en.Wedoany.com Reported - Portuguese water transport company Transtejo Soflusa (TTSL) announced on Tuesday that, starting this Thursday, a new ferry route will be added to the crossings on the Tagus River, connecting Trafaria to Pedrouços/Algés (in Oeiras). This service will operate on weekdays and has a six-month trial period. The new route is the result of collaboration between TTSL and the local governments of Lisbon and Oeiras. The terminal is located within Lisbon's jurisdiction, but the access has been extended to the neighboring municipality. TTSL President Rui Rei revealed the plans two weeks ago at the "Public Transport: What Has Changed in Ten Years?" conference, as reported to ECO/Local Online.

The launch of the new route coincides with the opening of the NOS Alive music festival. TTSL stated that the route will be available on each working day, strengthening public transport services during periods of high demand, offering passengers a comfortable, efficient, and sustainable alternative for traveling across the Tagus River and to the Pedrouços/Algés area. The extended service aims to attract new users to water transport and enhance the appeal of this mode of transport as a sustainable mobility solution. According to a TTSL statement, the new route was made possible through close cooperation between the company, the Lisbon and Oeiras city councils, and the Port of Lisbon Authority, enabling the creation of this service in a short time. Rui Rei noted in the statement that TTSL has not created a new ferry route since the regular service to Seixal was launched in 1997, and this new line symbolizes the company's commitment to future mobility, reinforcing investment in public transport that is closer to the people, efficient, and sustainable.

TTSL is also preparing a route connecting to Parque das Nações as a second additional departure and arrival point. In an interview with ECO/Local Online in March, Rui Rei stated that, in addition to Parque das Nações and Algés, the company will also study the route from Alhos Vedros to Moita and assess the possibility of connecting to Alcochete, though it faces challenges such as vessel repairs.

In June, the company launched a trial ferry route between Seixal, Barreiro, and Cais do Sodré, operating six trips on Saturdays to strengthen inter-municipal transport on the south bank of the Tagus River. This new route establishes a direct connection between the cities of Seixal and Barreiro without passing through Lisbon, and existing transport tickets remain valid, promoting integration within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area's public transport network. TTSL is responsible for ferry routes between the Setúbal district and Lisbon, connecting Seixal, Montijo, Cacilhas, Barreiro, and Trafaria/Porto Brandão.