Portugal Breaks Ground on 75-Minute Lisbon–Porto Rail Link
Portugal has started construction of a high-speed railway designed to cut the journey between Lisbon and Porto to around 75 minutes. Work is under way on the first section near Aveiro, rather than the entire route. The project could eventually make trips between Portugal's two largest cities much easier, but the faster service remains several years away and no full-line opening date has been confirmed.
When Will Portugal’s High-Speed Trains Arrive?
- Route: Porto-Campanhã to Lisboa-Oriente, with links to Aveiro and Coimbra.
- First works: Porto-Campanhã–Oiã, begun on 12 October 2026.
- Length: 71 kilometres, designed for speeds of up to 300 km/h.
- First-section target: Completion by 2030.
- Later sections: Oiã–Soure, Soure–Carregado and Carregado–Lisboa-Oriente, to be delivered in stages.
- Journey-time goal: Approximately 75 minutes between Porto and Lisbon.
- Tickets: No high-speed passenger timetable or fares have been announced.
The Porto–Oiã works include a new combined road and rail bridge across the Douro, upgrades at Porto-Campanhã and an underground station at Santo Ovídio in Vila Nova de Gaia. The new line will connect with the existing rail network, rather than replace it altogether. Meanwhile, Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains continue to serve Lisbon and Porto, with current schedules and bookings available through CP.
The project could also improve access to several places between the two cities. Connections to existing stations are planned for Aveiro, known for its canals, and Coimbra, home to one of Europe's oldest universities. A new station is envisaged in Leiria, with another in Vila Nova de Gaia. Those additions could make multi-city rail trips more convenient once the relevant sections open.
The 75-minute headline is a future target, not a journey that can be booked today. The quickest current Lisbon–Porto trains take roughly two hours and 50 minutes, making existing rail services the practical choice for upcoming trips. CP sells tickets up to 60 days ahead, and selected Alfa Pendular and Intercidades seats can carry discounts of up to 65% when booked eight or more days early.
