9 questions and answers about the high-speed rail line that will connect Porto with Lisbon

This Tuesday, Parliament is discussing in plenary several draft resolutions concerning the Porto-Lisbon high-speed rail line, for which a tender could be launched this month for the first section of Porto Hoian (Oliveira do Bairro, Aveiro district). .

In the pre-election period, the topic is now appearing on the party agenda in the media, but it has already been presented by the government in September 2022, and environmental impact studies for the first phase, Porto Sure, have been launched and approved. .

Here are some questions and answers on the topic:

What is the high speed rail project?

The project, first publicly presented by the government in September 2022 at Porto’s Campanha station by Prime Minister António Costa and then Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Pedro Nuno Santos, promises to connect Porto and Lisbon. in 1 hour 15 hours.

At stake is the connection between the two cities, as well as possible stops in Vila Nova de Gaia, Aveiro, Coimbra and Leiria, in some cases with the construction of new stations and in others using existing ones, with connections to the Linea Nord.

The new railway corridor will be connected to the entire current national railway network, allowing cross-routes and reduced travel times on other lines in the country, such as Minho, Douro, Beira Alta or Beira Baixa.

At the same time, work is underway on a connection between Porto and Vigo in Galicia (Spain) with stations at Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, Brahe and Valence (Viana do Castelo area).

What can be put up for tender?

The project is divided into three phases: Porto – Sure (Coimbra district), Sure – Carregado (Alenquer municipality, Lisbon district) and Carregado – Lisbon.

The first phase was further divided into two lots, the first of which corresponds to Porto Oian in the district of Aveiro, whose intention to call for a public tender by Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) was already published in the Official Journal of the European Union (JOUE) in November.

In this publication, the target date for launching the competition was January 15, but after the fall of the government, the executive decided to consult with the SDP in order to be able to launch the competition even if it is in administration.

What does the first section consist of?

The route in question corresponds to 71 kilometers (km) between Porto and Oia on a line designed for a speed of 300 km/h.

The project includes the redesign of the Campania station in Porto, the construction of a new double-decker road-rail bridge over the Douro River, the construction of a new metro station in Santo Ovidio (Gaia) with connections to Porto. Metro and 17 km connection with the current Northern line in Canelas (Estarreya), allowing a high-speed train to reach the current Aveiro station.

The project also includes a twin-tube tunnel approximately six kilometers long, which will run underground throughout most of the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia, as well as 15 double-track bridges, two single-track bridges and eight double-track viaducts. , 10 single-track viaducts, five single-tube tunnels and an electrical substation in Canelas.

In Gaia and Porto, the station projects will be carried out by Catalan architect and urban planner Joan Busquets. Porto is developing the Campania Urbanization Plan, which should reformulate the entire territory, going beyond simply adapting the station to a given location.

What is the project development model?

From the moment the project was presented, the Government determined the financing model: public-private partnership (PPP).

Specifically, according to information provided by IP in the Official Journal of the European Union, the development phase “includes the concept, design, construction and financing” of the section between Porto and Oia.

The contract will include a 30-year concession in two phases: “development over five years for the concept, design, construction and financing of infrastructure,” and “availability over 25 years for asset maintenance and availability.” “.

The project can also count on help from European funds. The PS and PSD disagreed over the need to launch a competition to receive around 730 million euros in funds from the Connecting Europe Fund (CEF).

The SDP has stated that it has doubts about whether it is necessary to launch a competition now to apply for European funds, but the SDP claims that it has already submitted an application for funds in the past, which, as it was not mature enough, did not a competition was announced but was not selected, so he advocates announcing a public tender.

Meanwhile, the PSD announced on Tuesday that it would vote in favor of the PS resolution to launch a tender for the construction of the Porto-Lisbon high-speed line as it “will never be an obstacle” to development, but holds the PS responsible for the decision.

How much will the line cost?

As for the Porto Oian site, its estimated cost is about 1.65 billion euros, of which 500 million are financed by European funds, according to an environmental impact study launched in May 2023. The Oyan-Sure site is valued at 1.3 billion euros.

In total, the Porto-Lisbon project is estimated at 4.5 billion euros.

What service will be provided when the line is ready?

Presenting the project in September 2022, IP Vice President Carlos Fernandez said the line would “triple” supply, providing 60 daily services, as well as demand, estimating that passenger numbers would increase from six million to 16 million.

Then the head of the individual entrepreneur predicted that out of 60 daily flights on the high-speed line, 17 would be direct, nine with stops at intermediate stations and 34 mixed services, that is, services that partially use the high-speed line and in another the regular line.

To the 60 daily services are added 17 services on the regular intercity network, bringing the offering to “some 77 services per day, which compares well with the 25 services currently running on the Northern Line.”

What are the deadlines for completing the work?

The first phase, corresponding to the Porto Sure section, should be ready in 2028 with the possibility of connecting to the Northern line and immediately reducing travel times, with a connection to Carregado via a new high-speed line expected to be completed in 2030.

The connection between Carregado and Lisbon, since it is more costly financially despite the short distance, can be completed later.

What are the consequences of building the line?

An environmental impact study for the Porto Oia site, approved in August, shows that more than 100 houses could be demolished for its construction, although the implementation plan is not known in detail.

North of Aveiro, the project has drawn a number of criticisms from mayors, not only because of the houses slated for demolition, but also because several municipalities already have other transport links.

For example, Estarreya has already defended a “zero alternative” to the construction of a high-speed line, arguing that the municipality is already crossed by the Northern line and two motorways (A1 and A29), as well as a gas pipeline, and will become even more “fragmented”.

Feira Chamber President Emidio Sousa also mentioned that the route proposals do not take into account projects that represent “100 million euros and 1,200 jobs” in the investments already planned for the expropriated areas, namely in the areas of the expansion of the LusoPark business park.

In Porto, it is also expected that around 40 houses may be affected in the Freixo area, near the entrance to the new road-rail bridge at Campanha station.

What is the situation?

At the Council of Ministers on December 7, the government decided that the route of the future high-speed rail line between Porto and Sure, part of the Lisbon-Porto line, is “reserved” by Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) for two years. .

In particular, “preventive measures” have been approved so that urban planning work on the HSR section is not carried out without the preliminary conclusion of the IP.