Português

Line 13 & 14 VN de Gaia

Routes

  • 13: Praça da Liberdade - Batalha - Ponte D.Luiz I - Santo Ovídio. Length 4.5 km; Time of a single journey (1934) 22½ minutes.
  • 14: Praça da Liberdade - Batalha - Ponte D.Luiz I - Devesas - Arco do Prado - Coimbrões. Length 4.7 km; Time of a single journey (1934) 24 minutes.
  • 14/: Batalha - Ponte D.Luiz I - Devesas - Arco do Prado - Coimbrões

History

Already with the construction of the Ponte Dom Luis I in 1887 tram tracks were laid on the upper deck of the bridge. These tracks were owned by the Ministerio das Obras Publicas. The idea was that tram companies could use these tracks with paying a fee. Although there was a concession given for a mule tram-line to a company named "Caminho de Ferro Americano Praça da Batalha á Estação de Villa Nova de Gaya", this line was never opened. Most likely the gauge of these tracks was 900 mm.

At the end of the 19th century the CCFP came to an agreement with the owners of the concession, which in the meantime was converted for the use of electric trams, to rent the concession. Already in 1900 the first tracks were laid in VN de Gaia. Probably bureaucratic confusion about a temporary viaduct across the railway near General Torres delayed completing the line over the bridge. Finally on 28 October 1905 the lines to Gaia were opened. One line went to Sto.Ovídio while the other went to Devesas. Line 14 was in 1913 extended from Devesas to Arco do Prado. In 1947 this line was extended to Coimbrões.

In 1930 the single track on the bridge (situated at the eastern side) was changed in double track. The centers of the track were just 2.43 m apart, which made that only narrow cars could be used.
On the bridge two trolley poles had to be used to prevent oxidation of the iron by vagebund electric streams. A number of tramcars were equipped with a second trolley pole for the use on the lines to Gaia. Since 1933 the trams could run across the bridge with one trolley-pole.

Line 14/ was linked at Batalha with line 9//:
Line 13 closed 3 May 1959
Line 14 closed 1 January 1959
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Time-tables

1914
  • Line 13: Praça - Santo Ovidio: 6.00h - 45' - 0.00h
  • Line 13: Santo Ovidio - Praça: 6.30h - 45' - 0.30h
  • Line 14: Praça - Devesas: 5.37h - 45' - 23.37h
  • Line 14: Devesas - Praça: 6.07h - 45' - 0.07h
1926
  • Line 13: Praça - Santo Ovidio: 5.55h - 20' - 20.35h - 30' - 0.35h - 0.55h
  • Line 13: Santo Ovidio - Praça: 6.25h - 20' - 21.05h - 30' - 1.05h - 1.20h
  • Line 14: Praça - Devesas: 6.05h - 20' - 20.25h - 20.50h - 30' - 0.20h - 0.55h
  • Line 14: Devesas - Praça: 6.35h - 20' - 20.55h - 30' - 0.55h - 1.20h
1942
  • Line 13: Praça - Santo Ovidio: 5.51h - 10' - 21.01h - 20' - 1.01h
  • Line 13: Santo Ovidio - Praça: 6.11h - 10' - 21.21h - 20' - 1.21h
  • Line 14: Praça - Devesas: 5.56h - 10' - 20.56h - 21.11h - 20' - 0.31h
  • Line 14: Devesas - Praça: 6.16h - 10' - 21.16h - 21.31h - 20' - 0.51h
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Rolling Stock

The CCFP used in 1935 on both lines each 4 cars with seating for 23
The STCP used only narrow 4-wheel cars: Brill-23, Carros Ingleses, Constructora and Risca ao Meio. On the combined line 9//+14/, which was linked at Batalha, the oldest trailers were used.

Revenue

In 1958 line 13 took part of 3.1%, and line 14 of 4.3% of the revenue of the tram system.
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