Speaking in Marco de Canaveses, where the electrification of part of the Douro railway line was awarded on Friday worth €10 million, the minister acknowledged that passengers were right to be upset with the services the train operator provided on its Oeste and Algarve lines.

Pedro explained that the disturbances were due to difficulties in maintaining the rolling stock because of a lack of manpower at the EMEF maintenance company which is actually owned by CP and that the government wants to resolve by hiring more staff.

The minister also told reporters that part of the problem was that those lines had not been electrified any earlier.

"We are doing ion now, as you know. Early next year we are going to start electrification works on the Algarve and Oeste lines", he added.