The funding supports the project to connect the city’s Yellow line to the Green line between Rato and Cais do Sodre, via new stations in Santos and Estrela. The scheme is estimated to cost €216m ($US 244.8m).

The project will be constructed in two stages:

  • Lot 1, connecting Rato station with Santos station, and
  • Lot 2, connecting Santos to Cais de Sodré.

Zagope Construction and Engineering, Portugal, was awarded a €48.6m contract for the construction of Lot 1, following the initial deadline on May 23. However, Lot 2 was relaunched after the proposals received for this lot were above the base price for the project.

Lisbon Metro also awarded a consortium of Siemens and Stadler a €114.5m contract to install CBTC across the four-line metro network and on 70 existing trains, and to supply 14 three-car trains in January.

When completed, the extension will create a new circular line through the city centre, with six-car trains set to at a peak headway of 3min 40 seconds.

The plans for the expansion were originally unveiled in 2017 as part of the city’s Operational Development Plan and was originally scheduled to open in 2021. However, it has since been postponed to 2024.

Estrela station will be located at the south edge of Jardim da Estrela and will serve the surrounding residential areas where public transport is currently limited to buses.

Santos metro station is an existing Santos station on the commuter line to Cascais. Its connection to the metro will improve access to institutions such as the Lisbon School of Economics and Management and IADE Creative University.

It is also hoped that the new extension will decrease car usage in the city, reducing congestion and improving air quality and energy efficiency, with an estimated reduction of CO2 emissions by 5000 tonnes per year.

 “This project will bring lots of benefits to the Lisbon metropolitan area,” says Ms Elisa Ferreira, European commissioner for cohesion and reforms. “Smoother connections among all forms of public transport, shorter travel times, reduced CO2 emissions and better access to these services, including for people with reduced mobility.”

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