Sintra will remain connected to the Rossio station, and will also have trains to the Oriente station. Meanwhile, the Meleças-Mira Sintra connection will switch from Oriente to the Baixa de Lisboa station. The Sintra-Alverca connections will also be maintained, but the trains from Azambuja to Alcântara-Terra will now travel to Santa Apolónia, and the Castanheira do Ribatejo connection will switch from Santa Apolónia to the Alcântara-Terra station.

According to CP, the new schedule aims to ensure "equal intervals between trains," while maintaining "the same number of trains per day."

For the Rossio station, a frequency of every ten minutes is planned, with an increase from four to six trains per hour during peak periods, and on the Linha de Cintura, direct trains on the Sintra-Rio de Mouro section will increase "from two to six per hour." On the other hand, the company considers reducing the train frequency from 15 minutes to 20 minutes outside peak hours on the Sintra and Meleças "families," with reduced occupancy rates "around 20%," allowing resources to be reallocated without negatively impacting demand.

The changes aim to prevent about 45% of users on the Sintra/Rio de Mouro section (about 10,000 per day) from having to transfer to the Linha de Cintura, although requiring part of the 28% (about six thousand/day) heading to Rossio to change trains. The new schedule will also involve changes to the boarding and disembarking platforms on the Azambuja line at the Oriente, Moscavide, Sacavém, Bobadela, Santa Iria, and Póvoa stations.

The changes seek to respond to a shift in user demand, who, since the closure of the Rossio tunnel for works between 2004 and 2008, have been traveling to Sete Rios and Entrecampos on the Linha de Cintura.

The initial proposal from CP ended the Sintra-Rossio connection, with the station only receiving trains from Meleças, but the municipality led by Basílio Horta (PS) managed to convince the carrier to maintain the direct connection to downtown Lisbon, mainly because of the tourists visiting the historic town.

Between the municipality and the carrier headed by Manuel Queiró, it was also decided that "the validity of the L123 pass is extended to the Meleças station," whereas until now it could only be used up to Cacém.

In order to promote the use of parking lots near the stations, CP will negotiate a "price reduction or inclusion in the monthly pass, in coordination with Refer (National Railway Network) and concessionaires," for railway users.

CP, in a statement, highlighted the collaboration of the municipalities of Amadora and Sintra in creating the new model aimed at improving the punctuality index of the service and generating a greater balance in train occupancy, avoiding overcrowding and providing "higher comfort levels."

Notícias sobre Sintra
07.Jun.15