Lisbon, June 4, 2025 (Lusa) - The renewal and upgrading of the road fleet, along with the milestone of 90% of the fleet powered by clean energy, are Carris' objectives by 2028, according to the president of the Lisbon transport company, who referred to investments exceeding €200 million.
"We have an ambitious plan, with a horizon of 2028, whose motto is intelligent mobility for the future. It has two pillars: improving efficiency and service quality on the one hand, and sustainability on the other," said the company's CEO, Pedro de Brito Bogas, in an interview with Lusa.
He added that the renewal and refurbishment of the fleet "is already underway," noting that in the last two years "almost £60 million has been invested in fleet renewal."
“But we have planned an investment of more than €200 million by 2028, with the acquisition of almost 500 buses, clean energy buses, more than 300 electric buses. With this, we will reach 2028 with 90% of our fleet [powered] by clean energy,” he said.
Today, "approximately 50% of the fleet is already clean energy".
Pedro Bogas also revealed "a new paradigm shift for Carris", which will involve "new developments", since, according to him, no new tram line has been built in Lisbon since 1958.
"There were some investments in trams in the 1990s, with the arrival of the new fast trams, and now, recently, with these 15 trams we have acquired, but it was only an investment in rolling stock. We felt it was important and relevant to resume investment in the network and to be able to expand the fast tram network," he stressed.
Trams, he added, allow for "greater comfort and better commercial speed" because they run on dedicated tracks and also fit in with the objectives of greater sustainability, as they are electric.
The president of Carris recalled the recent announcement of the new 16E tram line between Terreiro do Paço and Parque Tejo, "a line with 12 kilometres of dedicated track and approximately 18 stops, and excellent commercial speed", with an estimated journey time of 22 minutes, compared to the current 42.
The 16E tram is part of the Sustainable Intermodal Line (LIOS) project, with no completion date set.
With this connection, he pointed out, it will be possible to connect the entire riverside area from Parque Tejo to Algés (in Oeiras). There is also a proposal under consideration for a fast tram in Oeiras to go to Jamor.
Alongside this project, which is the "most mature", there are others that Carris is working on, but which still require political decision-making.
This is the case of the fast tram in Alta de Lisboa, which is intended to run to Entrecampos, and also the western line between Lisbon and Oeiras, which "is being discussed between the two municipalities" and will, in principle, be operated as a BRT (bus rapid transit, i.e. metrobus).
The new network plan, to replace the current "Rede 7" implemented in 2006, will be implemented by 2030 and, according to Pedro Boga, "some patches have been made, creating new routes", as the current plan has not kept pace with the dynamics of the city's evolution.
"Now we need a new plan with a new philosophy, not least because the Lisbon Metro itself is going to open the circular line and then the extension to Alcântara. Therefore, to ensure connections with the metro, which is always essential, it is very important to have a new network plan," he acknowledged.
Preliminary studies have already been carried out and a consultant has been chosen through a tender process to draw up the plan, which will initially be, above all, "a scientific or academic document".
"But the plan cannot remain just an academic end product. It then has to be discussed with all the stakeholders, with the city council, of course, but then with all the parish councils," said the official, emphasising the importance of local councillors, who "are very active, and do a good job, in proposing mobility solutions for their parishes".
Acknowledging that there cannot be "transport that is totally tailored to each individual", as this is not the logic of public service, Pedro Bogas recalled the need to bring solutions closer to the new facilities that are emerging in the city, such as the central hospital.
One of the most difficult phases in the implementation of new network plans is communication, which will have to be phased in: "People are sometimes critical, but at the same time they are very conservative about their habits and have their careers and paths."
Future plans also include the Cidade Carris project, to be built on the company's premises in Santo Amaro, Alcântara, where the entire tram service and museum are located, in the Palácio dos Condes da Ponte, which is scheduled for renovation.
"A project is under development to renovate and expand the space and the vehicle fleet and workshops, as well as a building entirely dedicated to the Traffic Control Centre, which has always been temporary," he explained.
Pedro Bogas also said that the idea is for Cidade Carris to bring together all mobility start-ups and have an innovation centre in the field of mobility.
Carris has been managed by the Lisbon City Council since 2017.
According to data from the transport company, in 2024, it had 777 buses, 64 trams, three lifts and one elevator, and 1,823 crew members - drivers and conductors, for a total of 2,505 company employees.
RCP/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
