The CP Document Centre and Historical Archive

The mission of the CP Archive is to keep, preserve, structure, update, enhance, and disseminate/provide to the public the testimonies of business life and the development of transport and the railway sector in Portugal. Its goal is to maintain the efficiency of the archive system and obtain quality information in good time.

The collection covers more than 167 years of memories of business life in the economic, political, social, cultural, intellectual and scientific areas that are essential for telling the country's story.

Documentary Collections

The CP Archive consists of studies, minutes, contracts, timetables, annual reports, posters, photographs, films and technical documents. Currently, the documentary collections consist of:

CP: 1860 -
Estoril Society: 1918-1972
Companhia dos Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses da Beira Alta: 1896-1947
Private individuals:
- António da Silveira Bual
- Augusto Cerveira
Photography
Audiovisual
Technical details

See the Archive Guide (only in Portuguese) or send an email to cultura@cp.pt for further information

Legal framework

The CP Archive contains administrative, technical, and iconographic documentation produced and received by the company during its activities.

These documents are, first and foremost, an effective support for CP's management and, as a source for studying the history of the company and the railway sector, they are also an inseparable part of the country's history.

Aware of the value of its archival heritage, unique characteristics, and indelible place in national history, CP's documentation is legally governed by the Regulation for the Classification and Evaluation of Information Produced in the Performance of CP's Duties, pursuant to Ministerial Order 39/2019 of 29 January and its selection table, annexed to this ministerial order, of which it forms an integral part.

These regulations define the storage periods and final destination of documents, providing departments with objective criteria for evaluating, selecting and disposing of documents.

Services

Reference Service
Face-to-face appointments: face-to-face appointments need to be booked, at least five working days in advance by email or letter.
See online at https://www.cp.pt/institucional/en/railway-culture
Loan: Under exceptional circumstances for external organisations. Send a request to cultura@cp.pt
Scientific and cultural collaboration
- Consultancy - Specialised consultancy on railway history issues is guaranteed;
- Partnerships and co-productions - At the proposal of external bodies on topics relevant to CP, for example, organising exhibitions, historical re-enactments and themed editions or publications on the railway;
- Education and heritage;
- Educational activities regarding the historical and cultural aspects of the railway, by videoconference or in person;
- Guided visits to railway heritage sites.
Collection of documents: to increase CP's documentary collection and intangible archival heritage by incorporating, donating or depositing documents and testimonies from employees and former employees, as well as third parties.
Reproduction of documents and/or images.
Technical and professional internships, undergraduate, postgraduate and master's degrees in the field of Documentary Sciences, specialising in Archives.

See the Archive Guide or send an email to cultura@cp.pt for further information.

Opening hours, contacts and accesses

Opening hours:
From 09:00 to 13:00 / 14:00 to 17:30 - Tuesday to Thursday, advance booking required.

Contacts:
Telephones: 211 023 599/221 052 403
Email: cultura@cp.pt

Address:
CP – Comboios de Portugal, E. P. E.
Planeamento Estratégico-Gestão da Informação
Calçada do Duque, n.º 20, 1249-109 Lisboa

Acesses:
Train- Rossio station
Underground- Restauradores and Baixa-Chiado
Buses via Praça do Rossio e via Largo Trindade Coelho.