With the Metrobus Porto project, the northern Portuguese metropolis is launching its first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system: The core element is the deployment of zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell articulated buses that primarily operate on dedicated lanes and benefit from traffic light prioritization to ensure fast and unobstructed travel.
The route
The first Metrobus line covers approximately 3.9 km along Avenida da Boavista – one of Porto’s main east-west axes. It connects the multimodal transport hub Casa da Música with the western district of Foz, terminating at Praça do Império near the Atlantic coast. There are seven barrier-free stations with central platforms along the route.
The fully segregated busway enables an average journey time of about 12 minutes for the entire line, translating to a travel speed of nearly 20 km/h. An intelligent, vehicle-controlled traffic light management system grants priority at intersections and minimizes operational delays. A planned turnaround maneuver will bypass the central Rotunda da Boavista and instead use a specially designated loop with signal control – an example of optimized use of public space.
In a second development phase, the line is to be extended with additional stops toward Matosinhos, ending at Anémona in the Matosinhos district (Praça Cidade do Salvador). The total route would then span around 6 kilometers, with a planned one-way travel time of about 17 minutes. After a legally mandated construction halt, the project is now back on track for implementation.
Vehicle Technology: Hydrogen Mobility
The system will use the H2.CityGold 18 – an 18-meter articulated bus with a hydrogen fuel cell system, developed by Portuguese manufacturer CaetanoBus in collaboration with Toyota. The buses are equipped with doors on both sides to accommodate central platform boarding along the route. They can accommodate up to 135 passengers, 35 of whom seated.
The vehicles offer a range of approximately 480 km, with a refuelling time of under 15 minutes. This significantly outperforms battery-electric models in both range and availability. Operation is entirely emissions-free. A fully integrated energy system using green hydrogen produced on-site via electrolysis, supplemented by photovoltaic installations, ensures largely self-sufficient and sustainable energy supply.
The buses are equipped with advanced driver assistance systems and communication interfaces that enable integration into the city’s transport management system. Traffic light prioritization is vehicle-controlled and based on a Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) architecture.
Operational aspects
The first line is scheduled to begin operation in June 2025. The first vehicle has already begun test runs, and the dedicated lane has been largely completed since autumn 2024. The full fleet of 12 vehicles is expected to be operational by mid-year. Metrobus is not intended as a competitor but as a complement to the Metro do Porto. Due to its lower construction cost compared to conventional rail systems, the concept is designed to offer a cost-efficient alternative for medium-demand corridors. Until the 1990s, a tram service operated along the wide, straight Avenida da Boavista – much of the former aligment is now being used for the Metrobus.
We last reported on the concept here:
https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/porto-articulated-hydrogen-buses-for-the-metrobus-and-further-lines-for-the-light-rail-underway/
In addition, Porto STCP has placed an order for 30 battery buses of the current e.City Gold model from Caetano Bus, produced in cooperation with Chinese manufacturer CRRC, worth EUR 11.6 million. The LFP batteries have a maximum capacity of 465 kWh.
