Lisbon, April 20, 2026 (Lusa) – The Portuguese minister of Infrastructure said on Monday that the government is developing a nationwide intermodal travel pass, following the "success" of the green railway pass. 

The plan should be presented in the coming months.

The executive has signalled this intention to public transport companies. "The government has been working on this, and only last week we met with the major public transport companies and signalled our desire to quickly present a pass with a national character," Miguel Pinto Luz announced during a briefing at Santa Apolónia station in Lisbon.

"The green railway pass is a success, and we are working to present an intermodal pass on a national scale in the coming months," he said.

Pinto Luz said that the new pass aligns with the government's strategy to increase public transport use. "This is essential. We have more Portuguese people using public transport today. We want to invite even more to do so," he said.

He highlighted a milestone in the adoption of the green railway pass, which entered into force on 21 October 2024. "We wanted to mark an absolutely historic moment. One million green railway passes sold. The success of this measure is absolutely unique."

He announced that the green railway pass would be available on the Gov.pt application starting next month. "From May, on gov.pt, Portuguese citizens who already have their ID cards and driving licences on their phones will also have the green railway pass," he said.

He acknowledged capacity limitations in responding to increased demand. "We know there is great demand; capacity is at its limit," he said, maintaining that "only with new trains will we resolve the capacity problem."

"For this reason, the government took a historic decision to acquire 195 new trains for passenger train operator, CP - Comboios de Portugal, the largest ever investment in trains for the company," he said. The investment totals €1.8 billion. "This ensures that between now and 2030, we will receive new trains every single year," he said.

He noted that CP has received its first new trains in "more than 20 years." The delivery follows the acquisition of 22 railcars from the Swiss manufacturer Stadler, though these units remain in the certification process.

"We have a certification period that can last up to a year," he said, adding that the procedure serves as "a safety factor for those using the railway." Consequently, the new trains "will certainly not be ready by August."

SCR/RYOL // AYLS

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