Corgo line
The Linha do corgo is a railway line in the north of Portugal and branches off from the main line Linha do Douro in Régua from. The distance between Régua and Chaves was the first railway line, which was constructed and operated in Portugal. The route overcomes a difference in altitude of 370 meters in the first 25 km between Régua and Vila Real. This section is still in operation. The remaining distance was put out of operation on 1 January 1990. Since 24 March 2009, the traffic is set to the track.
History
For the distance we needed a train in lightweight construction with a track width of only 900 mm. In the years 1875-1876 the trains of the line between Régua and Vila Real were still drawn by horse power. The construction of the line and its operation was partially supported by the Companhia de VinÃcola Portugal, but was later dissolved and then took over the CP Companhia dos Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses operation. The Linha do corgo was taken in the following stages in operation:
- Régua - Vila Real: May 12, 1906
- Vila Real - Pedras Salgadas: July 15, 1907
- Pedras Salgadas - Vidago: March 20, 1910
- Vidago - Tamego: June 20, 1919
- Tamego - Chaves: August 28, 1921
The terminus of Chaves was provided for that here three railway lines meet: The Linha do corgo, the Linha do Tamego and a line of Guimarães. The planned Linha de Guimarães has never got beyond the station of Fafe and the Linha do Tamego never came in Chaves ( was not built on the Arco de Baúlhe addition ).
At the end of the 1980 year, the Linha do corgo was divided into two parts: Régua - Vila Pouca de Aguiar and Vila Pouca de Aguiar to Chaves. The last regular schedules over the entire 96 km route saw 4 runs before and although two in each direction. Even then, there was more demand for the route of Régua to Vila Pouca de Aguia. The portion of Vila Pouca de Aguiar was on January 1, 1990, adjusted to Chaves.
On 24 March 2009, the Infrastructure Manager REFER put the traffic provisionally on the track. As a basic safety deficiencies are cited. Customers have expressed concerns longer-term adjustment similar to the section Bragança -Miranda Delaware on the Linha do Tua, which was decommissioned in 1991. Since the mothballing the route is completely modernized, what miteinschließt among other rehabilitation of stations and stops, and the rails of the chassis. The costs amount to a total of 23.4 million euros, the route should be set to reopen the timetable change in late 2010.
Meanwhile, the route is considered to be decommissioned. So the removed rail track so far ( April 2013 ) were not replaced. The population of the region continues to claim the re- opening of the line. No specifications were officially been made , however. In view of the euro crisis and the rigid austerity stand still a number projects in the country.