High-speed train in Portugal. Photo: Infraestruturas de Portugal Portugal has begun construction on the first section of the future high-speed rail line between Porto and Lisbon.
The work on the section between Campanhã station in Porto and the town of Oiã was marked in an official ceremony yesterday (October 12), attended by ministers, representatives of the national railway infrastructure company and other senior officials.
The new section, which is approximately 71 km long, will include a double electric track designed for speeds of up to 300 km/h.
As part of the project, approximately 8 km of tunnels and 19 km of bridges and overpasses will be built, including a new bridge over the Douro River. The project also includes adapting stations for high-speed trains and constructing a new underground station.
The entire project is intended to enable direct travel between Porto and Lisbon in about an hour and a quarter in the future, and significantly improve connectivity between the two main metropolitan areas in Portugal.
In addition to shortening travel times, transferring long-distance high-speed trains to the new line is expected to free up capacity on the existing Northern Line, in favor of suburban, regional and freight trains.
The new line will integrate into the existing transport network, with connections to the "regular" train, the Porto metro and public transport terminals. Additional connections will allow access to other major cities in the country.
The contract between Infraestruturas de Portugal and the AVAN consortium was signed in July 2025 for a period of 30 years, including five years of design, construction and commissioning, followed by 25 years of maintenance and operation of the infrastructure. The project is part of Portugal's National Investment Plan 2030, and also receives European financial support.