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In ten years, Porto will have two new railway lines to reach Vigo and Lisbon more quickly. The projects are included in the updated version of the National Investment Program for 2030 (PNI2030) presented yesterday by the Government, in Lisbon.
The connection with Vigo, estimated at 900 million euros, provoked immediate reactions, with the president of the Northern Provincial Council and the mayor of Caminha, Miguel Alves, considering it a “fundamental” project, since “there will be the possibility of making the connection” v “also to Braga”.
The mayor of Valongo, José Manuel Ribeiro, highlighted the importance of the new solution being linked to the Porto airport, modernizing the Leixões Line, which runs north to Ermesinde, in that municipality.
The government’s commitment to the railroad is significant to the point that the budget has more than doubled in almost two years. The Government plans to invest 10,510 million euros in the next decade, when in the initial proposal, of January last year, it anticipated 4,040 million.
The new Porto-Lisbon line alone will cost 4,500 million, more than the entire budget initially planned for the railway. The two main cities, ten years from now, are expected to be 1.15 hours from the current 2.58 hours.
New trains
The first version of PNI2030 only contemplated the quadruplication of four railway sections on the North line: Cacia / Gaia, Soure / Coimbra, Santarém / Entroncamento and Alverca / Azambuja.
The purchase of new trains was added to the list, for a total of 129, with the possibility of buying another 50. At least 62 trains will be purchased for the Lisbon and Porto commuter lines. The 680 million figure provides for the possibility of adding another 36 units.
55 regional units will be added to regional service to replace the current 2240 series, with more than 50 years of service. Scheduled to arrive from 2025, these trains will cost 385 million euros.
To take advantage of the new lines, at least 12 high-performance long-distance trains will be purchased. For 650 million, an additional 14 units of the Alpha Pendular category can be purchased.
The arrival of additional trains is subject to European funding.
Electrification of the rest of the railway network by 2030 is now estimated at 740 million euros; previously, there was a “slice” of 205 million.
The plan for the train lines also provides for the connection of the Cascais line to the rest of the national network.
There are still 450 million left for greater security on the line (+75 million). 155 level crossings will be abolished and 79 will be automated.
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