“Rede Expressos announces that tomorrow [Wednesday], 11 November, it will suspend all services nationwide between 10 am and 11:59 pm due to adverse weather conditions caused by storms affecting the country,” a press release states.

The company explains that “this exceptional and precautionary measure aims primarily to safeguard the safety of passengers, drivers and other operational teams in view of the risks associated with worsening weather conditions and road travel”.

“The suspension will cover all departures and arrivals scheduled for the indicated period, affecting express transport services throughout the country,” it adds.

Rede Expressos clarifies that “all passengers holding tickets for affected services will be automatically refunded, without the need to submit any additional request”.

Apologising for “the disruption resulting from this exceptional suspension”, the company thanks passengers for their understanding.

Quoted in the statement, Rede Expressos Managing Director Nelson Silva stresses that “people’s safety is, and will always be, above any operation”.

“Faced with weather conditions of this magnitude, we have a responsibility to act preventively,” Nelson Silva says, acknowledging that the “decision will affect the mobility of thousands of Portuguese people”, but that the safety of passengers and staff remains the company’s “absolute priority”.

Weather conditions in mainland Portugal, currently affected by Storm Bruna, are expected to worsen on Wednesday as Storm Charles passes through, intensifying in the morning. The areas expected to be worst affected are Lisbon, Leiria, Setúbal, Beja and Faro.

In response, the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) issued a red weather warning, the highest level, for the districts of Évora, Faro, Setúbal, Santarém, Lisbon, Leiria, Beja and Portalegre due to strong winds.

The IPMA forecasts wind gusts of up to 120km/h, potentially reaching 140km/h in the most exposed locations.

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