Comboios de Portugal is the National Rail service in Portugal and a great way to travel. The trains in Portugal are clean and on-time, which is novel for our UK readers. Their website can be viewed in English and has lots of information, including timetables and route planning. 

CP operates 4 types of service; Alfa Pendular(AP), Intercidades(IC), Regional(R) and Urbano (U). Tickets for all services are available on-line, in many travel agents, or at ticket offices in stations. Alfa Pendular and Intercidades tickets are also available from Multibanco machines up to 21 days before your journey. Tickets can be bought on the train on Regional and Urbano services where the station is closed or does not have a ticket office.

On IC and AP trains you have allocated seats. On Regional or Urbano trains you can choose to sit anywhere, or as is usually the case at rush-hour, you stand.

If you buy a return AP or IC ticket then you get special parking rates at the station.

AP and IC trains have 2 classes; Classe Conforto (1st class) and Classe Turística (2nd class).

Alfa Pendular services have been designed for maximum comfort and quality. The AP line runs in two sections from Braga to Lisbon Orient (The Northern Line), then from Orient to Faro (The Southern Line). The trains stop at major cities only, which makes it the fastest journey time for long distance travel.

On AP 1st class passengers are offered a "welcome kit" including; a drink and a snack, a newspaper (or magazine), and ear-phones so they can listen to the audio and video channels on the train. There is also a cafeteria on board. They can also use the CP Lounge in Oriente station in Lisbon, to wait for their train in comfort.

Ist class seats have a call button and meals can be taken at your seat, and some seats have sockets for charging lap-tops.

On AP 2nd class, passengers can get ear-phones from the bar. They also have a mini-bar service that travels up and down the train selling drinks and snacks.

Intercidades services are designed for leisure and family trips as well as tourism and business. There is a wide range of timetables that let you organise your time better. IC trains travel between major cities and stop at limited cities and towns on route, making it a quick service.

The Intercidades services have a buffet bar service. And air conditioning. 1st and 2nd class is available. 1st class have wider seats and more legroom.

Regional trains stop at every stop on their route, allowing you to get on or off at your nearest station. The ticket prices are low, but for a long distance the journey can be long and you are not guaranteed a seat.

Urbano trains are local trains that run around the cities of Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, they are a quick and economic way to travel.

Use the 'Timetables and Prices' option on the website to search all routes and trains, and check times, prices and stations.

One extra feature of the CP website is that they also have 'Outings' days. You buy an integrated ticket for rail travel for a special journey. How about taking a steam train up the Douro Valley whilst sipping a glass (or 2) of Port Wine or maybe go on the Almond Blossom Route in March through some of the country's most dramatic scenery. There are more ideas on their website, and yes, it's all in English.

Check out Comboios de Portugal website at www.cp.pt