Portugal begins construction on Porto-Lisbon high-speed rail line

Construction has officially begun on the first 71-kilometer section of Portugal’s high-speed rail line, connecting Porto-Campanhã to Oiã. The project, managed by Infraestruturas de Portugal and executed by the AVAN Norte consortium, is estimated to cost approximately €2 billion. Funding includes €875 million from the European Investment Bank and €480 million from the Connecting Europe Facility.

Once operational, the line aims to reduce travel time between Lisbon and Porto to 1 hour and 15 minutes. The project is considered a strategic component of Portugal’s national airport strategy and is intended to eventually link Lisbon to Madrid in roughly three hours by 2034. The first phase includes the construction of a new road-rail bridge over the Douro River and the expansion of the Campanhã Intermodal Station.

However, the project faces local opposition in Vila Nova de Gaia. Mayor Luís Filipe Menezes has expressed concerns regarding the planned underground station at Santo Ovídio, which will be built 60 meters deep. The municipality argues the construction could cause significant urban disruption, including heavy truck traffic, potential impacts on local commerce, and restricted access to the Gaia Hospital.