This includes a new Lisbon - Porto high-speed line, with a travel time of 1h 15min; a new cross-border Porto - Vigo line with a one hour travel time; the modernisation and complete electrification of the network by 2030; an increase in capacity in urban areas; and the replacement and purchase of new rolling stock.

The Lisbon - Porto high-speed line, which has been allocated €4.5bn, will segregate fast and slow services, reducing journey times and increasing capacity for both passenger and freight services. The connection will be built in two phases, starting with the construction of the Porto - Soure section.

The first phase of the Porto - Valença - Vigo high-speed line, which has been allocated €900m, will reduce journey times between Porto and the Galicia region in Spain, increase the quality of long-distance services, free up capacity for suburban and freight traffic on the Minho line, and connect with Sá Carneiro Airport.

The project will be constructed in stages, giving priority to the Braga - Valença section. The construction of the high-speed double-track passenger line will reduce Porto Campanhã - Vigo journey times to an hour.

€290m has been allocated to increase capacity for suburban services, including increasing the frequency of passenger and freight services in Lisbon and Porto, while another €270m has been allocated to implement ERTMS.

Another €370m will support a safety, renewal and upgrade programme, which focuses on noise reduction and climate change protection. The programme includes the removal of 155 level crossings and the automation of another 79; improvement to crossings at stations; the installation of train radios; and the implementation of noise mitigation measures.

Measures to prepare for climate change include the development of a risk analysis on the robustness of the railway system as well as the renewal and rehabilitation of network assets. 

The programme will also identifying climate risks and the necessary adaptation needed for both road and rail networks to improve resilience in the face of extreme climatic events.

Electrification of the national network has been allocated €740m. The programme will increase capacity, eliminate bottlenecks and allow trains of up to 750m to pass each other on some parts of the network.

Three rolling stock programmes worth a total of €1.7bn cover the purchase of urban, regional and long-distance trains for Portuguese Trains (CP).

The other projects include:

  • telematics, stations and safety programme (€165m)
  • multimodal terminal upgrade programme (€200m)
  • modernisation of rail links to Beja and Faro (€230m)
  • modernisation of the Vouga Line (€100m)
  • connecting the Cascais Line to the Cintura Line (€200m)
  • Southern International Corridor (2nd Phase) (€150m)
  • Northern International Corridor (2nd Phase) (€600m)

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