Ten essential Q&A on High-Speed Rail

1. Why is a new rail line between Porto and Lisbon necessary?

The line that currently connects Porto to Lisbon, the Northern line, is the country’s main rail line. Almost half of all passenger, and more than 90% of all freight trains in the country circulate every day in at least part of the Northern line. For this reason, and despite the demand, it is not possible to offer more rail services along the Porto-Lisbon access. Plus, after almost three decades of investment in the full upgrading of the Northern line, the best travel time achieved is 2h49, which can be cut to 2h35 once the works under way are completed. In this way, with the capacity and potential to increase speed in the Northern line practically worn out, the most suitable solution is building a new line with fully new rails.

2.How is the choice to build a new line using the Iberian gauge justified?

Adopting this solution now doesn’t mean that we will not migrate the Iberian gauge to the European one. In this way, the current long-haul trains, the Alfa Pendular and Intercidades can circulate on the new line.

The major advantage is that we can use this new line as each part is built, as the project will be done in stages.

In 2030 it will be possible to roll at high speed between Porto/Soure and continue on the conventional line without having the change trains (the same train can move from the high-speed line to the other line).

Choosing the European gauge would force us to build the entire line between Porto and Lisbon in one go. And if that were the case, this line would be completely separated from the rest of the network and the trains would only be able to roll on it after its completion.

The European gauge is not compatible with the existing conventional network. When adopting this solution, the new trains would be restricted to this line and would not be able to operate on the convention one, say travelling to Braga, Guimarães or Faro.

All the alternative solutions and scenarios were duly study and detailed following the work undertaken with the European Commission.

For this project, just like for all the recent interventions to the national rail grid, including the new line between Évora and Elvas, multi-use ties are being used (these allow for the Iberian and European gauge), which means that once the need is identified to change them, because there are conditions for this on the Portuguese/Spanish border, it will be possible to use almost all of the materials in existence; the tracks will be dismantled and assembled again for the 1435mm distance between rails (European gauge).

At this moment there is not point on the Spanish side waiting for national connection with the European gauge.

3. How much will the new line cost and when will it be ready?

Stage 1 is the part between Porto/Soure and the investment stands at around 3.55 billion euros. This stage includes the tracks launched on 12 January 2024 (Porto/Oiã), expected to be completed by 2030.

4. How will the High-Speed line be funded?

The project is funded in part by the European Investment Bank and Retail banks through advance payments by the State and European funds (€729 M in a first stage with the possibility of obtaining at least another €300 M at a later stage).

5. How long will the trip take on the new line?

Once stage 1 is complete, the travel time should be cut from the current 2h50 to less than 2 hours. Once stage 2 is complete, it is expected that a train between Lisboa Oriente and Porto without stopping over will take 1h19, whereas a train calling in at 4 stations (Leiria, Coimbra, Aveiro, and Gaia) will take 1h45.

6. At what speed will the trains roll?

The new Porto – Lisbon line has a projected speed of 300 km/h. This speed was selected among various scenarios in order to allow the travel time to be competitive with air transport and allowing also for competitive connections by roads among a wider range of cities, including Leiria, Coimbra, and Aveiro, as well as Braga, Guimarães, Évora, Faro, Figueira da Foz or Guarda, for instance.

7. How many stations will there be on this new line?

In addition to the terminal stations of Lisboa Oriente and Porto Campanhã, which will be expanded, the trains will call in at stations in Leiria, Coimbra, Aveiro, and Gaia. All the stations will be located in central areas, easily accessed and connected to other public transports.

In the case of Leiria, Coimbra, and Aveiro, the current stations will be used, which will also be expanded and reconditioned. In these cases, stations can be reached via the existing lines, the West line and the Norther line, where intervention works are necessary to increase capacity.

In the case of Gaia, this is a new underground station in a place where the trains will roll at a lower speed as they are close to the terminal station.

8. With the High-Speed line, will the Northern line stop operating fast trains?

No, the Northern line will continue to offer inter-city trains throughout the day at regular intervals, which will continue to call in at the stations of today, with access times equal to or better than the current ones.

9. How much will the trains cost?

The ticket prices for high-speed trains will be a commercial decision taken by the service providers. However, given that operating costs will not be higher than at the moment, on average the tickets should be priced similar to the Alfa Pendular service.

10. Will CP offer a bid for tender for high-speed trains?

These services operate on a competition market, but there are plans for CP to tender a bid.