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Metropolitan Porto: a new bus line connects five major hubs
Catching a 5 a.m. flight, getting back from campus at the end of the day or reaching a long-distance train in the middle of the night: until now, none of these journeys had a public transport solution north of Porto.
Line 3535 on the UNIR network now connects Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde to Francisco Sá Carneiro airport, the university hub and Campanhã station, running from 5:00 a.m. to 2:55 a.m. via the A28 motorway. Transdev operates it as part of a consortium with its partners.
From Póvoa de Varzim to Campanhã, 5:00 am to 2:55 am
- The route: 3535, a new connection on the UNIR network in metropolitan Porto.
- Five hubs connected: Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde, Francisco Sá Carneiro airport, the university campus and Campanhã station.
- Operating hours: continuous service from 5:00 am to 2:55 am.
- The routing: via the A28 motorway, which cuts journey time.
- Operations: run by Transdev together with its partners on the network.
Which places does route 3535 connect?
Route 3535 links Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde, two towns on the northern coast, with three major destinations in the metropolitan area: Francisco Sá Carneiro airport, the university campus and Campanhã station, Porto's main rail interchange.
That combination is unusual on a single route. It places air access, long-distance rail access and the region's largest student catchment on one journey.
Why running from 5:00 am to 2:55 am matters
Close to twenty-two hours of daily operation makes the journey viable for trips that a daytime-only service rules out. An early morning flight, a late shift ending in the evening, a student heading home after midnight: none of these had a public transport option before.
Car dependency is decided at those edges of the day. A route that stops at 9:00 pm leaves shift workers with no alternative.
What a new connection opens up for a region
A new connection is not measured in journey time alone. It widens the range of jobs reachable without a car, opens courses to residents who were cut off from them, and brings services and leisure within daily reach.
That is the reasoning behind the UNIR network: treating metropolitan Porto as a single living area rather than a collection of separate municipalities.
Frequently asked questions
What is route 3535 on the UNIR network?
Route 3535 is a coach service on the UNIR network in metropolitan Porto. It connects Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde with Francisco Sá Carneiro airport, the university campus and Campanhã station, using the A28 motorway. Transdev operates it jointly with its partners.
What are the operating hours of route 3535?
The route runs from 5:00 am to 2:55 am, close to twenty-two hours of service a day. That window covers early morning flights, late shift ends and late-night returns, needs a daytime-only service cannot meet.
Can you reach Porto airport from Póvoa de Varzim by public transport?
Yes. Route 3535 serves Francisco Sá Carneiro airport directly from Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde, via the A28 motorway. Its operating window, from 5:00 am to 2:55 am, covers most departing and arriving flights.
What is the UNIR network?
UNIR is the mobility network of the Porto metropolitan area, bringing together routes across its municipalities within a coordinated offer. Transdev operates several connections on it, jointly with partner operators.
Does Transdev operate route 3535 alone?
No. The route is operated by Transdev together with its partners on the UNIR network. This arrangement is common on metropolitan networks, where several operators share routes under a single transport authority and a unified offer.
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