Draft Resolution No 533 /X/4.

It recommends the Government to implement measures to encourage the use of the

rail transport on the Minho Line, notably on the connection of

Barcelos to the Port and the Northern Line; We also recommend enlargement

from the Intercity train to Braga, Famalicão and Barcelos.

The promotion of the use of rail transport is part, increasingly, of

a correct policy of mobility that one wishes for our country.

Unfortunately little has been done to achieve such an objective, namely

where the railway infrastructure already exists and so it would well be justified in a

more careful attention of decision-makers at the level of transport policy.

The Line of the Minho is a paradigmatic case of this public unleash, perpetrated by

a dissuitability of schedules, which paulatinously has been crystallized, and by

illegal tariff practices deceptively.

With respect to the Line of the Minho the city of Barcelos is exponent maximum of

abandonment on the part of the Central Administration.

In reality the county and the city are served by the railroad but the use of the

convoys to the barcelenses is a subjection and not an option.

Being a concelain with more than 124 thousand inhabitants (the fourth most populous to

north of the Douro) does not have a proper rail link to the city of Porto and

Line from the North.

On average Barcelos are served by fourteen convoys on their connection to Porto and,

consequently, to the line of the North. It is eight regional trains (with change

in Nine), five interregional and only a regional direct to Porto. The price of the

tickets are situated in the 3.20 (regional), 3.50 € (direct regional) and 3.75 € (inter-

direct regional).

Naturally, the situation leads us to compare to the city of Braga. It's served

daily by 25 urban trains to which add the four Alfas. The cost of the

journey, with better quality of rolling stock, with no need to change

by train and with superior distance in 6 km to that of Barcelos-Porto is 2.15 €.

Comes this to substantiate that the tariff amendment approved by the CP has not corrected the

injustices practiced in the link Barcelos-Porto leading up to the aberration of the voyage

Barcelos-Cambeses that cost 1.20 €, cost now 2.30 €. The cost worsened

at almost 100%.

Naturally the solution to this situation goes through what, since the

initiation of complaint of illegal tariff rates, the Social Democratic Party has defended: the

integration in the Urban Service of the Port of the Barcelos-Porto link.

Add to the tariff issue, the absolute disjoint that exists between the

trains connecting the city of Braga to Lisbon (Alfa-pendular) and the Line of the

Minho.

It is imperative that such trains do stop at Nine allowing (after

adjustment of schedules on the Minho Line, which the county will be served by the

links to Lisbon, taking the barcelenses that transport from your city

and not having to relocate to Braga, Famalicão or Porto.

From the exposed becomes clear the need to provide for the population of Barcelos

a rail service appropriate to the topicality in terms of mobility, in

environmental terms and in economic terms.

It becomes also necessary to serve the city of Barcelos, as happened in the

beginning of the decade of ninety, successfully, with Intercities. Being a

targeted train for young people and students, one does not realise because

Barcelos, Famalicão and even Braga, do not possess links with Intercities.

As the "train" is said to be an option and not a subjection to those who do not

has own alternative of transport to the city of Porto or has, for example,

of using buses that take about two hours on long journeys with

stoppages in the Pole of the Varzim or Famalicão.

It is this unfortunate situation in which the city of Barcelos is located and, in part the

District of Braga, with respect to rail transport, so we are

Regimental and applicable plants, the Assembly of the Republic, meeting in Plenary,

recommends to the Government the following:

1-That proceed to the integration of the Barcelos-Porto path on the Trains

Urban of Porto, thus providing a tariff parity with the

other three major cities of the District;

2-That proceed to the connection of the Minho Line in Nine with the trains

Alfa, making a stop at that station and articulating the schedules

of the secondary trains;

3-That proceed to the creation of the Intercity train for Braga, Barcelos and

Famalicion.

The Deputies of the PSD