Lisbon Metro to Introduce Driverless Train System on New Circular Line

Lisbon Metro's CBTC upgrade paves way for driverless trains by 2023

Lisbon's Metro is rolling out a new communications-based train control system—known by its English acronym CBTC (Communications-Based Train Control)—to manage signaling on the network, the company's president, Cristina Vaz Tomé, told Lusa News Agency.

Speaking after a debate on "The Power of Innovation," organized by the Caramulo Museum and the Viseu Regional Business Association (AIRV) in the Caramulo mountains (Tondela, Viseu district), Vaz Tomé explained that the system "allows trains to stop automatically without human intervention" and will go live in the first quarter of next year with the launch of the new circular line. The expansion will extend the Yellow Line's Rato station to the Green Line's Cais do Sodré, adding two new stops: Estrela and Santos.

The Metro already has safety mechanisms that halt trains without operator input. As an example, Vaz Tomé cited automatic stops between Praça de Espanha and Sete Rios stations during Storm Kristin.

"Lisbon has many shallow aquifers, and in some areas, the risk of water seeping in from below is high," she said. "We have pumps along all the lines to drain it. If water levels rise beyond a critical threshold, the system detects the hazard and stops the trains."

The new signaling is part of the Metro's broader strategy to upgrade to "a next-generation safety system"—one that could eventually enable fully automated, driverless train operations.

"But not yet—no timeline has been set," Vaz Tomé clarified.

She noted that such a transition requires "significant investment" and involves complex factors, including labor and political considerations, as discussed during the debate.

Retraining Workers for New Roles

Vaz Tomé told Lusa that the goal is to "retrain employees and transition them into other functions," emphasizing that their skills "will remain valuable."

While new positions are expected to emerge, she acknowledged that "it's still too early to define them."

"Innovation is a process," she said. "The aim is to develop careers, create new opportunities, and integrate workers into these evolving roles."

She pointed to international precedents, such as Barcelona's driverless metro, as examples of how Lisbon might follow suit. However, she stressed that full automation would first require enclosed platforms, since "driverless trains need platform screen doors for safety before boarding."

The debate, moderated by entrepreneur and AIRV president João Cotta, also featured Renova president Paulo Pereira da Silva and Movecho president Luís Abrantes.