Class 3250 EMU

Location: Cais Da Rocha, Lisbon, Portugal
Operator of Vehicle: CP Urbanos de Lisboa (Lisbon Area Commuter Rail)
Date of Photo: November 15, 2013

The high speed railways in European countries such as France, Germany, Spain, and Italy are well known both among transit fans as well as other travelers.  Many are familiar with the TGV, ICE, and AVE names, even if they are not necessarily the types of people who might visit this website on a regular basis.  However, not every country in Europe is as reliant upon high speed trains for its intercity transit network.  One such country is Portugal, where eighty percent of the country’s railroad ridership is on the commuter rail lines serving the Lisbon area.  The Lisbon commuter rail is not even the biggest “attraction” in the city’s transportation network (that title goes to the Remodelado Trams), but it is very useful for anyone who wishes to visit Cascais or Sintra.  In addition, the Cascais line right of way runs adjacent to one of Lisbon’s tram lines and several bus routes in the vicinity of its Cais do Sodré terminus.  Isn’t it fun when three different modes come together like that?  

The Class 3250 EMU train photographed here was introduced in 1959 and refurbished between 1998 and 2002.

For more photos of Lisbon area commuter rail trains, please click here.