Tâmega line
The Linha do Tamego is a narrow-gauge railway track in Portugal. It is parallel to Linha do Douro and was built in 1000 mm narrow gauge. The purpose of the line was to merge the Linha do Douro with the Linha de Guimarães in Chaves and the Linha do corgo. However, the construction of the line reached only the station Arco de Baúlhe, and therefore, this plan was never completed. The Linha de Guimarães was never beyond the station of Fafe. All traffic was stopped on 24 March 2009.
History
The first line of the Linha do Tamego was taken between Livração - Caldas de Canaveses and Amarante on March 21, 1909 in operation. On November 22, 1926, a further section between Amarante and Apeadeiro de Chapa, opened on 20 March 1932 to Celorico de Basto and finally on January 15, 1949 to Arco de Baúlhe. On 1 January 1990, the operation was set between Amarante and Arco de Baúlhe.
The Linha do Tamego was in relation to the route of one of the hardest routes in Portugal, and therefore you needed 40 years to advance from Livração up to Arco de Baúlhe. Thus, it was the last railway line, which was completed in this area of Northern Portugal, and also one of the first to be shut down. Overall, the total distance was operated only 51 years, and thus keeps the Linha do Tamego the record for the shortest operating time of a route that was operated by the State Railways ( CP).
An English company that submitted the proposal to revive the disused since 1990 range from Amarante to Arco de Baúlhe. It presented an ambitious plan, but was rejected. The plan was that the route should be revived not only for tourism but also for the transport. Currently there is a tendency that ( Ciclovia ) wants to create in the part of Amarante - Gatão a bicycle hiking route.
On 24 March 2009, the Infrastructure Manager REFER put the traffic provisionally on the track. As a basic safety deficiencies are cited. However, since remedial measures are not planned, fear customers a long-term setting similar to the Bragança -Miranda Delaware section on the Linha do Tua. However, the route to be reopened in mid-2010.