The SMM will serve Coimbra, Miranda do Corvo, and Lousã, utilizing electric buses (‘metrobus’) on dedicated lanes. It will feature a suburban operation (among the three municipalities) and an urban operation in the city of Coimbra, with connections to Coimbra-B railway station and the University Hospitals of Coimbra. Operations are expected to commence by 2026.
After multiple delays, the ‘metrobus’ system will begin service on the suburban segment between Portagem (Coimbra) and Serpins, covering a 36-kilometer stretch with 27 stations, marking the completion of the project’s first phase.
The operation to Serpins will follow the normal schedule of the SMM (between 05:30 and around 01:00), after operating preliminarily in Coimbra with a shortened schedule (from 07:30 to 20:00) and reduced services.
The launch of the ‘metrobus’ comes after three decades of various changes, suspensions, and postponements in the mobility project.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing, managing the project, estimates that the SMM will cater to 13 million people annually, following an investment of 220 million euros, funded by the State Budget and community funds.
Once fully operational, the urban segment of the ‘metrobus’ will extend over 42 kilometers with a similar number of stations.
In the urban area, during peak hours, the electric buses will run every five minutes in each direction.
Metro Mondego, the company responsible for the SMM’s operation, stated today that the launch of the service between Coimbra and Serpins “will transform mobility in the Coimbra region.”
According to the corporation, formed by the State and the municipalities of Coimbra, Lousã, and Miranda do Corvo, the first ‘metrobus’ will depart from Serpins in Lousã at 05:30, heading for the Portagem station in the heart of Baixa de Coimbra.
