From words to paper. Definitive support for the high-speed lines that Portugal has been planning since Lisbon met Galicia will reach a major milestone at the start of 2024: the tender and construction contract for the first section. The initial 72 kilometers carry a budget of 1.9 billion euros. This update came through the Portuguese Vice President for Infrastructure during a Lisbon workshop hosted by the Portuguese Rail Platform in late September.
Interventions described by Carlos Fernandes, a specialist contributor to Build, detail the proposed Lot A, the stretch between Porto and Porto de Leixões, extending south of Aveiro. The route won provisional environmental clearance on 21 August, despite strong local opposition tied to impacts on about 100 homes.
In the coming weeks, the Portuguese Environment Agency will conduct a three-year refresh of the project’s plans, with the necessary infrastructure in place. The aim is to cut travel time between two major cities by roughly 50 minutes, greatly improving national rail links.
The latest figures also show a price update, with Lot A rising by about 15.15 percent from the 1,650 million euros estimated last year, and a 23 percent increase for Lot B. The total for the second section has moved from 1,300 to 1,600 million euros. In spite of the changes, the government hopes to mobilize substantial support from national and European funds, with an estimated 500 million euros per contract in potential European assistance, possibly exceeding 750 million per package.
The prime minister publicly affirmed that the study should proceed without delay, and confirmed plans to secure the financing. This year’s budget surplus has provided funds for 2.75 billion euros to safeguard initial investments and to cushion potential shifts in European funding allocations for the project.
The 72-kilometer Lot A will include the reform of Campanha intermodal station, a new bridge over the Douro, and a link station to the Gaia metro. A portion of the route will pass through tunnels, bridges, and viaducts. The Portuguese infrastructure manager expects Lot B to be put out to tender before July 2024.
They protect the 2030 horizon
Before a panel of experts, Fernandes noted ongoing difficulties in executing railway plans and pointed to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine as factors delaying the 2020 Railway Plan. On this basis, it is expected that roughly seven years will be required to complete studies and the construction work for these infrastructures.
Yet the country continues to advance the first high-speed line, even as a clear completion date remains elusive. The Évora–Elvas corridor, about 90 kilometers apart, would connect Lisbon and Sines with Extremadura at speeds up to 250 kilometers per hour, with an investment in the range of 200 to 340 million euros. While progress continues, final delivery remains postponed for now.
The experience of neighboring Spain and its multi-thousand-kilometer highway network underlines what Portugal seeks to achieve. The proposed PPP model would see a private partner responsible for construction and long-term maintenance for the first 30 to 35 years.
Lisbon forgives Comboios debt so it can buy new high-speed trains
To address century-end railway missteps, the government under Costa’s administration plans further investments. In a recent financial restructuring operation, 1.8 billion euros in debt owed by Comboios de Portugal was forgiven and reallocated to support ongoing public service commitments from 2002 to 2019.
This move aligns with next year’s state budget, which also allocates 126 million euros for free travel for 370,000 youths under 23. The Ministry of Economy described the credit line as stable for repayment, and authorities emphasized that the funding would speed up rail improvements and fleet renewal. Transport authorities indicated a flexible approach to permission processes, focusing on speed and efficiency.
João Galamba, who oversees the transport portfolio, highlighted the plan’s strategic importance for investment in modern infrastructure. The aim is to enable the fleet’s renewal ahead of 2040, with measures including the acquisition of twelve high-speed trains to unlock capacity and support the transition from Pendular Alpha operations.
A portion of the investment, about 336 million euros, supports servicing needs and cannot be directly financed by the state. Consequently, Comboios de Portugal will adapt its financing to reflect this, while withdrawals by Renfe and the Spanish-Italian Iryo indicate renewed attention to connecting Lisbon with Galicia through direct high-speed services. These developments form part of a broader push to modernize Portuguese rail and expand cross-border mobility, aligning with regional goals for faster, more efficient travel and freight connections.