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The so-called 'Eastern Line' (Línea del Este) between Badajoz in Spain's land-locked western region of Extremadura and the centre of Portugal shut in early 2012 because it was not considered economically viable due to low passenger numbers.
But it has now opened up again, with one connection a day in either direction and links to major towns and cities in Portugal, including Oporto, the capital Lisbon, Coimbra and Aveiro.
Before the train, which used to terminate at Entroncamento after crossing through Abrantes and Portalegre, shut down in 2012 it was only carrying 17 passengers per trip.
Residents in Portugal, and the opposition, campaigned hard for the government to reconsider, however, and it was finally agreed a year ago that it would be put back into action.
Its closure had come at around the same time as the line between the city of Cáceres (Extremadura) and Lisbon was shut, leaving the two countries unconnected by land for anyone who did not have a car.
This line was always busier than the Badajoz-Entroncamento link, being popular with tourists, but now the latter has been reactivated, it has allowed – by default – for the Cáceres-Lisbon track to start up again.
And the train is incredibly cheap for an international line: the full length of the Badajoz-Entroncamento journey costs just €12 each way, although those who are simply crossing the border from Badajoz to the nearest Portuguese town of Elvas only need to pay €1.95.
It has seating for 95 passengers, and from the Entroncamento terminus other trains can be taken for Portugal's main metropolitan areas.
The Línea del Este is one of three trains that connect Spain and Portugal – the others being from the southern border of Galicia in Spain's far north-west down to Tui, Portugal's northernmost town, and from the town of Fuentes de Oñoro (Salamanca province, Castilla y León) to Lisbon.
The Lisbon-Fuentes de Oñoro train runs to a terminus with a direct connection to Madrid, joining the two countries' capital cities together in a relatively short space of time.
During May's Iberian Summit, it was decided that Spain and Portugal would have three completely electrified lines between them by the year 2021, with the link between Vigo, southern Galicia and Oporto – a 90-minute trek – opening from the year 2019.
The second electrified line will be between Aveiro, central Portugal and Fuentes de Oñoro, and the third from the town of Sines, south of Lisbon, to the Extremadura border with an onward connection to Madrid.
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