The Beira Baixa Line
240 km from the banks of the Tagus to Guarda, the highest city in mainland Portugal. It's often called one of the most beautiful railway lines in the country.
- EntroncamentoStart of the line
- Abrantes
- Vila Velha de RódãoLeaves the Tagus
- Castelo Branco
- Fundão
- CovilhãFoot of the Serra da Estrela
- GuardaEnd of the line
A line built through hard country
The Beira Baixa Line is an electrified, single-track railway linking Entroncamento and Guarda. King Carlos and Queen Amélia opened it in 1891, and it finally gave the interior of central Portugal a modern link to new markets, closing the gap between the railways of the north and the centre.
The terrain made it a tough build. It needed major works such as the Corge bridge and the Gardunha tunnel, and at the busiest point around 15,000 people were working on it. Portugal's financial crisis of 1891–92 then stalled the final stretch to Guarda for two years.
Since then the line has been electrified, gained Intercidades services and modern signalling, and is now part of the EU's Atlantic Corridor. A new junction is being built to connect it directly to the Beira Alta Line towards the Spanish border at Vilar Formoso.
The scenery changes all the way. The line follows the Tagus as far as Vila Velha de Ródão, skirts the Gardunha and Estrela mountains into the Cova da Beira, and climbs up to Guarda.
- 1876The government opens the tender for the line
- 1885Construction starts in December, section by section
- 1891Abrantes to Covilhã opens on 6 September
- 1893Guarda is reached on 11 May, linking up with the Beira Alta Line
- 2021Trains return between Covilhã and Guarda in April, after 12 years
Tourist services
On selected dates, CP runs a vintage day trip from Lisbon up the riverside part of the line.
Tagus Vintage Train
Restored Schindler coaches with large panoramic windows run from Lisbon Santa Apolónia to Castelo Branco. The best views come between Entroncamento and Vila Velha de Ródão, where the train follows the river past Almourol Castle and through the Portas de Ródão natural monument.
In Castelo Branco a guide and local musicians meet the train, and you get the afternoon free for lunch and sightseeing before the trip back to Lisbon. With your ticket you also get discounts at some of the city's museums, such as the Castelo Branco embroidery centre. Some editions offer a shorter programme to Entroncamento instead, with a tour of its historic railway neighbourhoods.
- Runs
- Special dates only, check CP for the next edition
- Route
- Lisbon Santa Apolónia to Castelo Branco and back, also stopping at Oriente, Vila Franca de Xira and Entroncamento
- Coaches
- Restored Schindler coaches with opening panoramic windows
- Highlights
- Almourol Castle, Belver, Portas de Ródão
- In town
- Free afternoon in Castelo Branco, museum discounts with your ticket
Regional services
Everyday trains along the line
You don't need a special trip to enjoy the Beira Baixa. Regular trains run the line every day, so you can ride the Tagus stretch on an ordinary ticket or use the train to reach towns such as Abrantes, Castelo Branco, Fundão and Covilhã.
Regional trains call at the smaller stations along the way, while Intercidades services from Lisbon cover the longer distances. Since 2021 trains have run all the way to Guarda again, finishing the climb to the highest city in mainland Portugal.
Plan your trip on the Beira Baixa
Information based on CP – Comboios de Portugal. Timetables, fares and vintage train dates are set by CP, so please confirm details on cp.pt before travelling.
