The train connecting Madrid to Lisbon may make a comeback: it was canceled in 2020

For three years now, residents of Portugal and Spain have not had a direct rail connection between Madrid and Lisbon, which was once popular. However, the Spanish government has recently considered restarting a night train connecting the two tourist destinations.

According to The Local, Madrid and Lisbon are the only two European capitals that are not connected by high-speed networks. To travel between the cities by train, passengers had to make several transfers.

However, Spain's left-wing government is seeking to revive an important route that was suspended in 2020, at the height of the pandemic.

A trip between the capitals can take more than nine hours, which is longer than a bus which takes only seven hours and a car that covers the distance in six hours. But the comfort of the night train is hard to overestimate, as travelers can sleep the whole way.

In addition, Spanish officials believe that the return of rail service will improve economic and trade relations between the two countries.

The return of the night train is also expected to have a positive impact on the environment, as it is a more environmentally friendly alternative to short-haul flights.

This year, Spain has already launched high-speed services between Madrid and Valencia, Murcia, and the coastal region of Asturias, so the return of the route canceled in 2020 may be a realistic prospect.