The station opened in 1883, being the eastern terminus of the Douro line until extended as far as the Spanish border in 1887. In 1926, the Tua station served the municipalities of Vila Flor, Carrazeda de Ansiães and São João da Pesqueira, and was a test line for the Companhia Nacional para Bragança, which was of significant importance. The line was important for transitory services of wine, wood, olive oil, cork and livestock, principally from Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia and Régua. These services consisted of exporting 2600 tons annually in refined material and receiving 14,000 tons of raw materials. In addition, the site was a passenger hub for 15000 passengers on average, especially from Porto, Régua, Lisbon, Pinhão and Ferradosa. By 1929, it was a transshipment hub for the Foz do Tua to Bragança line, serviced by Companhia Nacional, although it was one of the worst stations along the Douro line. It was formerly the junction for the scenic, narrow-gauge Tua Line between Mirandela and Bragança. The Tua Line closed in 2008. In 2016, Comboios de Portugal decided to sell the historic locomotive stationed at the Tua station to a foreigner, a decision that generated some controversy. On 11 March, the president of the municipal council of Carrazeda de Ansiães asked that the government step-in reverse its sale.
Architecture
The station is situated in an isolated position along the riverway. A little distance from the station, implanted to the east, is the old train roundhouse/terminal. The platform is quite small, about, situated between a hilltop and gentle surface that descends to the riverbank. Between the station and the river is a roadway. According to a report, it was difficult to enlarge the slope side, without excavating a trench on ground of compact shales. The work would be very expensive due to the volume of excavating the material. Expanding to the riverside, requiring landfill and installation of supporting walls, would not provide enough space, because the Douro was quite close and Direcção dos Serviços Hidráulico, and an estimated cost of 2100 contos: excavations to the rock, supporting wall, embankment and diverting the road, new rail lines, extensions of the pier and warehouses, new platforms, extending the building, equipment , fencing, various and unforeseen tasks.
