Coimbra, Portugal, July 31, 2026 (Lusa) - The bid submitted by the Lusolav consortium for the second section of the high-speed rail line aims to preserve 45 structures in the suburban area of Coimbra by reconfiguring the approach to the city, and respects the location of the station at Coimbra-B.
The proposal from one of the two bidders, the Lusolav consortium, comprising Mota-Engil, Teixeira Duarte, Alves Ribeiro and Casais, amongst others, was presented at the Association of Engineers headquarters in Coimbra on Thursday.
In an earlier tender for this section (Oiã–Soure) of the high-speed rail line linking Lisbon to Porto, the consortium proposed relocating the high-speed station to Taveiro, on the outskirts of Coimbra, which differed from the tender specifications. As a result, the contracting authority reopened the process, and the new tender deadline expired at the beginning of this month.
The proposal presented today envisages locating the station at Coimbra-B, utilising part of the existing infrastructure, and constructing a bridge building to serve both the North Line and the high-speed line.
A major change from the Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) project's envisaged approach is adopting a more efficient approach that reduces the need to duplicate the Northern Line between Taveiro and Coimbra-B railway station, thereby minimising demolitions in the municipality.
The solution, explained Paulo Gomes of the consortium, involves creating a ‘Y'-shaped junction for the high-speed line to the north of Coimbra-B station, near Adémia, thereby reducing the number of compulsory purchases; high-speed trains coming from the south will have to travel as far as Adémia before descending to the future station.
According to Paulo Gomes, the consortium estimates that this will preserve 45 buildings in the Taveiro, Casais, Espanadeira and Bencanta areas.
He also stated that this solution would facilitate operations on the North Line whilst the high-speed line is under construction in the Coimbra area; it would also eliminate the impact on homes that would remain but would be situated very close to the line, and reduce the environmental impact in the area south of Coimbra-B station, next to the Choupal National Forest.
Architect Nuno Lacerda, also part of the consortium, explained that the solution proposes a bridge-like structure that projects as a «large platform» and which allows for «the creation of an identity».
The project presented today also provides for the construction of a building for Infraestruturas de Portugal and an office space, with parking only in the basement, on the ground floor and on the first floor, to avoid flood-related risks, he said.
The proposal also provides for «landscaping» of the entire area, with plans already in place to respect the surrounding biodiversity, he stated.
The chairman of the Union of Parishes of Taveiro, Ameal and Arzil, Cândido Malva, who attended the session, welcomed the reduction in demolitions, as did Miguel Dias, from the environmental association Climação Centro, due to the reduced impact on Choupal.
João Bigotte, a lecturer at the University of Coimbra and an expert in urban planning, noted that the presentation was «untimely», as the proposals are currently under review, which could create «expectations about what might happen».
Although he liked the «architectural language of the new station», the university professor considered that the proposed «Y»-shaped connection to Coimbra station is «a branch line, which is the lowest standard for serving a major city».
João Bitotte also stated that the proposal, by presenting the stop in Coimbra as a branch line, could reduce the appeal of stopping there.
In addition to Lusolav, the consortium led by the Spanish firm Sacyr, which also includes DST and Alberto Couto Alves, submitted a proposal.
JGA/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
