“We came, in a way, to celebrate the one millionth passenger. One million since January, since we started charging,” said Miguel Pinto Luz, at the end of a ‘metrobus’ (electric buses circulating on a dedicated track) trip between the Portagem and São José stations in Coimbra.

Demand higher than expected

The Minister of Infrastructure stressed that the Mondego Mobility System (SMM) is experiencing 20% ​​more demand than would be expected at this time, ensuring connections to Miranda do Corvo and Lousã, but whose urban network (serving the Coimbra-B station and hospitals) is not yet complete.

According to Pinto Luz, it was expected that the operation would experience a sharp drop in demand after becoming a paid service, but this did not happen.

According to a statement from the secretariat sent to the media, in April, the number of validations reached 280,000, an increase of 57.4% compared to the first month of commercial operation. According to the same document, the daily maximum recorded was on 6 May, with 13,410 validations.

The same statement notes that in March and April, validations were more than 40% higher than estimated, with the route between the Portagem and Alto de São João stations (urban section) accounting for 80% of the validations, it added.

"A number that is absolutely relevant and revealing of the Government's and municipalities' intention with the use of this type of mechanism: we removed 750,000 cars from the territory," he emphasised.

Requalifying the city

At the São José station, which was requalified during the previous municipal term, the Minister of Infrastructure also highlighted the capacity of this type of system to "requalify the urban fabric, to design the city, to build the city, while ensuring more environmentally friendly and healthier mobility."

As he said in the past, the Minister stressed the intention of the 'metrobus' project to "positively influence" the rest of the country, hoping that similar systems will reach the Leiria region, the Algarve, or the Braga area.

Also participating in the trip were the mayor of Coimbra, Ana Abrunhosa, the president of the Intermunicipal Community of the Coimbra Region, Helena Teodósio, and the president of Metro Mondego, Leonel Serra, among other officials.

Future plans

The trip took place after a signing session for the sub-concession protocol for the Nova de Coimbra Station, which will now be the municipality's responsibility, following its deactivation as part of the 'metrobus' works. At this ceremony, the vice-president of Infraestruturas de Portugal, Carlos Fernandes, reaffirmed the intention to have the section to Coimbra-B open before the start of the next school year, as well as a partial opening of the line from the hospital to Praça da República.

The remaining line from the hospital should be completed between the end of this year and the beginning of 2027, he said.