Giugiaro
Member
Due to a severe lack of money, political issues with possible displaced residents and a usual distaste to railways, the idea of Metrobuses replacing railways is becoming more and more popular in Portugal.
An old branch between Coimbra and Serpins, in Portugal, which was closed for refurbishment and adaptation into a light rail was abandoned for years with half the construction works done. The empty corridor will now be replaced with a Metrobus system, that requires the demolition of the centenary railway central station of Coimbra and the end of direct connections between the city centres of Porto and Coimbra.
Today, concerning both North and South branches of the Vouga line, it has been announced that a Metrobus solution is also being considered since this is cheaper, more practical, flexible and politically safer than any other rail-based solution.
Unlike the Metrobus infrastructure in Adelaide, Australia, the idea is to simply replace the railway with a simple sheet of asphalt, with no interventions done to the layout of the track. Because of its flexible nature to work on normal roads as well, the size of the vehicles is capped to the values expected on the law, namely 13,5 to 18,75 metres.
It is becoming an increasing trend to consider building Metrobuses in place of rail or light rail in Portugal. Is the same also happening elsewhere?
An old branch between Coimbra and Serpins, in Portugal, which was closed for refurbishment and adaptation into a light rail was abandoned for years with half the construction works done. The empty corridor will now be replaced with a Metrobus system, that requires the demolition of the centenary railway central station of Coimbra and the end of direct connections between the city centres of Porto and Coimbra.
Today, concerning both North and South branches of the Vouga line, it has been announced that a Metrobus solution is also being considered since this is cheaper, more practical, flexible and politically safer than any other rail-based solution.
Unlike the Metrobus infrastructure in Adelaide, Australia, the idea is to simply replace the railway with a simple sheet of asphalt, with no interventions done to the layout of the track. Because of its flexible nature to work on normal roads as well, the size of the vehicles is capped to the values expected on the law, namely 13,5 to 18,75 metres.
It is becoming an increasing trend to consider building Metrobuses in place of rail or light rail in Portugal. Is the same also happening elsewhere?