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Construction begins on the first section of Porto-Lisbon High-Speed Rail Line
On 12 October, Infraestruturas de Portugal and AVAN marked the start of construction works on the Porto (Campanhã) – Oiã section, the first segment of the future Porto-Lisbon High-Speed Rail Line to enter the construction phase. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Portuguese Government, the European Commission, Infraestruturas de Portugal and the concessionaire AVAN – Concessões de Alta Velocidade, represented by Carlos Mota Santos.
This first section, which will be delivered by the AVAN Norte consortium, of which Mota‑Engil is a member, represents a major milestone in the development of the future high-speed rail connection between Porto and Lisbon. The project constitutes one of the greatest transformations of the Portuguese railway in recent decades and plays a strategic role in modernising the national rail network, strengthening sustainable mobility and bringing Portugal closer to the European transport network.
Approximately 71 km long and designed for speeds of up to 300 km/h, the new infrastructure will include a high-speed rail station in Santo Ovídio, the adaptation of Porto Campanhã Station, a new road-and-rail bridge over the Douro River, some 19 km of bridges and viaducts, and 8 km of tunnels. These features reflect the scale and technical complexity of one of the most significant railway investments currently under development in Portugal.
In addition to significantly reducing journey times between the country’s main metropolitan areas, the new line will increase the capacity of the existing railway network, freeing up space on the current Northern Line for suburban, regional and freight services.
The start of the contract thus signals the transition of a strategic project into the construction phase, marking a historic moment for the Portuguese railway and for all the partners involved in the implementation of the future Porto-Lisbon High-Speed Rail Line.
For Mota-Engil Engenharia, its participation in this project reflects its technical expertise and experience in delivering large-scale transport infrastructure projects, contributing to a landmark development for the country's mobility, competitiveness and growth.
This first section, which will be delivered by the AVAN Norte consortium, of which Mota‑Engil is a member, represents a major milestone in the development of the future high-speed rail connection between Porto and Lisbon. The project constitutes one of the greatest transformations of the Portuguese railway in recent decades and plays a strategic role in modernising the national rail network, strengthening sustainable mobility and bringing Portugal closer to the European transport network.
Approximately 71 km long and designed for speeds of up to 300 km/h, the new infrastructure will include a high-speed rail station in Santo Ovídio, the adaptation of Porto Campanhã Station, a new road-and-rail bridge over the Douro River, some 19 km of bridges and viaducts, and 8 km of tunnels. These features reflect the scale and technical complexity of one of the most significant railway investments currently under development in Portugal.
In addition to significantly reducing journey times between the country’s main metropolitan areas, the new line will increase the capacity of the existing railway network, freeing up space on the current Northern Line for suburban, regional and freight services.
The start of the contract thus signals the transition of a strategic project into the construction phase, marking a historic moment for the Portuguese railway and for all the partners involved in the implementation of the future Porto-Lisbon High-Speed Rail Line.
For Mota-Engil Engenharia, its participation in this project reflects its technical expertise and experience in delivering large-scale transport infrastructure projects, contributing to a landmark development for the country's mobility, competitiveness and growth.
