The pilot project aims to “establish the foundations for the rapid resolution of the maintenance and operation of the 22 escalators and six elevators at Baixa-Chiado and Aeroporto stations” and an international public tender is expected to be launched “later this year,” said the Lisbon Metro in a statement.
This pilot project announcement comes after a protest by the Fórum Cidadania Lx association, which accused the Lisbon Metro of persisting in keeping a significant portion of the escalators and elevators “non-operational for weeks, months, and even years,” causing “serious inconvenience” to users, especially those with reduced mobility.
The public transport company reported that the Lisbon Metro network currently includes 121 elevators, 234 escalators, and 10 moving walkways, creating “one of the largest national parks of this kind.”
“These pieces of equipment, from different brands, technological generations, and in various stages of their life cycle, are used intensively for about 18 hours a day. Despite some breakdowns causing inconveniences, the overall availability rate remains above 80% (as of September 12, 2025), ensured by teams working continuously to restore service,” it stated.
Recognizing existing issues, Lisbon Metro attributed the situation to the age of the equipment, scarcity of parts in the international market, accumulated wear, and “external factors such as misuse and acts of vandalism,” combined with recurring difficulties in response capabilities.
“There have been limitations in the response capacity of some companies responsible for assistance and maintenance services, both in terms of human resources and technical skills, as well as the availability of spare parts and replacement equipment,” it explained.
In response, Lisbon Metro has adopted new contractual management models, incorporating centralized monitoring technologies and more demanding control mechanisms, while “continuing to actively seek new solutions” for contracting and models of assistance and maintenance services.
According to the company, a “vast modernization program” of infrastructure is being executed to ensure greater accessibility and efficiency of the service.
Since 2018, 22.5 million euros have been invested as part of the National Plan for the Promotion of Accessibility, allowing for the replacement of 33 escalators and the installation or renovation of 39 elevators, with plans to replace more equipment by 2029, it added.
“This investment, unprecedented in recent history, includes installing elevators in stations that did not previously have this functionality and replacing end-of-life equipment,” the company stated.
Regarding “the most critical stations,” Lisbon Metro highlighted Baixa-Chiado and Aeroporto, where it is preparing “a dedicated maintenance pilot project, given the high traffic and operational complexity,” indicating that, based on public procurement rules, it will establish maximum deadlines for the supply and maintenance of equipment, as well as require the availability of a parts list in the terms of reference, to improve repair timelines.
In response to the protest from the Fórum Cidadania Lx association, which mentions “numerous” user complaints, Lisbon Metro reiterated its commitment to make every effort to ensure investments aimed at guaranteeing accessibility to its network and the operability of mechanical accesses within it, considering that “they are essential for inclusion, attractiveness, and the quality of the service provided.”
