ELÉCTRICO 28: «501 MUST-TAKE JOURNEYS»

O Eléctrico 28 foi seleccionado pela editora inglesa OCTOPUS como uma das 501 MUST-TAKE JOURNEYS do mundo. A crescente atenção dada aos eléctricos clássicos de Lisboa deve ser tomada muito a sério por todos nós. É urgente planear o regresso de algumas das linhas encerradas no passado de que é exemplo o Eléctrico 24 (Cais do Sodré / Campolide). Tanto a CARRIS como a CML e a ATL devem colaborar no sentido de aumentar a oferta de eléctrico clássico de modo a antecipar o aumento de turistas em Lisboa. Esta é uma questão estratégica tanto para o desenvolvimento da Mobilidade como do Turismo.

LISBON TRAM LINE 28
Lisbon’s Tram Line 28 takes you across four of the seven summits upon which Lisbon stands, in the course of a classic journey through some of the most interesting areas of this historic city. In 1873, a mass public transport company called Carris began operations, gradually introducing electric trams and new routes across the city. Although most lines today use modern, articulated vehicles, Line 28 uses remodeled vintage beauties, which are entered at the front and exited at the rear.

The trams depart every seven minutes or so from Largo Martim Moniz, making their way up the Mouraria hill to Largo da Graça, before trundling down through Alfama, the oldest, most beautiful and best known part of the city. The next port of call is Baixa, the lower city, which was rebuilt in French neo-classical style after the earthquake of 1755, by the Marquês de Pombal. Climbing uphill again, the trams pass through the old city centre, replete with theatres, and on through the traditional nightlife areas, the Bairro Alto and the Bica, haunt of writers and artists. Rattling and clanking their way up and down the hills, through narrow streets, the trams pass many important sites, including handsome churches, the Parliament building and the Cathedral, before finally reaching the Cemitério dos Prazeres - Cemetery of the Pleasures – where members of Lisbon’s noblest families are buried.

This trip is great fun. The trams are often crowded – people sometimes even hitchhike by hanging onto the outside as it rattles along. It’s noisy with laughter, chitchat and occasional shouts of abuse at cars blocking the way. The bell rings to alert people and traffic to the tram’s presence, and there are frequent stops. Your best bet is to buy a pass allowing you multiple journeys, in order to jump on and off whenever you want.

in 501 MUST-TAKE JOURNEYS, Octopus, London 2009
http://www.octopusbooks.co.uk/
http://www.hachettelivre.co.uk/

Nota: Ainda de Portugal foram seleccionadas as seguintes viagens: Tua Railway, Vicentine Coast e Walking the Levada do Caldeirão in Madeira. Imagem do Eléctrico 24 na R. D. Pedro V em 1983.