CP have stated that “due to strikes at CP - Comboios de Portugal and IP - Infrastructures of Portugal, called by various union organisations, there may be disturbances in the circulation of trains, in all services, at a national level, between 28 July and 15 September”.

IP workers have begun partial strike action on a daily basis between 10:00am and midday and from 5:00pm to 7:00pm until August 8, the date from which the strike regarding overtime work is then scheduled to end on 15 September.

The strikes have been called by the Association of Intermediate Chiefs of Railway Exploration (ASCEF), by the National Union of Transport, Communications and Public Works (FENTECOP), by the National Independent Union of Railway Workers (SINFB), by the National Democratic Union of Railways (SINDEFER), by the Independent Union of Railway, Infrastructure and Related Workers (SINFA), by the Independent Union of Railway and Related Operators (SIOFA) and by the Union of Railway Transport (STF).

The union structures met on 26 July with representatives of the company and the government however, thanks to no positive outcome the strikes continue to move forward according to António Salvado, the SINFA leader.

According to the union leader, the strike will affect the circulation of long-distance and regional trains.

On 1 August, an overtime strike of workers at CP, IP and affiliated companies (IP Telecom, IP Património and IP Engenharia) will also begin, decreed by the National Union of Railway Sector Workers (SNTSF), to complain about wage increases.

In the note to customers, CP states that anyone who already has tickets purchased to travel on Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, InterRegional and Regional services, will be entitled to a refund of the total amount of the ticket purchased, or its revalidation, free of charge.

This can be done up to 10 days after the end of the strike, at ticket offices or at cp.pt, if reimbursed, by filling out the online form, sending the original scan of the ticket and indicating the Name, Postal address, IBAN and NIF.