The Tomar branch line

Opened in September 1928.

The Tomar branch line is a 14.7-kilometre-long electrified single-track railway line with two stations and four halts, connecting the city of Tomar with the North line at Lamarosa Station in the municipality of Torres Novas. Its construction aimed to break regional isolation, as at the time, mobility depended on poor roads and river navigation on the River Tagus. The work was carried out by the Portuguese Railway Company and began in 1925.

Opened on 24 September 1928, under the name Caminho de Ferro de Lamarosa a Tomar (Lamarosa to Tomar Railway), the event was attended by various government, civil and military entities, as well as representatives of the CP and local authorities. The inaugural train departed from Rossio Station in Lisbon at around 9:50 a.m. and arrived in Tomar at 12:00 p.m. To reinforce the importance of this event, a special service was also organised for those from outside the region who wanted to attend the ceremony.

From the 1950s onwards, the Tomar branch line saw major improvements in service, particularly in comfort, with the introduction of new diesel rolling stock. Two decades later, with the introduction of diesel-powered trains with coaches, it was possible to further increase comfort and the number of services to Tomar. In November 1976, with the completion of the electrification of this regional connection, diesel traction was replaced by electric trains. In the years that followed, direct connections were established between Lisbon and Tomar and vice versa.

In addition to passenger train service, this railway connection also offered freight service. For several years, various local and regional products were transported. However, in the 1970s, this service was residual and was subsequently discontinued.
Tomar and its branch line have played a prominent role in railway tourism since the early days. The city was the first destination of CP's ‘Expressos Populares’ (Popular Express Trains), which was launched on 6 August 1933, and several special trains were run on the occasion of the famous ‘Festa dos Tabuleiros’.

A visit to what is considered the ‘City of the Templars’, once the headquarters of this Order, takes you on a journey through history and an interpretive tour of its medieval urbanism and historic centre, as well as an opportunity to discover all its artistic wealth, embodied in its various museums and cultural facilities.
Bathed by the Rio Nabão, Tomar has a unique heritage, including the Castle of the Templars, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983; the Convent of the Order of Christ; the churches of Nossa Senhora da Conceição and São João Baptista; the Tomar Synagogue; and the Pegões Aqueduct.
 Also noteworthy are the 39 hectares of the Sete Montes National Forest – the city's main park, which surrounds the castle walls.

Currently, the Tomar Branch Line is served by CP's Regional and InterRegional services.