Linha de Leixões

5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) Iberian gaugeElectrification25 kV / 50 kHz Overhead line

Location on the network

+ Contumil × Leixões (🔎)

v t e Linha de Leixões
Legend
km Linha do Minho to Porto-Campanhã 2.443 Contumil Linha do Minho to Valença 3.700 Vila Cova (formerly Rebordões) 4.000 Triana São Gemil junction to Ermesinde 6.326 São Gemil 7.500 Pedrouços da Maia 8.000 Hospital de São João (proposed) 10.034 São Mamede de Infesta 11.600 Arroteia 12.670 Ramal da SEPSA 13.053 Leça do Balio 14.320 Custió-Araújo 14.452 R. L. do Balio-Petroquímica Porto Metro 15.553 Gondivinho Porto Metro 16.212 D. Oficinas de Custóias 16.650 Guifões 17.435 Ponte do Carro 20.984 Leixões 21.150 Ramal de Matosinhos to Leça│to Senhora da Hora Ramal da Alfândega to Alfândega (proposed) Leça Leixões-Serpa Pinto

Linha de Leixões, also known as Linha de Cintura do Porto, is a railway line in Portugal which connects the railway stations of Contumil in Porto on the Linha do Minho and Leixões, in Matosinhos, servicing the Port of Leixões. It is single track in Iberian gauge stretching over 18.9 km, equipped with EBICAB 700 control systems and RSC communications.^[1] The line was opened in 1938, and electrified in 1998.^[2][3] Passenger services ran until 1987 and from 2009 to 2011, otherwise the railway has remained open for cargo, transporting cargo in and out of the Port of Leixões.

In 2024, a 32 million Euro investment was carried out to improve conditions on the line for freight trains and to reestablish passenger services in part of the line. The investment includes the removal of four level crossings, the replacement and upgrade of a railway bridge over the river Leça and the improvement of the tracks in Leixões so it allows for trains up to 750 meters in length. The passenger railway stations are being refurbished, with two new stops at Hospital São João and Arroteia.^[4][5]

By the end of 2024, passenger services are expected to restart between the railway stations of Contumil and Leça do Balio, with stops in São Gemil, Hospital São João, São Mamede de Infesta and Arroteia. It is expected that the line will be serviced by up to two trains per hour, with Campanhã or Ovar as their destination. These will improve connectivity to one of Porto's largest hospitals, some faculties of the University of Porto and several established businesses, who lobbied for the return of services.^[4][5]

As of 2024, a study was underway for an expansion of passenger services in the rest of the line, up until Leixões. This would allow for a connection with the terminus of line A of the Porto Metro in Senhor de Matosinhos.^[4][5]

• List of railway lines in Portugal
• List of Portuguese locomotives and railcars
• History of rail transport in Portugal

• "2019 Network Statement" (PDF). 7 December 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2019. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
• Martins, João; Brion, Madalena; Sousa, Miguel (1996). O Caminho de Ferro Revisitado (in Portuguese). Lisbon: Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses.
• Reis, Francisco; Gomes, Rosa; Gomes, Gilberto (2006). Os Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses 1856-2006 (in Portuguese). Lisbon: CP - Comboios de Portugal e Público-Comunicação Social S. A. ISBN 989-619-078-X.