1000mm gauge DMU 9709+9708 at Vila Real, Portugal.
Metre gauge class 9701 DMU set comprising vehicles 9709+9708 is seen at Vila Real soon after arrival with the 10.30 from Regua. By this date trains went no further as the Corgo Valley line onward to Chaves had closed in 1990. These former JZ Yugolslavian Railways 760mm gauge DMU's were obtained secondhand by CP in 1980 and 10 four car sets were bought and regauged for use on the Porto network which was a busy metre gauge commuter line. Reliability was dreadful with the Fiat engines and transmission a constant source of unit failure. The sets were soon reduced from 4 to 3 and finally 2 cars but still gave trouble. They were subsequently tried on all the other Northern Portuguese narrow gauge lines but were so unreliable most ended up dumped in Mirandela on the Tua line. CP didn't give up though and after more remedial work at Porto Campanha Works four power twins were formed and saw out their days on the truncated Corgo line running between Regua and Vila Real. The line closed in 2009 and the units were all withdrawn as a result.
1000mm gauge DMU 9709+9708 at Vila Real, Portugal.
Metre gauge class 9701 DMU set comprising vehicles 9709+9708 is seen at Vila Real soon after arrival with the 10.30 from Regua. By this date trains went no further as the Corgo Valley line onward to Chaves had closed in 1990. These former JZ Yugolslavian Railways 760mm gauge DMU's were obtained secondhand by CP in 1980 and 10 four car sets were bought and regauged for use on the Porto network which was a busy metre gauge commuter line. Reliability was dreadful with the Fiat engines and transmission a constant source of unit failure. The sets were soon reduced from 4 to 3 and finally 2 cars but still gave trouble. They were subsequently tried on all the other Northern Portuguese narrow gauge lines but were so unreliable most ended up dumped in Mirandela on the Tua line. CP didn't give up though and after more remedial work at Porto Campanha Works four power twins were formed and saw out their days on the truncated Corgo line running between Regua and Vila Real. The line closed in 2009 and the units were all withdrawn as a result.