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Portugal has taken a major step toward modernizing its rail infrastructure with the signing of the first concession agreement and initial financing tranche for the Lisbon–Porto high-speed rail line.
Strategic Infrastructure Investment
Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), the national rail infrastructure manager, signed a 30-year concession contract with Avan Norte – Gestão da Ferrovia de Alta Velocidade, a consortium led by LusoLAV. The agreement covers the design, construction, and maintenance of the 71-kilometre Porto–Oiã section, marking the launch of Phase 1 of the high-speed corridor.
Financing and EU Support
At the same ceremony, the European Investment Bank (EIB) committed €875 million in financing for the Porto–Oiã section—the first tranche of a broader €3 billion package approved in 2024. This represents the largest single contract signed under the EU’s InvestEU programme. Additional funding includes €480 million in EU grants via the Connecting Europe Facility and €150 million from IP.
Project Scope and Impact
The Porto–Oiã stretch will feature:
- A new underground station in Santo Ovídio (Vila Nova de Gaia)
- Upgrades to Porto’s Campanhã station
- A new bridge over the Douro River
- Connections to the Northern Line near Canelas
- A traction substation in Estarreja
Once operational, the high-speed service is expected to reduce travel time between Lisbon and Porto from nearly three hours to approximately one hour and 15 minutes, serving up to 10 million passengers annually. The project is part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and aims to enhance regional connectivity and support EU climate goals.
High speed trains by Frédéric de Kemmeter
