![Bilhete satu(v)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Bilhete_satu%28v%29.jpg)
SATUOeiras (Sistema Automático de Transporte Urbano de Oeiras), also known simply as SATU, was a elevated automated
people mover
A people mover or automated people mover (APM) is a type of small scale automated guideway transit system. The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks. ...
that operated in
Oeiras,
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
from 2004 to 2015. The line connected
Paço de Arcos
Paço de Arcos () is a locality of Oeiras. In 2013, the parish of Paço de Arcos merged into the new parish Oeiras e São Julião da Barra, Paço de Arcos e Caxias. The population in 2011 was 15,315, in an area of 3.39 km². It was elevate ...
with Oeiras Parque Shopping Center and consisted of 3 stations and 2 cars. Discussions to possibly reopen and expand the line have been ongoing since 2017.
History
Oeiras is a
satellite community and commuter town approximately west of
Lisbon. SATUOeiras was created as a partnership between Oeiras City Council and
Teixeira Duarte
Teixeira Duarte, S.A. is the company that leads a large conglomerate with more than 11,000 workers, present in 22 countries, in 6 activity sectors, achieving in 2019 a turnover of 877 million Euros.
Teixeira Duarte, S.A. is listed at Eurone ...
with a 51% / 49% ownership structure respectively. Teixeira Duarte, whose headquarters are in Oeiras, was interested in providing better transportation for its employees and connecting its offices in Lagoas Park with the heavily-used
Cascais Line.
Construction for SATUOeiras began in 2002 and the line opened on June 7, 2004 at cost of approximately 23 million
Euro
The euro ( symbol: €; code: EUR) is the official currency of 19 out of the member states of the European Union (EU). This group of states is known as the eurozone or, officially, the euro area, and includes about 340 million citizens . ...
s. Originally intended to be the first phase of a longer system, low ridership and decreasing revenues led to the second phase never materializing.
Due to Portuguese laws that prohibit municipal assets to operate at a loss for three consecutive years, SATUOeiras was expected to close as early as 2014. The service was officially terminated on May 31, 2015 after nearly eleven years of operation.
As part of the
public–private partnership
A public–private partnership (PPP, 3P, or P3) is a long-term arrangement between a government and private sector institutions.Hodge, G. A and Greve, C. (2007), Public–Private Partnerships: An International Performance Review, Public Adminis ...
agreement, Teixeira Duarte assumed the deficit.
Isaltino Morais, the former mayor of Oeiras who had originally been in power at the time of SATUOeiras's creation, was elected again as mayor in 2017 on a platform to reopen and expand the system. The municipality of Oeiras has since been in discussions for possible funding options.
Currently the line's infrastructure remains but station entrances have been locked up to prevent public access.
Route
SATU's route had its southern terminus at Navegantes Station in the historic parish of
Paço de Arcos
Paço de Arcos () is a locality of Oeiras. In 2013, the parish of Paço de Arcos merged into the new parish Oeiras e São Julião da Barra, Paço de Arcos e Caxias. The population in 2011 was 15,315, in an area of 3.39 km². It was elevate ...
. This station acted as a transfer to the
Lisbon commuter rail network and was just over from Paço de Arcos Station on the Cascais Line. The route's northern terminus was Forum Station connected to the Oeiras Parque Shopping Center and not far from the
Parque dos Poetas. Tapadas Station was located between the two termini and served a residential community and school.
Phase two would have extended SATUOeiras an additional to Lagoas Park, a
business park
A business park or office park is a designated area of land in which many office buildings are grouped together. These types of developments are often located in suburban areas where land and building costs are more affordable, and are typicall ...
in
Porto Salvo. Future phases would have extended the line even further to
TagusPark
Taguspark is a science and technology park located in the municipality of Oeiras, Greater Lisbon subregion, Portugal.
The Park covers an area of approximately 150 acres, and accommodates several research and development labs, innovative start ...
and eventually
Agualva-Cacém
Agualva-Cacém () is a Portuguese city located in the municipality of Sintra. It comprises the civil parishes of Agualva, Cacém, Mira-Sintra, and São Marcos, equivalent to 81,845 inhabitants of the municipalities population.
History
The name ...
Station in
Sintra
Sintra (, ) is a town and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 377,835, in an area of . Sintra is one of the most urbanized and densely populat ...
, providing a link between the Cascais and
Sintra
Sintra (, ) is a town and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 377,835, in an area of . Sintra is one of the most urbanized and densely populat ...
Lines.
Operations
SATUOeiras utilized a
MiniMetro automated people mover
A people mover or automated people mover (APM) is a type of small scale automated guideway transit system. The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks. ...
system on an elevated track. The rolling stock were two non-motorized cars that each had a capacity of 106 passengers. Cars were propelled by a cable system powered by an electric motor based at Navegantes Station, not unlike a
cable car on a guided track.
The line consisted of a single track which split into two at stations. SATUOeiras operated at four-minute intervals during peak times, but would also operate as an on-demand system at times of lowest ridership.
During these times, riders would summon a SATU car by pressing a button at the station.
Fares from SATUOeiras were not transferable to other public transport systems in the
Lisbon region
Lisbon Region ( pt, Região de Lisboa, ) is one of the seven NUTS II designated regions of Portugal, which coincides with the NUTS III subregion Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The region covers an area of 3001.95 km2 (the smallest region on main ...
. A single fare was €1.15 for a one-way trip or €1.65 for a same-day return trip. SATU also offered an unlimited daypass for €2.85, a 10-trip pass for €6.15, and a 20-trip pass for €10.25.
References
{{Railway lines in Portugal
Railway lines in Portugal
Railway lines opened in 2004
Railway lines closed in 2015