Two capital cities are set to be linked by a high speed train line that will make it easier for those hoping to avoid flying – and it takes just three hours.
The Portuguese Cabinet approved plans for a new AVE line between Lisbon in Portugal and Madrid in Spain.
Both cities are popular with tourists, with thousands opting to visit the capitals every year. But while there are train options at the moment for those wanting to travel in-between the cities, it can take up to nine hours and multiple changes.
This new train is set to be direct, with the route set to pass through the Spanish region of Extremadura.
The plan is in line with the Spanish government’s recent efforts to encourage travellers to take the high-speed rail link between Madrid and Barcelona, rather than relying on plane flights, in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
And while the plans have been approved, it may take some time before travellers get to experience the new route.
The plan hopes for a journey time of six hours by 2027, but the completed project won’t be in place until 2034. This is due to a new bridge being constructed over the River Tajo, which is expected to take as long as nine years.
A train service, which was operated by Renfe, used to link the two capitals until the route was scrapped in 2020.
Since the route was cancelled, passengers travelling by rail between the two countries have needed to change trains to make the journey, which can take up to nine hours to complete. Most opt to fly, which takes just one hour and 20 minutes.
But the government hopes to encourage more people to use the train lines to reduce emmissions. Spanish MP Júlia Boada tweeted the following last November: “Recovering the night train that connects Lisbon with Madrid is vital to facilitate public transport mobility between the countries of the Iberian Peninsula.”
The new route will be the only direct rail link between Lisbon and Madrid, and will be operated by Spanish state-owned rail company Renfe.
Portugal is also developing a new high-speed train line, parts of which are scheduled to open later this year, with journeys set to run in 2025.
According to news website Portugal, the new high-speed railway project is estimated cost somewhere between €3.9billion (£3.3billion) to €4.1billion (£3.5billion).