Portugal Launches Construction of First High-Speed Rail Line Between Porto and Lisbon
31 July 2025 – Porto, Portugal
Portugal has officially taken its first major step toward building a high-speed rail network, with the launch of construction on the initial phase of a new line connecting Porto and Lisbon. The project marks one of the most significant infrastructure developments in the country this century, backed by an initial funding package of €875 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
First Phase Underway: Porto to Oiã
The first tranche of funding will support the 71km segment stretching from Porto to Oiã, a town located just north of Coimbra. A 30-year concession agreement has been signed with Avan Norte, a consortium of six Portuguese construction and engineering firms, to design, build, and maintain this phase.
The scope of this phase includes several key components:
- A new bridge over the Douro River
- An underground station in the Santo Ovídio district of Vila Nova de Gaia
- A comprehensive upgrade to Porto’s main Campanhã Station to accommodate high-speed trains and multimodal connections
A Strategic National Project
Once fully operational, the high-speed line will reduce travel time between Lisbon and Porto to just 1 hour and 15 minutes, down from the current three hours, with the capacity to carry up to 10 million passengers annually. The initiative is part of Portugal’s broader strategy to enhance sustainable mobility and regional integration.
Describing the project as “one of the largest the country will undertake this century,” Infrastructure and Housing Minister Miguel Pinto Luz highlighted its importance alongside the new Lisbon Airport, emphasizing both as pillars for national economic growth.
International Funding, Local Execution
Jean-Christophe Laloux, Director General of Finance at the EIB, stressed the line’s role in advancing climate goals, territorial cohesion, and sustainable transport across the region.
For the consortium, Carlos Mota Santos, CEO of Mota-Engil, described the agreement as “a recognition of the trust placed in a team of Portuguese firms by a wide network of international financial institutions.”
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