Metro Transportes do Sul

Cacilhas terminus 14 May 2009

The MTS, Metro Transportes do Sul also often called the Metro Sul do Tejo is a modern light-rail system in the towns on the south bank of the Tejo river opposite to Lisboa. Construction works started in 2003. The first tram arrived in 2005 and on 30 april 2006 the first section between Corroios and Cova da Piedade was inaugurated and entered public service the next day. On 15 december 2007 the route between Cova da Piedade and Universidade opened and finally on 27 november 2008 the current network was completed by opening the line to Cacilhas.

Network

The network is Y-shaped with three lines.

1. Cacilhas – Cova da Piedade – Corroios; one way trip time 19′
2. Pragal – Cova da Piedade – Corroios; one way trip time 15′
3. Cacilhas – Pragal – Universidade; one way trip time 19′

The length of the network in public service is 12 km, with another 1,5 km between the Corroios terminus and the depot.

There are 19 stops, six each on the Cacilhas and Universidade branches and seven on the Corroios branch. Corroios and Pragal are interchanges with the suburban trains of Fertagus. The long distance trains of the CP to the Alentejo and the Algarve also call in Pragal. Cacilhas is interface with the ferry across the Tejo to Cais do Sodré in Lisboa.

Most of the system is on reserved tracks at the side or in the centre of roads. In the central area of Almada and in the Ramalha area is some street running on roads with limited access by private cars.

The original plans included an about 16 km long extension from Corroios to Fogueteiro – Seixal – Barreiro. However no progress is made with this. Also a proposed extension from Universidade to Costa da Caparica is unlikely to be realised soon (if ever).

Rolling stock

Siemens supplied 24 vehicles of the Combino-plus type. These 4-section articulated 100% low-floor trams have eight axles and are powered by six motors on 100 kW each. They are 36.36 m long and 2.65 m wide. The trams have 74 seats and a total capacity for 232.

MTS Combino-Plus C024 in Corroios, 1 August 2007
Interior od a Combino-Plus, 18 September 2009

Gallery

A selection of photos. They are ordered from Cacilhas to Corroios and then from the Ramalha area to Universidade.

Cacilhas branch

Cacilhas terminus with in the background Lisboa, 14 May 2009
Avenida de 25 de Abril 1974 (Almada), 14 May 2009
25 de Abril stop, 14 May 2009
Gil Vicente stop, 18 September 2009
Avenida Dom Afonso Henriques, 14 May 2009
Avenida Dom Afonso Henriques, 18 September 2009
Praça Movimento das Forças Armadas, 14 May 2009
Combino-Plus C017 arrives at the São João Baptista stop, 18 September 2009
Avenida Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira, 14 May 2009
Almada stop. The Almada and Bento Gonçalves stops have a center platform, 18 September 2009
Bento Gonçalves. In the background the location where the lines 1 and 3 join. Combino-Plus C006 in service on line 3 comes from the direction Universidade. The clock and the departure time indicator are a bit out of pace, 18 September 2009

Corroios branch

Cova da Piedade, 14 May 2009
The viaduct that tackles the height difference between the Cova da Pidade (background) and Parque da Paz stops, 18 September 2009
An unidentified Combino-Plus on the viaduct between Cova da Piedade and Parque da Paz, 18 September 2009
Parque da Paz stop, 14 May 2009
Avenida 23 de Julho Vitoria Liberal near the António Gedão stop, 18 September 2009
Avenida 23 de Julho Vitoria Liberal. Comboio-Plus C010 just left the António Gedão stop, 22 September 2019
Avenida 23 de Julho Vitoria Liberal near the Laranjeiro stop, 14 May 2009
Laranjeiro stop, 18 September 2009
Avenida 25 de Abril (Corroios) between the Santo Amaro and Casa do Povo stops, 17 July 2008
Avenida 25 de Abril (Corroios) near the Casa do Povo stop, 18 September 2009
Corroios terminus, 22 September 2019
Corroios. Combino-Plus C007 is on the track used to reverse the trams. The tracks at the sides are to/from the line to the depot In the background is the railway station, 18 September 2009
Combino Plus no. C001 going home between the Corroios terminus and the depot, 18 September 2009

Ramalha area

Rua de Alvalade, 14 May 2009
Rua Lopes de Mendonça, 14 May 2009
Rua de José Justino Lopes, 14 May 2009
Ramalha, location where the lines 2 and 3 join. Comboio-Plus C002 in service on line 2 comes from the direction Corroios, 14 May 2009

Universidade branch

The viaduct between Ramalha and Pragal crossing the highway from Lisboa to the South, 14 May 2009
Pragal stop/terminus, 18 September 2009
Pragal. Combino-Plus C003 is as line 3 on the way to Universidade, at the left Combino-Plus C011 on the stub track used to reverse the trams of line 2, 18 September 2009
Boa Esperança stop, 14 May 2009
Fomega stop, 14 May 2009
Monte Caparica stop. Combino-Plus C009 displays the line number 23 with the direction Corroios, 17 July 2008. At this time the Cacilhas branch was not yet opened and trams operated directly between Corroios and Universidade.
Universidade terminus. The tracks continue for about 120 m beyond the terminus, 14 May 2009

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