Municipal Assembly members visited the Ramal da Alfândega

The Ramal da Alfândega, the Customs Railway Branch in Porto that has been deactivated for circa thirty years now. The members of the Municipal Assembly visited the site a few days ago and assessed the qualities of the land that may accommodate two possible definitive solutions: an eco-track, encompassing both a pedestrian and a bike path, on weekends, or a fast connection commuter transport, between Campanhã and Customs, which will feature an electrical transportation system, on working days.

The visit took place a few days ago, as the result of the approval of a recommendation by the Municipal Assembly whereby members of that local government body should take an active part in the discussion on the “Ramal da Alfândega”. Seventeen members of the Municipal Assembly participated in the visit that was guided by specialized technicians of the Department of Urbanism of Porto City Hall.

During the Ordinary Session of the Assembly, which was held on 21 June, the member of the Municipal Assembly of Porto, of the CDU party, Rui Sá thanked the municipal services the excellent organisation of such visit to the “Ramal da Alfândega”: “I want to thank the organisation for the superb organisation of this visit, and I think it is useful, for those who took part in the visit especially, to have a better knowledge of that site and formulate an opinion”, he stated.

In the end of April, Porto City Hall promoted the presentation of both temporary solutions that are under discussion to bring the track back to life. The “Ramal da Alfândega” is the property of IP - Infraestruturas de Portugal, and it is currently leased to Porto City Hall, which has already commenced the clearing of the bushes in the field.

The old railroad extension branch, which was terminated in 1989, is under a public discussion between all political forces in the city to adopt a mixed solution, namely the eco-track, encompassing both a pedestrian and a bike path, on weekends, and a fast connection commuter transport, between Campanhã and Customs, featuring an electrical transportation system, on working days.