Porto-Lisbon high-speed rail construction

In late September 2026, residents of the Campanhã district in Porto began seeking mediation from the Porto City Council regarding planned demolitions for a high-speed rail line to Lisbon. Local collectives, such as the Vida Justa movement, requested meetings to prevent individual negotiations with Infraestruturas de Portugal and project concessionaires, arguing the City Council must take responsibility for the impact on 44 homes and several businesses.

By October 2026, construction officially commenced on the first 71-kilometer section connecting Porto-Campanhã to Oiã. Managed by Infraestruturas de Portugal and the AVAN Norte consortium, the €2 billion project is funded in part by the European Investment Bank and the Connecting Europe Facility. This initial stretch is scheduled for completion by 2030. The full network, which includes subsequent sections from Oiã to Soure and Soure to Carregado, is projected for completion by 2032. Once operational, the line aims to reduce travel time between Lisbon and Porto to 1 hour and 15 minutes, supporting speeds of up to 300km/h through significant engineering, including eight kilometers of tunnels and 19 kilometers of bridges and viaducts.

While the project includes the expansion of the Campanhã Intermodal Station and a new bridge over the Douro River, it has faced opposition in Vila Nova de Gaia. The local mayor expressed concerns that the construction of a 60-meter-deep underground station at Santo Ovídio could cause urban disruption, heavy truck traffic, and restricted access to the Gaia Hospital. Observers have also noted that the rail links must effectively serve industrial and residential hubs like the Entre Douro e Vouga region to ensure benefits are democratized across the territory.