Latest news and stories about railway in travel in Portugal for expats and residents.
A high-speed rail link will connect the future Lisbon airport to the city center in 20 minutes. The new airport project, estimated to cost between 7.9 and 8.9 billion euros, is expected to open in 2035 and will be supported by extensive new rail, road, and utility infrastructure.
Electric trains are set to begin full service on the Algarve line this Sunday, marking the end of a project that began over two decades ago. The upgrade is expected to reduce travel time between Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António by 45 minutes. Meanwhile, the government confirmed that the diesel trains previously used on this route will be redeployed to support rail services in the Alentejo and Western regions.
The national rail operator, CP, has launched a public tender worth 504 million euros to acquire 12 high-speed trains, with options for eight additional units. Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz confirmed the project aims for operational status by 2032, connecting Lisbon, Porto, and Vigo, with the first new trains expected to arrive in 2031.
The Linha do Norte (North Line) is Portugal's main north–south rail corridor, linking Lisbon and Porto and carrying the country's busiest intercity and commuter trains. Disruptions on the North Line can affect long-distance schedules and regional services, so passengers should follow CP - Comboios de Portugal updates for alternative routes and timing.
CP has implemented a bus transfer service for Intercidades trains between Guarda and Abrantes following a month-long disruption on the Beira Baixa line caused by severe weather.
Luís de Camões Airport will be approximately 20 minutes from Lisbon city centre by rail, according to the plan presented this Wednesday, which anticipates the opening of the high-speed line and the dedicated airport link in 2034.
Train travel across the Algarve is set for its biggest improvement in decades, with electric trains due to operate along the entire railway line from July 19, bringing direct services The post Algarve to get end-to-end electric trains from July 19 appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Electrification of the Algarve railway line is complete, but there is still no indication of when electric trains will be running between Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António. Manuel Tão, a professor at the University of the Algarve, argues for an immediate move towards a connection to Spain and Faro airport, instead of the Metrobus, as well as the reactivation of the connection to Beja.
Home News Portugal might have new passenger railway Portugal might have new passenger railway A new railway project being studied by Infraestruturas de Portugal ( IP) could see passenger trains return to Sines after more than three decades.
Miguel Pinto Luz pointed to this investment as proof that progress on the construction of the High-Speed Line does not invalidate the commitment to the railway between Porto and Lisbon.
Starting in 2031, Portugal will receive new high-speed trains. The contract was formalised this Wednesday. The Minister of Infrastructure speaks of a historic day for the country.
Beja, the district capital of Baixo Alentejo, has the only Portuguese airport where the world's largest commercial aircraft, the Airbus A380, can land, but it remains 'isolated' from the rest of the country by land, without a motorway and with an obsolete railway line. The promise to connect it to the national rail network with a link of...
The execution period for both contracts is 405 days (over 13 months), running until mid-June 2027.
Disruptions have been ongoing since 14:45 and are expected to continue until 17:00.
Repairs to damage caused by storms in January and February on the Oeste and Beira Baixa lines are expected to be finished by the end of the year, according to Miguel Cruz, president of Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP). The work involves addressing slope failures and platform disturbances, with the Beira Baixa line presenting particular challenges due to its location near the river. Additionally, the IP is managing ongoing modernization delays on the Oeste line, while local mayors have raised concerns regarding rail connectivity and infrastructure projects in the Coimbra district.
Work is expected to be completed by 05:00 on Sunday, at which time the Avenida Marginal and the railway line will be fully reopened to traffic.
Spanning about 160 kilometres, the Douro Line follows the river that gives it its name and reveals one of the country's most striking landscapes. But beyond the postcard scenery, between Porto and Pocinho, there is an interrupted line and a final section left to abandonment, where tracks without trains and unfulfilled promises persist.
Rail traffic on the Douro Line between Marco de Canaveses and Peso da Régua will resume on Thursday, April 3, following a five-month suspension for modernisation and electrification works. Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) and CP – Comboios de Portugal confirmed that the resumption aligns with the schedule announced in November. The suspension was necessary for structural reinforcement and lowering the track bed in six tunnels. This €110 million project is one of the largest investments in the national rail network, aiming to increase capacity, improve safety, reduce CO2 emissions, and shorten travel times.
The interventions aimed to “increase the safety, quality, and efficiency of the railway track on the country's main rail axis.”
Portugal is investing €95 million, funded by the European NextGenerationEU program, to modernize the signaling system on its Northern Line, which connects Lisbon and Porto. This upgrade aims to digitize traffic control, enhance cybersecurity, and prepare the line for high-speed rail service, including the future Lisbon–Porto high-speed line expected to be operational by 2032. The project is part of Portugal’s broader efforts to improve rail safety, efficiency, and sustainability, supporting the country’s green and digital transition. Key stations such as Campolide, Oriente, Alverca do Ribatejo, and Azambuja are included in the modernization plan.
The delays in the inauguration of the electrification of the Algarve line and the delays in high-speed rail are other topics in this episode.
Buses replace trains on the Beira Baixa line between Abrantes and Covilhã and on the Oeste line between Caldas da Rainha and Meleças.
The Cascais railway line will experience service disruptions starting 6 April due to works on the Caxias-Cascais section, part of an ongoing modernisation project, according to Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP). The company stated that the modernisation of the track and overhead lines will extend to the Caxias-Cascais section. The project includes replacing the electrification system, renewing the track, and installing new signalling and speed control systems. Disruptions will occur on weekday nights, Saturday nights, and specific times on Sundays. A road replacement service will be provided during periods of total line closure to mitigate the impact on passengers.
The Cascais railway line will experience traffic disruptions starting April 6 due to work on the Caxias-Cascais section, part of the ongoing modernisation project on that line, Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) announced today.
The opening of this section of the Oeste Line will take place on Monday, “following the completion of work to restore circulation conditions, after damage caused by severe weather.”
The section of the Oeste Line between Caldas da Rainha and Louriçal, which was closed due to damage caused by bad weather, will reopen to traffic on Monday, Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) announced this Friday, March 13. IP stated that circulation conditions have been restored following the damage caused by recent storms, with repairs focusing on the track bed and level crossings. While rail traffic will resume, minor works will continue along the segment without impacting operations. The government recently authorised a 6.9 million euro budget reprogramming for the modernisation of this line.
Home News Portugal confirms high-speed rail link between Lisbon and Madrid Portugal confirms high-speed rail link between Lisbon and Madrid Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said that “all conditions are in place” for Lisbon and Madrid to be connected by high-speed trains in 2034.
The Minister of Infrastructure says that signalling and safety certification are still pending.
The Minister of Infrastructure today declared the railway works between Évora and the border with Spain complete, but revealed that trains will only start running at the end of the year or in early 2027. “Today is a historic day, because we have the largest substation supplying the railway overhead line in Portugal operational, we have ...”
