The Tagus River now has two new experimental river ferry routes: one between Trafaria and Doca de Pedrouços/Algés, which begins this Thursday, July 9, and another between Seixal and Barreiro, which has been operating since June 27, but only on Saturdays.
Trafaria-Algés: New Daily Service, Just in Time for NOS Alive
The new route, which passes through Porto Brandão, was announced by Transtejo/Soflusa and will operate on a trial basis for six months, every day of the week. The launch is no coincidence: it coincides with the start of NOS Alive, one of the country’s largest music festivals, which takes place on the Algés Waterfront from July 9 to 11. According to the company, the route serves as an alternative mode of transportation during a time of high demand, while also strengthening public transportation options and seeking to attract new users to river transportation.
Seixal-Barreiro: 10-minute boat ride, Saturdays only
Since June 27, it has also been possible to travel between Seixal and Barreiro on a river route that takes just 10 minutes, but only on Saturdays. The service, which is also experimental, operates on two schedules, departing from Barreiro to Cais do Sodré. In this initial phase, six trips are scheduled for each Saturday, with schedules available on the Seixal City Council’s website .
The connection makes even more sense when considering the overland alternative: by public transit, the trip between Seixal and Barreiro takes about an hour, with a bus transfer in between (by car, it takes around 25 minutes).
A crossing steeped in history
Before 1969, the route between Seixal and Barreiro could be traveled on foot or by bicycle, thanks to a bridge over the Coina River that connected the two municipalities—which was dismantled after being struck by a ship. The restoration of this connection is currently under consideration, alongside the Third Tagus Crossing project.
It’s also worth noting that the Seixal-Barreiro route is the first new river ferry service launched by Transtejo/Soflusa on the Tagus River in the last 20 years.
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