Intercidades (IC) (Portugal)

The key differences when traveling in Turistica class (2nd class), compared to travelling in Conforto (1st class) on an Intercidades train, are:

• narrower seats
• less legroom
• seats arranged 2+2 across the aisle, instead of 2 + 1
• less storage for large items of luggage.

Though something which is common to both Turistica class and Conforto class, is that power sockets are only available at certain seats.
You can which seats have them on the seating plan, that you will see when booking tickets on the the CP website.

ShowMeTheJourney has anticipated what questions are most often asked about travelling on the Intercidades (IC) trains and answered them below.

If you can't find the information you are seeking, you can ask a question by using the Travel Planning Service.

The image above was taken by Rúdisicyon and downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

Intercidades travel at up to 220 km/h (125 mph).

Yes.

Seating plans are integral to the booking path on the CP website.

Yes, a direction of travel arrow in included on the seating plan.

Yes, seat reservations are mandatory when travelling with rail passes on the Intercidades (IC) trains.

Note that the same rail pass reservation fees of €5 in both Conforto and Turistica class are charged to travel on the alternative, faster, Alfa Pendular (AP) trains.

Holders of valid Eurail and InterRail passes (Global and One country passes) cannot book reservations for the Intercidades trains online, they can only be purchased prior to boarding at the ticket desks at the major stations.

The only catering on the train is the food and drink which can be ordered by visiting the bar / bistro counter

Yes for standard E.U. 2-point plugs, but only at certain seats - be guided by the symbols on the seating plans.

Yes.

Each passenger can carry one piece of luggage - not including laptop bags, handbags etc.

• Yes and there is no charge
• The 2nd class carriages on these trains have proper supports for traditional bikes, allowing two bikes to be taken in each carriage - note that spaces are limited and they cannot be reserved in advance.
• Places 15 and 17 in the 2nd class carriages on the northern route; Lisbon-Oporto/Guimarães/Braga/Valença
• Places 12 and 18 in the 2nd class carriages on the Beira Alta, Alentejo Lisbon Oriente/Évora and Sul line
• Only one bike per passenger;
• The bike must weigh 15kg or less;

Tickets are required if the dog isn't transported in a pet-carrier.
These tickets must be booked at stations - the charge is a full price ticket at the Adult rate for travel on the AP trains:

The regulations which apply when NOT using a pet-carrier and travelling with a dog on any train are:

• the dog must be muzzled
• the dog must be on a short leash,
• the owner must have the animal's vaccination card with them and a valid licence
• the dog must stay on the floor.

A key difference with the Alfa Pendular trains trains which share many routes with these Intercidades (IC) trains, is that on these IC trains, the large numbers on the exterior of the coaches do indicate the class of service per coach.

So on the image above a Conforto Class (1st class) coach is on the left and a Turistica (2nd) class coach is on the right.

The number of the specific coach /car / carrvagem is attached to a small panel to the the right of the doors.
On the image above the 2nd class coach is number 21.

• Lisboa-Santa Apolónia - Lisboa-Oriente - Entroncamento - Pombal - Coimbra-B - Aveiro - Porto-Campanhã - Braga / Guimares / Valenca
• Lisboa-Santa Apolónia - Lisboa-Oriente - Entroncamento - Castelo Branco - Covilhã - Guarda
• Lisboa-Santa Apolónia - Lisboa-Oriente - Entroncamento - Pombal - Coimbra-B - Guarda - Vilar Formoso (currently replaced by bus between Coimbra and Guarda; and between Guarda and Vilar Formoso)
• Lisboa-Oriente - Lisboa-Entrecampos - Tunes - Albufeira-Ferreiras - Faro
• Lisboa-Oriente - Lisboa-Entrecampos - Casa Branca - Evora
• Casa Branca - Beja - (connecting service)