PORTUGUESE Trains (CP) railfreight subsidiary CP Carga continued its recovery from the economic crisis with an 11.7% year-on-year increase in volumes in the first half of this year according to its latest figures, which also show Portugal's largest railfreight operator carried a monthly record of 884,060 tonnes of freight in July.

PORTUGUESE Trains (CP) passenger traffic continued to recover in the first half of this year according to the company's latest financial results, which show ridership increased 2.4% year-on-year to reach a higher-than-forecast 54 million.

THE privatisation of Portuguese Trains (CP) railfreight unit CP Carga appears to be facing more delays after the sell-off was omitted from a government list of privatisations due to take place before the end of 2014.

PORTUGUESE Trains (CP) witnessed a continued decline in passenger numbers last year according to the company's annual figures, which show ridership fell by 4% in 2013 to 111.7 million, although there was some cause for optimism with the situation showing signs of improvement in the final four months of the year.

THE Portuguese government has delayed the privatisation of Portuguese Trains (CP) railfreight unit CP Carga for a third time because it wants to see the financial position of the company improve before it invites bids.

PORTUGUESE Trains (CP) ended 2012 with a loss of €222.5m, an improvement of 23% over the previous year, thanks largely to the improved operating performance of the company and its subsidiaries, which have reduced their losses.

PORTUGUESE Trains (CP) CEO Mr José Benoliel has revealed that CP ended 2011 with a loss of €289m, compared with a loss of €201m in the previous year.

THE PORTUGUESE government has postponed the sale of Potuguese Trains (CP) railfreight division CP Carga until next year as part of revisions to its privatisation timetable.

PORTUGAL'S Ministry of Economy has announced the construction of a high-speed line between Lisbon and the Spanish border will be "definitively abandoned" following a report by the country's audit commission, which claims contracts awarded for the Poceirão - Caia section were illegal.

THE Portuguese government has published a strategic transport plan aimed at reducing the cost of train services as part of its austerity programme.