Construction of Portugal’s high-speed rail line linking Lisbon and Porto began on Monday, with work starting on the first section between Porto-Campanhã and Oiã, in the district of Aveiro.
Once completed, the line will enable passengers to travel between the two cities in one hour and 15 minutes.
According to the government, the high-speed rail project is a key part of the country’s national airport strategy, supporting the new Lisbon airport, and will also help strengthen rail links with Spain. The government aims to enable a journey of around three hours between Lisbon and Madrid by 2034.
“Alongside the new Lisbon airport, high-speed rail lines represent the largest infrastructure projects the country will undertake this century,” said Miguel Pinto Luz, Portugal’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing. He added that a strong national consensus on high-speed rail and investment in the railway system was crucial.
The Porto–Oiã section will comprise 71 kilometres of high-speed railway, including a new road and rail bridge over the River Douro, a new station at Vila Nova de Gaia-Santo Ovídio, and the expansion and redesign of Porto-Campanhã Intermodal Station.
The concession contract for this section, signed on 29 July 2025, represents an investment of around €2 billion. According to the government, the project will receive €875 million in financing from the European Investment Bank and €480 million from the Connecting Europe Facility.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing describes the project as pivotal for public passenger transport and a key structural element for the region. It also says it is aligned with the European Commission’s objectives of doubling passenger rail traffic, complementing conventional rail lines and promoting a more sustainable, multimodal approach to transport.
Source: euronews
