Azores Situation Report Wednesday 3rd January 2024
Old locomotive from the port of Ponta Delgada is renovated.
One of the two ‘Brunel broad gauge’ steam locomotives that were used in the construction of the port of Ponta Delgada in the 19th century has been renovated by a local steel company. It has its structural integrity, but not its functionality. In the future it will be on display. There are two in total, the second one will be renovated soon.
They were purchased in the mid-19th century from the ‘Holyhead Breakwater Company’. After the breakwater on Anglesey had been constructed. The ‘Kit’ was then shipped to Ponta Delgada, São Miguel to perform the same function. To carry heavy rocks from the quarry to the new harbour pier construction.
There is an original engine shed with various machines which will be turned into a visitor attraction in the future. These are the only two broad gauge locomotives left in the world.
Santa Maria wants to reopen the airport at night.
The president of the Municipality of Vila do Porto announced that she intends to strengthen contacts for the reopening of Santa Maria International Airport, at night.
Bárbara Chaves has said that she intends to officiate, once again, the competent entities for this purpose, starting with ANA/VINCI itself, which manages the infrastructure.
She also explained that the strengthening of the position has to do with the last two requests for emergency landings: one from the airline Avianca in November, with around 250 passengers and another from the airline Air Europa in December, with around 355 passengers.
For Bárbara Chaves, these situations reinforce the importance of Santa Maria International Airport as an infrastructure of enormous relevance for back-up support in case of emergency for transatlantic commercial aviation and for supporting ETOPS for airlines. As well as the potential in supporting the operation of technical Business Aviation stopovers, which can be much further explored.
Prices of gasoline and diesel in the Azores drop in January.
The price of gasoline in the Azores dropped 6.9 cents per litre on Monday and the price of diesel dropped 8.7 cents per litre, according to an order published in the Official Journal.