A new high-speed train link between the Spanish and Portuguese capitals could transform transport across the Iberian peninsula by 2030 and the countries’ jointly hosted FIFA World Cup.
Slashing current train journey times from more than 10 hours to three, the route will offer a real alternative to air travel between Madrid and Lisbon, making it a key investment in the decarbonisation of transport services. Now approved by the European Commission, it will be the first time that the two cities have had a direct connection since Spanish operator Renfe ceased its overnight train five years ago.
“We’re working on a plan to strengthen high-speed connections between major European capitals – and Madrid–Lisbon is one of our top priorities,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the EU’s Commissioner for Transport.
Commissioner @tzitzikostas held an Implementation Dialogue 💬 with industry stakeholders on high-speed rail.
— EU Transport (@Transport_EU) April 16, 2025
To make safe, clean & attractive high-speed 🚆rail connections a reality, we must reduce the time and cost needed to build infrastructure and standardise rail products. pic.twitter.com/dvJNOMYaj7
Renfe will need to invest €15 million to match Portuguese rolling stock specifications, according to La Información. Electrical voltages and signalling systems will also need to be aligned. But passengers will not have to wait another five years until they can experience some of the benefits of the new infrastructure.
The 100km separating Elvas and Evora is set to get a section of high-speed by the end of 2025, cutting journeys betwern Badajoz and Lisbon by over an hour and a half, to just under two hours. Meanwhile Lisbon to Porto journeys will drop to just one hour and a half.
In two years’ time, El Espanol reports, the commute between Lisbon and Madrid will be down to six hours, with a connection in Badajoz. That’s just a taster of how fast the route will be when it is finished and running at three hours.
🚊 Si quieres viajar desde Lisboa a Madrid necesitas tomar cuatro trenes y dedicarle cerca de 11 horas. Nunca ambas capitales estuvieron peor conectadas desde que en 1881 se estrenó la línea directa https://t.co/bliCkzJkSj pic.twitter.com/efAghvv5TU
— EL PAÍS (@el_pais) June 22, 2022
What’s more, a coastal line extension could bring a new way of reaching Vigo, Santiago and A Coruña in the northwestern region of Spain that is so remote it is sometimes referred to as “land’s end” (Fisterra). In addition, Madrid to Salamanca, via Porto will become an option. The opening up of convenient regional travel to more undiscovered areas could help to mitigate the overtourism that locals complain of in a range of Spanish and Portuguese destinations.
Though the high-speed rail development is being touted as part of the green transformation and the reduction of domestic European aviation, Portugal is also investing in a new international airport for its capital. Situated in Alcochete, approximately 40 km from Lisbon centre, the new hub will replace the overrun Humberto Delgado as the country’s main air gateway. It is expected to be complete and come online in 2034.
