Portugal Initiates Construction of New High‑Speed Rail Link Between Lisbon and Porto

Construction of a high‑speed rail line linking Lisbon and Porto commenced on Monday, with work beginning on the initial segment between Porto‑Campanhã and Oiã in the Aveiro district.

Upon completion, the line will permit passengers to travel between the two cities in one hour and fifteen minutes.

The government says the high‑speed project forms a central component of the national airport strategy, supporting the new Lisbon airport and enhancing rail connections with Spain.

The government estimates that the project will enable a roughly three‑hour journey between Lisbon and Madrid by 2034.

Alongside the new Lisbon airport, the high‑speed rail line is among the largest infrastructure projects Portugal will undertake this century, said Miguel Pinto Luz, Portugal’s Minister of Infrastructure and Housing.

Therefore, it is essential that a strong national consensus exist regarding high‑speed rail and, more broadly, the importance of investing in the railway system, he added.

The Porto‑Oiã section will span 71 kilometres of high‑speed railway, featuring a new road‑rail bridge over the Douro River, a new station at Vila Nova de Gaia‑Santo Ovídio, and the expansion and redesign of the Porto‑Campanhã intermodal station.

The concession contract for the Porto‑Oiã section, signed on 29 July 2025, is valued at approximately €2 billion, with €875 million from the European Investment Bank and €480 million from the Connecting Europe Facility.

“This PPP‑structured project is vital for the public passenger transport ecosystem and serves as a key structural element for the region,” the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing said, adding that it “aligns with the European Commission’s objectives of doubling passenger rail traffic, complementing conventional rail lines, and fostering a multimodal, sustainable approach alongside other mobility alternatives.”

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