PORTUGUESE infrastructure authority Refer began work on February 16 to regauge and electrify the metre-gauge branch from Lousado to Guimarães, part of the 62 km route from Porto Trinidade to Guimarães. Between Trofa and Lousado trains shared a 2 km dual-gauge section with the Porto - Valença main line. Through trains finished on February 15, after which the metre-gauge was cut back to Trofa; this section is to be incorporated into the city’s light rail network.
Refer is also installing 25 kV 50Hz electrification on the main line and the broad-gauge branch to Braga. Services are due to be worked by second-hand EMUs cascaded from the Lisboa area. o
