Presentation of tram line 16E

The proposed tram line 16E is set to establish a connection between the city center and the eastern region of Lisbon (Oriente), thereby enhancing transportation services across six areas: Santa Maria Maior, São Vicente, Penha de França, Beato, Marvila, and Parque das Nações. Notably, this will be the first tram line in Lisbon to operate entirely on a dedicated track, equipped with priority traffic signals along its route to ensure optimal travel times and adherence to the established schedule.

This tram line is part of the broader eastern segment of the Lisbon high-speed tram project, which has undergone extensive study for over three decades. The line will extend the existing riverside railway from Algés, traversing Praça do Comércio (as tram line 15E) to Parque das Nações (designated as 16E). It is expected to significantly reduce the travel time from the city center to Parque das Nações, decreasing it from the current approximate duration of 60 minutes to a mere 35 minutes.

Tram line 16E is anticipated to provide a reliable and frequent service, contributing to the positioning of Lisbon as a more sustainable urban environment, with enhanced mobility and expedited connections. With a planned investment of €160,000,000, which includes the acquisition of new articulated trams, this initiative is expected to serve as a viable alternative to automobile transportation.

Demand studies project that this new line will accommodate approximately 7.6 to 8.1 million passengers annually, with an estimated 16 to 18% of those comprising new users of public transport.

Projected stops along the route of 16E:

• Terreiro do Paço
• Terminal de Cruzeiros
• Santa Apolónia
• Mouzinho de Albuquerque
• Xabregas
• Fábrica de Unicórnios
• Marvila
• Poço do Bispo
• Braço de Prata
• Matinha
• Pq. Nações Sul
• Oceanário
• Estação Oriente
• Torre Vasco Gama
• Alameda Oceanos Norte
• Rotunda da Colômbia
• Parque Tejo
• Parque Nações Norte

The line is supposed to be completed and start operating in 2027/2028. It is somewhat ironic that at the onset of the 1990s, Lisbon opted to close and dismantle a regular tram line that connected Terreiro do Paço to Poço do Bispo. This historical tram line operated almost parallel to the 16E, albeit positioned a few hundred meters further into the city. The segment of the old tram line would have encompassed approximately half of the total length of the 16E line.