Former secretary ⁣of State for Transport Asked to Leave Intercidades Bar Car Due to ⁢New CP rules

Lisbon, Portugal – Frederico Francisco, a former Secretary of State for Transport adn current researcher at the Faculty of Engineering ​of Porto, recently experienced ​firsthand new restrictions imposed on the use of bar carriages on Portugal’s Intercidades trains.Francisco was reportedly asked ⁣to move ⁤from ⁣a bar car seat after being observed​ working during a ‍journey⁢ between Porto and Lisbon,a route he has‌ travelled by train for 15 years.

The incident highlights a recent policy shift ⁣by‌ Comboios de Portugal (CP) aimed at addressing overcrowding in​ the popular ⁣bar cars. CP implemented the changes following an increase in passenger complaints​ about individuals occupying bar seating for extended ​periods – for activities like ⁢working, reading, ⁢or studying ‌- rather than utilizing the space for its intended purpose: consuming bar service products.

According to a notice posted ⁢in the Intercidades⁤ bar ⁢cars, ‍the seats are now‌ “intended only ⁤for the consumption of bar products”‍ and are not to be occupied by ⁣those “who‍ do not⁣ express the intention to consume.” The notice also reiterates a prohibition on using cell phones or⁣ other electronic devices on speakerphone within the bar car.

Francisco, who stated ‌he did​ not identify himself as ⁤a former official ​during the interaction, defended the bar ​car as a key ⁤advantage of⁣ train travel, particularly when compared to bus journeys. “I would often return‍ at ⁤dinner ‍time ​and take ‍the chance to go to the bar to eat something and spend 20 to 30 minutes of ⁣the journey there, working, reading, or just ⁤contemplating‍ the landscape,” he explained.”I consider that ‍one of the differentiating advantages of the train​ in relation​ to the bus is, precisely, ⁣this‌ possibility of being able to go to the bar.” He pointed to‍ examples in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and France, where trains ‌offer quality bar and ⁣restaurant⁢ services.

CP responded⁣ to inquiries from PÚBLICO stating the new⁣ rules where ⁤necessary ‍due to increased occupancy rates on⁤ Intercidades trains. The company noted numerous complaints from passengers unable to access bar seating due to ⁣prolonged‌ occupation by others.

The situation⁢ is further elaborate by the recent ‍success of the Green Rail⁢ Pass, which has increased demand for Intercidades services, leading to frequently sold-out trains. In some instances, passengers traveling from stations without open ticket offices – particularly in the Alentejo region⁤ – have been left wiht no option but⁢ to ‌utilize ‌the bar car⁢ for‌ seating.

looking ahead, though, the availability of ​bar cars on Portuguese trains is set to diminish. New trains ordered from Stadler and⁢ Alstom will feature only limited space ​- a single area per carriage – for vending ‍machines, moving away from the ‍European model of offering dedicated catering⁢ services on rail lines.