HIGH SPEED RAIL LINE PORTO-LISBOA PHASE 1

The project will finance the construction of the phase 1 of the High-Speed Line Porto-Lisbon, namely the 143 km section between Porto-Campanhã station and Soure (Coimbra)., including 47 km in five single-track connections with conventional network to ensure accessibility to other cities in the north of Portugal.

The aim is to increase the quality of rail services in the cohesion regions of centre and north of Portugal. By promoting travel by rail, the project will enhance sustainable transport in line with EU objectives and contribute to the EIB's cohesion (100%), climate action and environmental sustainability targets (100%). The project is located on the core TEN-T (Atlantic Corridor) and therefore provides a missing link that will yield benefits across the wider TEN-T network. The project is therefore eligible under Article 309 point (a) "projects for developing less-developed regions" and point (c) "projects of common interest" of the EU Treaty.

The project falls under Annex I of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU, requiring a full EIA procedure. EIA studies have been completed and the Competent Authorities have issued Environmental Decisions for the northern section (August 2023) and southern section (November 2023). Compliance with the Birds and Habitats Directives (2009/147/EC and 92/43/EC, as amended) is to be assessed during the appraisal. Project impact on nearby NATURA 2000 sites will be verified during appraisal. The project is expected to fully contribute to climate action and environmental sustainability (CA&ES) objectives, in particular to climate mitigation and pollution prevention and control. The project will be implemented in conformity with the current accessibility requirements, which will improve accessibility of the railway system for persons with disabilities and with reduced mobility.

The project will be implemented through 2 PPP contracts with availability payments for the sections Porto - Oiã and Oiã - Soure (approximately 70 kilometres each) (for the first section a prior information notice has been published in the OJEU, 2023/S 217-683508 and the tender was launched on 12th January 2024 OJEU 2024-OJS012-31187) as well as various contracts under traditional procurement for signalling, stations and some other singular structures. The EIB will require the promoter to ensure that contracts for implementation of the project, including the PPP contracts, will be tendered in accordance with the applicable EU procurement legislation: Directive 2014/25/EU as well as Directive 92/13/EEC as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with publication of tender notices in the EU Official Journal, as and where required.