The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, said this Wednesday, 18th, in parliament that CP will generate profit this year and rejected the idea of dismantling the company.
“It won’t give one, not two, not three, not four million euros [de lucro]. It will give more”, he stated, at the Infrastructure, Mobility and Housing Committee.
Miguel Pinto Luz also responded to criticism about the proposed sub-concession of suburban lines in Lisbon and Porto, arguing that, in the model defended by some deputies, the State “gives the meat to the private sector and keeps the bone”, that is, the deficit parts.
“With me, you don’t attack CP, you defend CP”, he added, highlighting that the company today wins awards, is “robust” and “offers services like never before”, praising the management and employees for the work carried out.
Pinto Luz rejected allegations from PS deputies, during a lively debate, about the hiring of Deloitte and the possible award of sub-concessions to foreign operators, classifying the comments as “stupid” and defending the seriousness of the Government and the administration.
“I do not allow you to make a value judgment here that I am going to hand over to A or B. It is my seriousness and my honor that is at stake and what you are invoking, which I gave orders to award to this or that, is not where I will respond”, he said in response to socialist deputy José Carlos Barbosa.
The government ordered CP to present, within 90 days, technical-legal, financial and temporal solutions for the subconcession of four suburban lines — Cascais, Sintra/Azambuja, Sado and Porto — with a decision scheduled for the first half of 2026.
The minister highlighted that these lines will continue to operate under the CP brand, managed by the administration itself, ensuring that the public company is protected and will be able to focus on less served lines.
“In due time, the Government will present its model”, he said, adding: “We will not dismantle the CP”.
The debate also focused on the implementation of the Green Railway Pass, the creation of which has increased demand for the service. The minister reinforced the importance of the State in managing essential public services, thanking CP’s administration and employees for their effort in reinventing the company, despite the “few conditions” and operational challenges.
Asked about the concession proposal, Pinto Luz reiterated that the government wants to ensure that the price of passes is “reasonable for families” and that the model is sustainable for the national operator, arguing that maintaining strategic services under public management is a political and economic objective.
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