Portugal plans a high-speed rail connection plan between Lisbon and Madrid by 2034

May 15. () –

The Portuguese Government announced this Tuesday a high-speed plan between Lisbon and Madrid so that within ten years this rail connection will be three hours, with the aim of providing an alternative to daily flights between both capitals.

This high-speed plan approved by Portugal, which includes connections with Badajoz and Plasencia, also seeks to link Vigo with Porto in 50 minutes and the latter with Lisbon in 1.15 hours. With these alternatives, the 40 daily flights between Lisbon and Madrid and twenty between Porto and Lisbon could be reduced.

The authorities have indicated that the decision to accelerate the construction of high speed lies in the need to decarbonize transportation through more efficient modes of transportation and to address economic development and territorial and social cohesion.

The Portuguese Council of Ministers has included this project within the framework of the construction of a new airport in the Lisbon region, which will be in Alcoche, about 40 kilometers from the capital, and a bridge over the Tagus River, which will be the that guarantees the union with Madrid. Railway plans have become urgent due to the need to guarantee the accessibility of the new airport.

“The investment schedules will be compatible with Spain, to guarantee a coordinated and timely execution of the project, fully optimizing the availability of European financing,” reads a statement from the Portuguese Government.

For his part, the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, said that he spoke this morning with his Spanish counterpart, Óscar Puente, who assured him “of his commitment to this strategic alignment”, as reported by the Portuguese newspaper ‘ Public’.

Some sections of these railway connections are already under construction, such as the one that connects Évora with Elvas, on the border with Spain. However, the one that connects Évora with Lisbon remains to be built.