P.S. asks the government to provide clarification on the state of emergency strategy at an accelerated pace

On Tuesday, PS asked the infrastructure minister about the government’s strategy for CP at high speeds after the government’s argument that the company would not be able to buy as many trains as it would like.

In a question addressed to Miguel Pinto Luso through the Assembly of the Republic, the Socialist parliamentary group questioned whether the minister had reached a consensus on his position with CP – Comboios de Portugal and whether he had taken into account the company’s business plan in his statements.

The infrastructure minister told parliament on July 24 that CP would not buy as many high-speed trains as it would like, as the government argues that other companies should also enter the market to create competition.

“We are not going to buy as many trains as CP wanted. CP had ambitions to buy trains that would give it 80% market share, and I don’t think that’s good for the market,” Pinto Luz said, without providing further details.

PS stressed that, despite the minister’s statements, Miguel Pinto Luz “did not specify what the ideal quota for CP would be, which would best serve the public interest and passengers”, arguing that “the previous government developed an ambitious plan for investment in rail infrastructure, by mutual agreement and taking into account the collective goal”.

The largest opposition party also explained that it “believes that the public sector plays a central role in the organisation of the transport system” and that while “the introduction of private operators into open competition” is “welcome”, “it must be recognised that in the European high-speed panorama the public operator plays a fundamental role”.

“Artificially limiting CP in high-speed business will distort competition and create a market reserve without benefit to the public interest, which will lead to the company being reduced to a secondary or last role, which will undermine the integrated service and jeopardize the future of the company,” defended the socialists.

The Socialists want the government to answer the question of “how many trains CP needs to sustainably develop its operations at high speeds” and asked the executive whether “the reduction in public supplies will affect ticket prices”.

The PS also asked whether “this change of direction” by the government would “jeopardise the timely and stable start of CP’s high-speed operations given the lengthy process of acquiring trains.”

The parliamentary group, led by Alexandra Leitao, also asked the executive whether there was “any study or assessment” to support the position of the infrastructure minister, and whether the government considered that CP should not compete in international markets such as Spain and whether “reducing the number of trains would harm the development of the Portuguese rail industry.”