Transport, utilities, and digital services.
Six weeks after Storm Kristin, students in Vieira de Leiria continue to face significant educational disruptions, with classes held in makeshift locations including containers and a former mortuary chapel due to ongoing infrastructure repairs.
Infraestruturas de Portugal has announced the partial reopening of the Oeste Line between Caldas da Rainha and Louriçal on March 16 following storm damage repairs, while the Beira Baixa Line will implement partial bus replacement services.
A recent report reveals that half of Europeans do not utilize public transport, with Portugal exceeding this average, while countries like Luxembourg, Estonia, and Sweden show the highest usage rates.
The government has allocated 15 million euros for urgent beach restoration following significant coastline damage caused by recent severe weather, with total repair costs estimated at 200 million euros.
Infrastructure limitations at Lisbon airport (Aeroporto de Lisboa) have resulted in 12% of requested flight slots for the summer season going unfulfilled. The National Air Navigation (Navegação Aérea de Portugal or NAV) warned that these capacity constraints are penalizing the tourism sector. Travelers should note that the lack of slots may limit flight options and keep ticket prices high during the peak season.
NAV Portugal (Navegação Aérea de Portugal) is the state-owned authority responsible for air traffic control and management in Portuguese airspace. It manages flight slots at major airports like Lisbon, where current infrastructure limits prevented the approval of 12% of requested slots for the upcoming summer season. Travelers should note that these capacity constraints frequently contribute to delays during peak periods.
Lisbon airport failed to meet 12% of summer slot requests, with officials warning that infrastructure constraints are negatively impacting the national tourism sector.
Low-cost bus operator Flixbus is accusing the Rede Nacional de Expressos (RNE) of violating the law by blocking its access to the Sete Rios bus terminal in Lisbon. Flixbus claims a recent court ruling grants them immediate entry, while RNE argues the decision allows them to evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis. Travelers should be aware that the Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal) has proposed new legislation to prevent bus operators from managing terminals used by their competitors.
Iniciativa Liberal and João Cotrim de Figueiredo tend to draw support from urban, economically liberal voters — often professionals, entrepreneurs and higher‑income residents in cities like Lisbon and Porto — who prioritise lower taxes, deregulation and individual freedoms. The party also attracts some younger voters and expatriates who favour pro‑market policies and a smaller state role.
Comboios de Portugal (CP) has signed an amendment to its contract with Alstom-DST to purchase 36 additional trains for urban services, bringing the total investment to €1.8 billion for nearly 200 new units. Minister of Infrastructure Miguel Pinto Luz described the move as the largest investment in train purchases in the country's history. Travelers should note that the new units are expected to begin arriving in 2029, two years earlier than originally planned.
Miguel Pinto Luz is Portugal's Minister of Infrastructure. On Feb 24, 2026 he told journalists in Viseu that works on the A1 motorway in the Coimbra area would be fully completed and traffic restored to four lanes by the end of that week.
CP is the Portuguese national rail operator (Comboios de Portugal), a state-owned company that runs most passenger train services. The Council of Ministers authorised CP to buy up to 20 high-speed multiple units (12 firm orders with an option for 8) to prepare it for a leading role in high‑speed services.
Infraestruturas de Portugal has announced that the metrobus service in Coimbra is scheduled to extend its operations to Coimbra-B station and Praça da República by mid-August, following strong initial demand.
The association Zero has highlighted Portugal's excessive vulnerability to international oil market fluctuations, urging for enhanced electrification and strengthening of public transport to mitigate fossil fuel consumption and its economic impacts. They emphasize that this dependence contributes to inflation and economic competitiveness issues, particularly in light of rising fuel prices linked to geopolitical conflicts. Zero advocates for a structural reduction in oil reliance through improved public transport and vehicle electrification, rather than temporary tax relief measures. They also point out that the transport sector is a significant contributor to national greenhouse gas emissions, primarily relying on imported fossil fuels, and call for urgent action to address these challenges.
