The study of the expansion of Metro do Porto highlights demand for the link between Campo Alegre-Devesas (Porto-Gaia), concluding that the São Mamede (Matosinhos) and Airport-Maia lines are “very interesting” and suggesting a bus for Trofa.
The study on the potential demand for new Metro do Porto lines, to which Lusa has had access, highlights the performance of the Santo Ovídio-Devesas-Campo line, known as the “second Gaia line” based on the overall increases in daily annual average changes (VMDA), and due to the advantage of “offering an effective alternative to the current yellow that already experiences that highest overload levels on the entire network, particularly at peak times”.
The Maia II line (continuation of line D from the São João Hospital with a terminus and interchange at Parque Maia station) seems to have “fairly modest” levels of demand, which is also the case of ISMAI-Trofa, for which a bus link should be considered.
The study was commissioned by the Institute of Construction of the Faculty of Engineering at Porto University, which was responsible for assessing the potential demand of the new proposals for lines submitted by Metro do Porto.
The document analysed eleven metro lines and four bus lines. The connection from Porto to Devesas, in Vila Nova de Gaia, includes six new stations (Faculdade de Letras, Arrábida, Candal, Rotunda, Devesas and Gaia Shopping) and a network interchange at the Casa da Música and Santo Ovídio stations. The Campo Alegre, Galiza – Império connection line is suggested at a second level of potential demand, with six new stations.
This stands out from the rest of the lines due to the high value of the VMDA indicator per kilometer. After this are the Campanhã – Souto line (version with 9 stations), the Circular line (Casa da Música – Roberto Frias version), the São Mamede, in Matosinhos, via Fonte do Cuco or via Senhora da Hora, and the Airport-Maia line, which all have “very interest” demand indicators.
“We have no doubt that from a strategic point of view, given the operation of the system as a whole, the circular Casa da Música – Asprela line will play a central role, particularly if it is later extended to Campanhã”, states the report.
At a fourth and final level, with “clearly lower” potential levels of performance, are the Maia II line (continuation of line D from the São João Hospital station, with a terminus and interchange at the Parque Maia station) and ISMAI-Trofa.
These have “fairly modest” values in comparison with all the other lines under consideration” and bus lines instead of metro lines should be considered where possible.
The four lines proposed for the bus solution are: Póvoa de Varzim – Laúndos; Vila do Conde – Rio Mau; Mindelo — Vairão; and Modivas — Airport. The report considers that there is no prospect of a minimum potential demand for the metro that would make such a solution possible, “perhaps” with the exception of the Póvoa – Laúndos bus proposal.
The report also contains an appendix that examines the closure of the circular Casa da Música – Campanhã line and presents a comparative analysis of eight possible versions.
