Lisbon, July 17 2024 (Lusa) - The High-Speed Rail link between Porto and Lisbon will receive European funds totalling €813 million for the first phase, one day after the government approved the launch of the second phase.
In a note from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing (MIH), the government said that, "through Infraestruturas de Portugal, S.A., the application submitted under the 'Connecting Europe Facility for Transport 2' Programme (CEF 2) was approved today, with a view to requesting co-financing for Phase 1 of the Porto-Lisbon High Speed Line (LAV) Project, corresponding to a contribution of €813 million".
The government recalled that "this programme is a Community funding instrument that aims to support the development of new transport infrastructures within the scope of the Main Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), which includes the Porto-Lisbon High-Speed Line".
The national project was one of 134 proposals approved, "valued at more than €7 billion".
The announcement coincides with "the authorisation of expenditure for the launch of the tender, with a view to the execution of the second section of the Porto - Lisbon High Speed Line, corresponding to Oiã - Soure, following approval at the cabinet meeting" this Tuesday, for a maximum amount of €1,604,296,194.12 (net present value).
The MIH recalled that for this project, "Infraestruturas de Portugal proposed the adoption of a public-private partnership [PPP] model", which covers the components of conception, design, construction, financing, maintenance and provision.
The project is divided into three contracts: Porto (Campanhã)-Oiã, Oiã-Soure and Soure-Carregado.
The Ministry also recalled that the Porto-Lisbon high-speed rail project, included in the 2030 National Investment Programme (PNI2030) "already has a first tender, launched in January 2024, for the first section, Porto (Campanhã) - Oiã, on which the jury has already given its opinion on the valid proposal," from a consortium that includes Mota-Engil.
The launch of the third tender for the Soure-Carregado stretch "is scheduled for the beginning of 2026, with the Preliminary Study and Environmental Impact Study being finalised for submission to the Portuguese Environment Agency, in order to begin the Environmental Impact Assessment", said the government.
"The substantial support that the European Union has approved for the first phase of the High Speed Rail project confirms that the strategy being pursued is the right one in all its many dimensions. The government will continue to work closely with the European Union to say that financial support is available for the remaining phases of the High Speed project, namely the link between Lisbon and Madrid," said the Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, quoted in the statement.
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