More news on this day
Portugal’s state rail operator CP has begun testing Starlink satellite internet on one of its Alfa Pendular premium long-distance trains, in a pilot that aims to transform onboard Wi-Fi on key north–south routes.
Get the latest news straight to your inbox!
Satellite-powered upgrade for Portugal’s premium services
CP, formally known as Comboios de Portugal, has launched an experimental project using satellite connectivity to reinforce internet access on its flagship Alfa Pendular trains. Publicly available information from the company and the Portuguese government indicates that the pilot is built around Starlink technology, installed on at least one Alfa Pendular set operating long-distance services.
The Alfa Pendular is CP’s top-tier service linking major cities such as Lisbon, Porto, Braga and Faro, and already advertises complimentary Wi-Fi and power sockets across all seats. The current system relies primarily on terrestrial mobile networks, which can struggle on certain stretches of track. The new pilot adds satellite antennas to work alongside existing infrastructure, with the goal of improving stability and speeds throughout the journey.
The project is being framed as an enhancement to passenger comfort and a response to long-standing complaints about inconsistent connections on Portugal’s mainline services. Reports indicate that CP will collect detailed technical and operational data to assess how effectively Starlink can fill coverage gaps and how the mixed terrestrial–satellite setup performs in day-to-day operations.
While the pilot is currently focused on Alfa Pendular, CP’s broader premium offer also includes Intercidades trains, which similarly provide free Wi-Fi on core intercity routes. The outcome of the tests could therefore influence future connectivity decisions across the wider long-distance fleet.
How the Starlink pilot is designed to work
According to information released by CP and government channels, the test installation combines Starlink satellite terminals with the existing onboard communications system. The satellite link is intended to take over or supplement connectivity where mobile coverage is weak, rather than replace ground networks outright.
This hybrid model is increasingly common in transport, as operators seek to balance capacity, latency and cost. Onboard equipment typically manages multiple connections, routing passenger traffic via whichever network offers the strongest and most stable performance at a given point along the line.
In Portugal’s case, several sections of the north–south trunk line still suffer from coverage blackspots and capacity constraints, which can cause Wi-Fi sessions to drop or slow to a crawl. By drawing on Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit constellation, CP aims to maintain an internet link even where traditional mobile signals degrade, especially in rural or coastal stretches.
The test phase is expected to focus on measuring coverage, throughput and reliability over time. CP has indicated that it will analyse indicators such as stability of the satellite connection, real-world speeds available to passengers and the robustness of handovers between satellite and mobile networks as the train moves at high speed.
What passengers can expect on board
For travellers, the most visible change will be the potential for smoother Wi-Fi sessions on routes that have historically been patchy. Alfa Pendular trains run at speeds up to around 220 kilometres per hour, and current feedback from passengers has often highlighted unstable internet and dead zones on long stretches between major hubs.
The Starlink-supported system is expected to improve basic connectivity for everyday tasks such as messaging, email and web browsing, and may also make it more feasible to join video calls or stream content during longer journeys. However, CP has not yet set out detailed service guarantees or performance targets for the pilot phase.
Existing onboard amenities remain unchanged: Alfa Pendular trains continue to offer reserved seating, reclining seats with individual power sockets, catering facilities and upgraded interiors following previous refurbishment programmes. The new connectivity trial is positioned as an additional layer of comfort, particularly for business travellers and tourists who increasingly expect reliable internet as standard.
Early public reactions shared on Portuguese transport forums and social platforms suggest cautious optimism. Regular users of CP’s long-distance trains have long reported frustration with inconsistent Wi-Fi, and some see the adoption of Starlink as a sign that the operator is responding to digital connectivity expectations common elsewhere in European rail travel.
Part of a wider transport connectivity trend
CP’s experiment with Starlink places Portugal alongside a growing group of operators exploring satellite-based connectivity for trains, ships and aircraft. In aviation, several carriers have begun fitting Starlink equipment to deliver higher-speed in-flight Wi-Fi that more closely resembles home broadband, and rail operators in markets such as Italy have announced plans to extend Starlink across entire high-speed fleets from 2026.
These developments are driven by rising passenger demand for seamless online access throughout their journeys, as well as the operational benefits that robust connectivity can bring to transport companies. For railways, stronger onboard connections can support real-time diagnostics, passenger information systems and potential future applications such as live occupancy tracking or improved remote support.
For Starlink, partnerships with rail and airline operators provide a showcase for its low-latency satellite network beyond residential and rural broadband. The Portuguese trial offers another test case of how well the technology copes with high-speed ground transport and dense passenger usage along a busy European corridor.
Industry analysts following the rollout note that the economics of satellite-powered Wi-Fi are still evolving. Contract structures, data usage patterns and equipment costs will help determine whether similar solutions are feasible at scale across entire national fleets, or whether they remain concentrated on premium and international services.
Next steps and possible expansion beyond Alfa Pendular
So far, CP’s Starlink project remains explicitly experimental, limited to a single Alfa Pendular composition while engineers and planners gather data. The operator has not announced a firm timeline for commercial rollout or for potential deployment on other services such as Intercidades, regional or urban trains.
Publicly available statements point to a phased approach, where the current testing will inform decisions on technical architecture, investment levels and the broader customer offer. Key questions include how much bandwidth can be made available per train, how to manage peak demand and how to integrate satellite costs into existing ticket structures for long-distance services.
Should the pilot demonstrate consistent gains in reliability and speed, observers expect CP to consider extending similar systems to other premium routes. Intercidades services, which connect many of the same city pairs as Alfa Pendular at slightly lower speeds, could be among the first candidates, given their role in Portugal’s long-distance network and existing provision of free Wi-Fi.
For now, the Starlink-equipped Alfa Pendular set serves as an early indicator of how Portugal’s rail connectivity might evolve over the coming years. As European rail operators compete more directly with budget airlines and long-distance coaches, digital experience on board is emerging as a core part of the product, and CP’s latest trial reflects that shifting priority.