Linha do Douro (Douro Valley Railway)

Comboios de Portugal (CP)
Portugal
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The Journey

Navigate from Porto São Bento to Pocinho across a span of 160km.

Scenery Highlights
  • Douro River meanderings through the schist gorge
  • Pinhão station Azulejo tile murals (24 historic panels)
  • Alto Douro Wine Region terraces (UNESCO Cultural Landscape since 2001)
  • Tua Valley narrows and the historic Tua railway junction
  • Barqueiros cliff faces
  • Vineyards in autumn gold (September–October)
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    3.35 hours

  • Distance

    160 km

  • Est. Price

    Affordable — Porto São Bento–Pocinho €15.10 single / €27.20 return; Comboio Histórico Régua–Tua €60 adult / €32 child (4–12) / €56 group (10+)

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: Welcome Port wine tasting at Régua, regional music on board, water and local produce during the journey

Ensuite: No

Meals: Same onboard hospitality as adult ticket

Ensuite: No

Meals: Same onboard hospitality as adult ticket; one free seat per 10 paying passengers

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

CP Class 1400 diesel-electric locomotives (1,400 kW) for both regular IR regional services and the current Comboio Histórico consist; the historic CP 0186 (Henschel & Sohn, 1925) 4-8-2 steam locomotive is preserved but is not currently scheduled on the Douro line due to preventive restrictions

Locomotive Weight

CP 1400: ~80 tonnes

Track Gauge

1,668 mm (5 ft 5 21⁄32 in) Iberian broad gauge

Braking Technology

Air brakes (modern CP 1400 diesel-electric)

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Douro Valley's steep gradients (up to 2.3%) and tight curves carved into cliff faces

  • 26 tunnels and 30+ stone bridges along the Ermesinde–Pocinho section

  • Tua Line branch (closed 2008) historically added engineering complexity with switchback operation

  • Flood management along the Douro river embankments (storm disruption to Régua–Pocinho resumed 9 March 2026)

  • Modernisation works (Caíde–Régua section) suspended 3 November 2025 – 2 April 2026

Route Length

160 km (Ermesinde–Pocinho); 200 km full Porto São Bento–Pocinho with electrification gap

Electrification

25 kV 50 Hz AC (Ermesinde–Marco de Canaveses); non-electrified Marco de Canaveses–Pocinho

Maximum Speed

140 km/h (Ermesinde–Caíde); 80 km/h (Caíde–Pocinho)

Travel Time

3h 20min end-to-end IR regional; ~3 hours round-trip Régua–Tua on Comboio Histórico

Comboio Histórico consist

5 restored early-20th-century wooden carriages (capacity 254 seats); CP 1400 diesel locomotive

Comboio Histórico Schedule 2026

Saturdays & Sundays 6 June – 18 October; selected Wednesdays 22 & 29 Jul, 5, 12, 19, 26 Aug, 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Sep

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    3.35 hours

  • Distance

    160 km

  • Est. Price

    Affordable — Porto São Bento–Pocinho €15.10 single / €27.20 return; Comboio Histórico Régua–Tua €60 adult / €32 child (4–12) / €56 group (10+)

Official Booking Provider