Brussels, Oct. 30, 2025 (Lusa) - The European Commission said on Thursday that the high-speed rail link between Lisbon and Madrid is “an outstanding example” of Europe's commitment to the railway, for which Brussels has already provided Portugal with €235 million.
"Travelling just over 600 kilometres between Lisbon and Madrid in just three hours is a remarkable example of the high-speed rail links we want to achieve throughout Europe. These connections will make travelling by train a truly attractive and sustainable alternative to travelling between cities," said the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, in a statement.
On the day that Lisbon, Madrid and Brussels agreed on the main milestones and deadlines for completing the high-speed rail link between the Iberian capitals, the EU executive said in a statement that "this flagship cross-border infrastructure project will significantly improve connectivity in the European Union [EU]".
"Unanimously supported by the member states, the decision promotes the full integration of Portugal and Spain into the European high-speed rail network. By 2030, passengers will be able to travel between the two capitals in around five hours and, by 2034, in just three hours," the institution said.
Brussels added that it has already supported Portugal in creating this high-speed rail link, providing €235 million from the Connecting Europe Facility for the line between Évora and Elvas.
Spain has received around €750 million in support since 2014 for the high-speed line linking Extremadura to Madrid.
The governments of Portugal and Spain and the European Commission have agreed on a series of actions that will allow the railway link between Lisbon and Madrid to go ahead by 2030, with a five-hour journey, the Ministry of Infrastructure announced today.
According to the Ministry, the "Iberian strategy" has the following goals by 2030: a direct link between the two capitals, the completion of work on the new high-speed line between Évora and Caia by 2025 and its entry into operation in 2026, the entry into operation of the Plasencia-Talayuela (Cáceres) section by 2028, the start of construction of the second track between Poceirão (Palmela) and Bombel (Vendas Novas) in 2026, with completion by 2029 and operation in 2030, and the completion of studies for the new Lisbon-Evora line, including the Third Crossing over the Tagus by 2027.
By 2034, it is planned to move forward with a high-speed link between Lisbon and Madrid, with a journey time of around three hours, as well as the construction of the new Lisbon-Évora high-speed line, including the Third Crossing over the Tagus and the duplication of the Évora-Caia line, "should the need arise", the government explained.
Also planned by that date is the implementation of the European rail traffic management system on various stretches between Lisbon and Madrid, as well as the preparation of studies and the possible construction of the new high-speed section between Caia and Badajoz, and the Elvas-Badajoz International Railway Station on the border between the two countries.
The project is part of Europe's commitment to the railway.
At the beginning of November, the European Commission will present a plan for a high-speed network in the EU.
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