“World’s Best Public Event 2017” at the Bea World Festival in Porto came to Portugal, for “The Presidential”, a project developed in partnership between the “Portuguese National Railway Museum” in Entroncamento and the company Trajetorias & Melodias. The “Bea World Festival – The International Festival of Events and Live Communication” is the meeting place and networking event for the international event community.
The “Presidential Train” before was a “Royal Train” used by Monarchy since 1870 until 1910. Then, as Presidential Train it was used by the Portuguese Heads of State until 1970. The restoration project was carried out by the museum and was co-financed by European and National funding. With the designation “Presidential Tours: Tourist Tours in Historic Train”, the work began in 2009. The restored train was presented to the public on a trip between Lisbon-Santa Apolónia and Entroncamento in 12th December 2013.
The restoration of this train was a bet by the National Railway Museum Foundation in creating conditions for the valorization of the National Railway Heritage as an enhancer for the cultural and economic development of the country. Now this strategic approach is globally recognized.
