Portugal is the latest European country to update its rail system and cut travel times in half. As part of the country’s sustainability commitments, the government announced plans for high-speed trains in ten major cities.
Infrastructure Minister Pedro Nuno Santos said that on the new network, travel between Lisbon or Porto and Madrid could be completed in about three hours with speeds at around 250 km/h. In the case of a train trip from Lisbon to Porto, for example, it would be cut in half to just 85 minutes.
Santos also said that the country’s national rail infrastructure will be modernized and made more environmentally friendly.
A major goal of Portugal’s sustainability strategy is to encourage drivers out of their cars and onto faster trains to help it reach its carbon-neutral targets by 2045. The goal is to raise travelers’ passenger share to 20% from its current 4.6%.
If only this high-speed rail had been thought of, or built before I had booked the numerous cross-country flights in Portugal this past summer. Would’ve saved me enough for another trip.
by travelers, for travelers.