A dual-proposal by left-wingers Bloco de Esquerda (BE) and ecologists “Os Verdes” to start renovation work on the rundown Algarve railway line was rejected last week in parliament.
The proposals received negatives votes from the coalition parties PSD/CDS-PP, which justified their decision with the country’s “lack of financial fuel”, while the remaining parties in parliament (PS, PCP, BE and Os Verdes) voted favourably.
BE had said before presenting the proposal that the much-needed upgrade “could not be continuously postponed”, especially as the line “serves as a means of transportation for two million passengers per year, and many studies highlight its viability and profitability”.
The face-lift was predicted to include the electrification of sections between Tunes-Lagos and Faro-Vila Real de Santo António.
BE had stressed that investment was an “urgent” necessity in order to make the railway a strong point of “sustainable development” in the Algarve.
