Portugal Launches First Phase of Porto‑Lisbon High‑Speed Rail Project
Portugal officially kicked off construction of the initial 71‑kilometre stretch of the long‑awaited Porto‑Lisbon high‑speed railway, promising a transformative boost to inter‑city travel.
📌 Key Highlights & Context
- Construction covers a 71‑km double‑track, electrified section between Porto Campanhã and Oiã in Aveiro
- The line is engineered for trains running up to 300 km/h
- Project aims to resolve capacity bottlenecks on the Northern Line and cut Porto‑Lisbon travel to about 1h 15m
First Construction Phase
The project, led by Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), starts with a 71‑kilometre double‑track, electrified line linking Porto’s Campanhã station to Oiã in the Aveiro district. The infrastructure is built to accommodate trains travelling at up to 300 km/h.
Goals and Expected Impact
The ultimate ambition is to reduce the Porto‑Lisbon journey to roughly one hour and fifteen minutes, strengthening economic, tourism and educational links between the two largest metropolitan areas while easing road congestion.
In addition to faster journeys, the new line will alleviate chronic capacity constraints on the existing Northern Line, allowing more frequent and reliable services.
- Infrastructure and Housing Minister Miguel Pinto Luz attended the inauguration ceremony.
- Representatives from the European Commission and the private consortium AVAN were also present.
- The project forms part of a broader €10 billion national rail modernization plan.