Bus and train timetables for the Algarve - an unofficlal website

YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ THE GUIDANCE NOTES first as, at first sight, the operations here can seem a bit complicated.
For example, most buses in the Algarve do not have route / line numbers as they do in many countries.

NEWS and updates - latest - 16th June 2017

EXTRA SUMMER WEEKEND TRAINS LISBON - ALGARVE AND V.V.

As in recent years an extra Inter-City train will come down from Lisbon to Faro on Friday evenings, returning on Sunday evening. Those run until the first weekend of September. On Saturday mornings in July and August, there will be an additional AP fast train from Lisbon to Faro, returning in the afternoon. Those two AP trains will also run on the Assumption public holiday, Thursday 15th August. Details on the trains page.

WEBSITE UPDATE SWEEP COMPLETED

RENEX LONG DISTANCE BUS MERGER WITH REDE/EXPRESSOS

FROM 1st JUNE RENEX merged with the larger company Rede Expressos. All requests for the Renex website are now being redirected. Many of the separate RENEX bus terminals, eg in Albufeira and Porto, are now closed with services diverted to the Rede Expressos facilities. All services operated by Renex are now bookable through the www.rede-expressos.pt website. In brief, Renex operate nine journeys every day between Lisbon Oriente (close to the airport) and various Algarve destinations.

This merger does however make it very difficult to show all details of the various routes, so I have summarised journeys between Lisbon and Lagos, Albufeira, Faro and Portimão on separate printable pages.

I HAVE RENAMED THE LONG DISTANCE BUS / COACH PAGE TO AVOID CONFUSION WITH THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE. IT IS NOW www.algarvebus.info/100.htm

ALSA COACH SEVILLE - FARO - ALBUFEIRA - LAGOS CHANGE

PAGE UPDATED - ROTA DAS FALÉSIAS (CLIFFS ROUTE) TOURIST BUS LAGOS - CARVOEIRO - FERRAGUDO

This 'hop on hop off' minibus links Lagoa, the Carvoeiro area and Ferragudo during the daytimes. Details here. More information has been added thanks to a recent user. It is operated by the same company that runs the Albufeira tourist 'train'.

REPAIR AND REHABILITATION OF ALGARVE LINE RAILWAY STATIONS - FUTURE ELECTRIFICATION

It is unfortunate that graffiti and minor vandalism is endemic here. With most stations unstaffed and only one secure location for trains to be kept overnight, much of the system is thus completely open to the depredations of the local youth.

The project for the electrification of the two sections Tunes - Lagos and Faro - Vila Real de Santo António, has been confirmed by government with a total of 33.6 million Euros to be invested. Preliminary work will begin later this year, but will not be completed until mid-2020 at the earliest! This could create a problem for CP as by 1st January 2020 EU law requires that all trains must be fully accessible to wheelchair users etc. Those who know the current trains and stations will appreciate that 'disabled' access is almost completely impossible.

Let's hope that this project also includes more frequent trains. At present there are gaps of 3 hours between trains at certain times of the day.

In the short term there could be disruption to train service while works are under way. Watch this space. NB the buses they might use as replacements for train services are also unlikely to be accessible!

Checked in person?

TOURIST TICKET FOR ALGARVE LINE REGIONAL TRAINS

Available from STAFFED stations only. (Lagos, Portimao, Tunes, Albufeira, Loulé, Faro, Olhao, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António)

NOT VALID ON ALFA PENDULAR OR INTERCITY TRAINS

Do the sums first. A return (round-trip) ticket from Faro to Lagos is only €15,00.

STEP FREE ACCESS TO RAILWAY STATIONS AND TRAINS

I must emphasise that there is NO STEP FREE ACCESS at any Algarve station to any train while it is in the platform. All trains in use have steps up into the carriage. Some platforms are very low, making it difficult for some. I have added an item to the 'disabled page' with detail of the various stations.

Discounts for long distance train travel!

If you book more than 8 days in advance there are some really cheap fares available on trains, eg between the Algarve stations and Lisbon. These fares can be cheaper than coaches (buses). These tickets are not refunded if you do not use them. Go to www.cp.pt for all you need to know.

OTHER DISCOUNTS ON TRAIN TICKETS

CP offers 25% off. If you are aged 25 or under, CP is offering a 25% discount on all Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, InterRegional and Regional train tickets. You can use this discount in any class, any day of the week. Just show official ID with proof of your age such as a Citizen card, ID card, driving licence or passport. You can buy your tickets from long-distance ticket offices, netTICKET travel agents. These tickets can be reissued or refunded.

Young people aged 26 or over can still enjoy the Cartão Jovem discount for individual journeys.

In addition, a 40% discount is available to all travellers on long distance Intercity and Alfa Pendular trains who make reservations on line eight days or more in advance. Reservations open 60 days before travel. On some trains the number of these discounted tickets is limited. These tickets can be exchanged for a different train, but are not refunded if you don't make the trip. You can buy your print at home tickets at www.cp.pt and in English. DO NOT buy tickets from Raileurope or any other site as they cannot offer the discount and cannot provide you with the mandatory seat reservations. These you would have to obtain locally and pay an additional fee for them.

Anyone over 65 can travel half fare on local trains so long they have ID eg passport.

TOURIST PASSES FOR ALGARVE BUSES

These are available as three day versions at €29,10 and seven days for €36,25. Days must be consecutive. They can be bought at any bus station ticket office, also the Albufeira old town Bus Shop and the EVA ticket office in Largo do Dique, Portimão. They are valid on ALL buses operated by EVA or Frota Azul listed in timetables on this site. They are NOT VALID on EVA, Rede-Expressos or RENEX long distance services, international services nor on the local urban buses in Lagos, Portimão, Albufeira, Loulé, Vilamoura, Quarteira, Faro and Tavira. The local buses in those towns have their own day passes, multi-ride tickets and season tickets for frequent or regular users. There is no other discount on buses for persons over 60 / 65 except for residents.

BUS DELAYS - SOME RECENT EXAMPLES

Traffic congestion and unrealistic timetables mean that many buses cannot be relied upon to run to time, especially on the longer journeys.

For example, the 1800 bus from Lagos to Albufeira is ALWAYS at least 10 minutes late by the time it gets to Albufeira, 20 minutes delay in summer is not unusual. On Thursday 30th March this year, the 1600 bus from Lagos to Albufeira was already 8 minutes late at Alvor (supposed to be a 20 minute journey) and eventually arrived in Albufeira 10 minutes late. I regularly experience similar delays returning from Portimão to Albufeira in the late afternoon and early evening.

On the longer routes eg Lagos - Faro and Albufeira - Lagos, delays of 10 - 15 minutes towards the end of the journey are commonplace, on any day of the week. Delays are even more likely in summer.

TIMETABLES AT BUS STATIONS ETC

THANK YOU

This site is being visited about 500 times a month. May I thank you for the positive comments and feedback I am receiving.

www.algarvebus.info An unofficial website for buses and trains in the Algarve Owned and maintained by a local resident	Questions about Albufeira? Visit the forum
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The Algarve region of Portugal - information on bus and train services

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