Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses - CP (tel: 808 208 208; website: www.cp.pt) is the Portuguese national rail service provider. Over the last decade, CP's reputation has improved, with more efficient services and a modernisation programme, which has especially benefited the Porto-Lisbon-Faro service with the introduction of high-speed trains along the route. Travellers should contact CP direct for all national rail enquiries.

Lisbon is served by five major railway stations, as well as a number of suburban stations. Santa Apolónia, Avenida Infante D Henrique, serves an ever-decreasing number of routes. The gleaming modern Oriente station, at the Parque das Nações, on the city's eastern approach, has become an increasingly important long-distance train station since it was opened for Expo 98. Rossio (currently in the process of being revamped), between Praça dos Restauradores and Rossio, serves Sintra, while Cais do Sodré, near the Praça Duque da Terceira, serves Cascais and Estoril. The Barreiro station, on the south bank of the River Tagus, serves the south, though in recent years direct high-speed trains to Faro have made this longer journey less appealing.

Rail services: Intercity trains connect all of Portugal's major cities to either Lisbon or Porto. Comfortable high-speed Alfa services connect Lisbon with both Porto and Faro. There are also overnight trains to and from Madrid and Paris.