CP

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CP (Comboios de Portugal) is the Portuguese state railway and the main railway company in Portugal.

Summary

  • FIP Coupons and FIP 50 tickets are valid on all CP trains
  • Reservation is mandatory on long-distance services

Validity of FIP Tickets

FIP Coupon: ✅
FIP Coupon relatives: ✅
FIP 50 Tickets: ✅
FIP Global Fare: ✅ (Celta train only)

FIP Coupons and FIP 50 tickets are valid on CP services. For cross-border journeys a continuous FIP 50 ticket or valid FIP Coupons for both countries is required where applicable.

Overview of the CP network

Train Categories and Reservations

Reservations are only mandatory on long-distance services (AP and IC).

Alfa Pendular (AP) ⚠️

Description:
High-speed tilting trains (Pendolino) operating on the main axis between Braga, Porto, Lisbon and Faro with few stops. Trains offer a high level of comfort, Wi‑Fi, power sockets at every seat and a cafeteria/bar service.

FIP Coupons (regardless of pass class) are only valid in second class. 1

Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: ⚠️ yes
Reservation cost: €5

Alfa Pendular (AP) ⚠️

Description:
High-speed tilting trains (Pendolino) operating on the main axis between Braga, Porto, Lisbon and Faro with few stops. Trains offer a high level of comfort, Wi‑Fi, power sockets at every seat and a cafeteria/bar service.

FIP Coupons (regardless of pass class) are only valid in second class. 1

Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: ⚠️ yes
Reservation cost: €5

Intercidades (IC) ⚠️

Description:
Fast national services formed by locomotive-hauled coaches serving main routes. They offer Wi‑Fi, power sockets in some first-class seats and a bistro service.
Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: ⚠️ yes
Reservation cost: €5

Intercidades (IC) ⚠️

Description:
Fast national services formed by locomotive-hauled coaches serving main routes. They offer Wi‑Fi, power sockets in some first-class seats and a bistro service.
Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: ⚠️ yes
Reservation cost: €5

Serviço InterRegional (IR)

Description:
Regional services that cover longer distances with few stops.
Reservation possible: no
Reservation required: no

Serviço InterRegional (IR)

Description:
Regional services that cover longer distances with few stops.
Reservation possible: no
Reservation required: no

Serviço Regional (R)

Description:
Regional trains with many stops.
Reservation possible: no
Reservation required: no

Serviço Regional (R)

Description:
Regional trains with many stops.
Reservation possible: no
Reservation required: no

Comboios Urbanos (U)

Description:
Commuter trains serving the urban networks of Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra (similar to S‑trains). FIP Coupons are valid without restrictions.

Lisbon:
The network includes four lines:

  • Sintra Line
  • Azambuja Line
  • Cascais Line
  • Sado Line
Important Information

Access to the Sintra Line and Cascais Line is via ticket gates.

  • Passengers with reduced tickets must purchase a Viva Viagem ticket for €0.50 to pass the gate.
  • Passengers holding an FIP Coupon must press the assistance button at the gate (between 06:00 and 22:00). Staff will grant access.

Porto:
The network includes five lines:

  • Aveiro Line
  • Braga Line
  • Marco de Canaveses Line
  • Guimarães Line
  • Leixões Line

Coimbra:
Single line between Coimbra and Figueira da Foz.

Reservation possible: no
Reservation required: no

Comboios Urbanos (U)

Description:
Commuter trains serving the urban networks of Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra (similar to S‑trains). FIP Coupons are valid without restrictions.

Lisbon:
The network includes four lines:

  • Sintra Line
  • Azambuja Line
  • Cascais Line
  • Sado Line
Important Information

Access to the Sintra Line and Cascais Line is via ticket gates.

  • Passengers with reduced tickets must purchase a Viva Viagem ticket for €0.50 to pass the gate.
  • Passengers holding an FIP Coupon must press the assistance button at the gate (between 06:00 and 22:00). Staff will grant access.

Porto:
The network includes five lines:

  • Aveiro Line
  • Braga Line
  • Marco de Canaveses Line
  • Guimarães Line
  • Leixões Line

Coimbra:
Single line between Coimbra and Figueira da Foz.

Reservation possible: no
Reservation required: no

Celta: Porto - Vigo ⚠️

Description:
The Celta is an international cooperation service between CP and Renfe from Porto to Vigo. FIP Coupons are not accepted.
Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: ⚠️ yes
FIP Global Fare (distance-independent): €4

Tickets for this service must be purchased through Spanish sales channels.

Celta: Porto - Vigo ⚠️

Description:
The Celta is an international cooperation service between CP and Renfe from Porto to Vigo. FIP Coupons are not accepted.
Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: ⚠️ yes
FIP Global Fare (distance-independent): €4

Tickets for this service must be purchased through Spanish sales channels.

Class Categories

Turística / 2ª: Comparable to 2nd class.
Conforto / 1ª: Comparable to 1st class.

Ticket and Reservation Purchase

On-site

CP Ticket Office
Reservation ✅
FIP 50 Tickets ✅
FIP Global Fare ⛔
Reservation Costs
1st Class: €5,00
2nd Class: €5,00

FIP 50 tickets

At CP ticket offices you can purchase FIP 50 tickets for travel within Portugal. The ticket price is calculated on site using the fare calculator.

FIP Global Fare

FIP Global Fare tickets are not sold at CP ticket offices. For the Celta international service a special FIP Global Fare applies and tickets must be purchased via Spanish sales channels (see CP operator page for details).

Reservations

Reservations for reservation-required trains (e.g. AP and IC) can be purchased at the ticket office on site. A reservation fee of 5€ applies.

Additional Information
CP Ticket Office
Reservation ✅
FIP 50 Tickets ✅
FIP Global Fare ⛔
Reservation Costs
1st Class: €5,00
2nd Class: €5,00

FIP 50 tickets

At CP ticket offices you can purchase FIP 50 tickets for travel within Portugal. The ticket price is calculated on site using the fare calculator.

FIP Global Fare

FIP Global Fare tickets are not sold at CP ticket offices. For the Celta international service a special FIP Global Fare applies and tickets must be purchased via Spanish sales channels (see CP operator page for details).

Reservations

Reservations for reservation-required trains (e.g. AP and IC) can be purchased at the ticket office on site. A reservation fee of 5€ applies.

Additional Information

On the Train

If no CP sales office is available at the origin station or it is not staffed more than 24 hours before departure, tickets can be purchased on board. 1

Discounts

Children under 4 years travel free without their own seat. Children under 12 years receive a 50% discount. From 12 years onward the full fare applies. 1

Special Tariff Conditions

Break of journey

Passengers holding a FIP discounted ticket purchased in Portugal are not permitted to interrupt their journey. For tickets purchased outside Portugal, a break of journey is allowed (possibly subject to reservation). 1

Recommendations

Personal Tip

When travelling through Portugal we recommend a visit to the National Railway Museum in Entroncamento. Visitors arriving by train receive a 50% discount on admission. 2

More information about the museum

Personal Tip

CP operates occasional trips with the “Presidential Train” — a luxurious historic train which has carried heads of state for over a century and is an important relic of Portuguese railway history.

More information about the Presidential Train

Sources

  1. Rail Delivery Group ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. CP ↩︎