wasn't that simple. The next tram pulled into the loop, allowed another to pass it and then reversed back out again. To avoid pushing the fixed head trolley, the pantograph was used for this. Here it is back on the main line with both collectors on the wire. It moved forwards about two tram lengths like this before the pantograph was lowered.

3. All this shunting was in a busy square surrounded by impatient cars and vans.

4. Here are 5 trams wating enter Praca dos Camoes.

5. Here are 5 trams queueing on the far side.

The first of these pictures was taken at 13:41 and the last at 14:33 during which time there were no trams in the opposite direction. Shortly afterwards the 5 trams simply set off. We therefore suspect that it was some form of token strike by some drivers.

Lisbon's new tramways

A completely new standard gauge tramway is being constructed on the south side of the Tagus in areas that were open countryside in 1978. It is not operated by Carris but by MTS (Metro Transportes do Sul). When complete it will be a 'Y' shaped network with services from Corroios or Universidade to Cacilhas. Corroios can be reached by the new cross river Fertagus commuter train service and Cacilhas by frequent ferry services from Cais do Sodre.
1 - 3. At present a service is provided between Corroios and Universidade but loadings are light whilst the buses to Cacilhas are heaving. The trams are new style Combinos.
4 - 6. Construction at Cacilhas.

More Lisbon

1. Prazeres with a pantograph fitted 25 and a trolley equiped 28.
2. There is only a 20 min tram service and a 20 min bus service to Adjuda and lots of buses to Boa Hora.
3. Santo Amaro is now the only tram depot.
4. Trams on service 15 to Alges are turning short at Belem because of road works.