Is there a proposal for a fast train service in Trás-os-Montes?
Portugal Pursues High-Speed Rail Link Between Porto and Spanish Border
The Government of Portugal has made the feasibility study for a high-speed rail link between Porto, Vila Real, Bragança, and the Spanish border a priority in 2025. This project aims to restore rail access to the Trás-os-Montes region, which has been without service for 33 years.
The proposed rail line targets connecting the northern districts of Portugal, including Porto, Vila Real, and Bragança, to Spain by high-speed trains, similar to TGV-type. The government's focus is on determining the best route and technical solutions through thorough studies this year.
Involved in these studies are Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), the CCDR-N, and the Intermunicipal Community of Terras de Trás-os-Montes. The CCDR-N, committed to regional development and cohesion, emphasizes the importance of better transportation connections, particularly rail, as a key factor in connectivity and competitiveness.
The feasibility study also considers the possibility of extending or linking this rail connection to the Spanish areas of Sanábria and Zamora, facilitating international rail travel and integration. However, as of mid-2025, these are still at the feasibility and study stage, with no construction timeline yet announced.
The collaboration agreement, signed in the auditorium of the Bragança Municipal Theater, implements one of the priorities established for railway investment by the previous government, as part of the National Railway Plan (PFN), approved in April. The PFN defines long-term guidelines for investment in a modern, sustainable, and interconnected railway network.
Luís Montenegro, Portugal's Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, emphasized that without conducting the studies and design projects, no work will be seen. Pedro Lima, the president of CIM-TTM, stated that the agreement could demonstrate a unified Portugal, eliminating regional divisions.
This project is part of broader efforts to revive train access in these northern districts that had lost their rail lines decades ago. The goal is to create a faster-than-plane service connecting Porto to Spain's interior and beyond, promoting regional development and integration.
[1] Source: Portuguese Government Press Release [2] Source: Lusa News Agency
- The high-speed rail link project between Porto, Vila Real, Bragança, and the Spanish border, as part of Portugal's national railway plan, also considers extending or linking this rail connection to Sanábria and Zamora in Spain, thus fostering international finance opportunities by facilitating rail travel and integration.
- The collaboration on the high-speed rail link feasibility study, involving Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), the CCDR-N, and the Intermunicipal Community of Terras de Trás-os-Montes, indicates a significant step forward in the country's transportation industry, aiming to improve connections, bolster regional competitiveness, and contribute to the Nation's economic finance growth.
