Concerns Over Train Capacity in Seixal
In a recent update to residents on Facebook, the mayor of Seixal, Paulo Silva, shared insights from a meeting with Fertagus, the train company operating in the area. According to Fertagus, their trains operate at 65% capacity between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM. However, Silva disputes these figures, arguing that if this were truly the case, there wouldn’t be so many complaints from passengers. He plans to visit local train stations in the coming weeks to gather evidence of overcrowding.
Health Risks Due to Overcrowding
Silva emphasized the overwhelming sentiment among morning commuters heading to Lisbon, stating, “Everyone who travels in the morning knows that the trains are overcrowded, and it’s impossible for Fertagus trains to only operate at 65% capacity during this peak time.” He also noted an alarming incident on Monday where three passengers felt unwell during their journey, prompting the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) to be called.
“This shows that the way the service is being managed is endangering public health,” he added. Silva is encouraging residents to send photos of their train experiences to highlight the situation faced by daily users of the service.
Meetings with Authorities
The mayor, representing the CDU party, revealed that he will meet with Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz on Friday to express the dissatisfaction of Seixal residents regarding Fertagus services. Following numerous complaints, Silva took a train ride himself between Foros de Amora and Corroios on Monday morning to assess the service conditions firsthand.
In remarks to the press during his trip, he described the conditions as “shocking,” likening the situation to “sardines in a can,” and called for an urgent resolution to the issues at hand.
Broader Criticism from Local Leaders
The challenges faced by Fertagus users have drawn criticism from other local officials as well. Inês de Medeiros, the mayor of Almada, visited the Pragal station in her municipality and underscored the urgent need for additional train carriages on the April 25th Bridge route to alleviate the ongoing overcrowding issues.
Her office has also received multiple complaints from residents indicating that following the recent schedule changes, trains departing from Setúbal are filling up quickly, leaving many passengers stranded, particularly at Pragal station.
Political Pressure for Improvements
The situation has not gone unnoticed by political figures; members of the Socialist Party have questioned the Infrastructure Minister about concrete plans for investment in train materials to enhance Fertagus’s capacity. They have also requested a list of specific measures that will be implemented to restore service quality and effectively respond to the growing demand from citizens in the Setúbal Peninsula.
Additionally, the Seixal branch of the PSD party has called for immediate improvements in Fertagus services, including adjusting the number of carriages during peak hours to accommodate passenger volumes, repairing trains suffering from leaks, and implementing urgent infrastructure upgrades to prevent delays and ensure efficient service.
