Portugal’s Northern Line has received an investment of EUR 95 million to modernize its signaling system, announced Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), the country’s rail and road infrastructure manager.
The project is funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Program (PRR), through which Portugal is using European funds from the NextGenerationEU mechanism to modernize the economy and accelerate the green and digital transition.
Portugal’s Northern Line is the country’s most important railway line, connecting Lisbon to Porto, and the modernization of the signaling system will prepare the line for high-speed train service.
Recently, representatives from Estrutura de Missão Recuperar Portugal, the institution responsible for monitoring the implementation of the PRR, visited the construction site in Azambuja to monitor the progress of the works. The project aims to modernize and digitize signaling systems at several major stations along the line, including Campolide, Oriente Station, Alverca do Ribatejo, and Azambuja.
Adaptation for the Lisbon–Porto high-speed line
The investment for the Northern Line is part of Component 15 – Sustainable Mobility of the PRR and aims to modernize the railway infrastructure by digitizing traffic control systems, developing a specific transmission module for the integration of signaling technologies, implementing advanced cybersecurity systems, and developing railway telecommunications and telematics infrastructure.
According to the authorities, the modernization of signaling systems will enable the line to be adapted to the future high-speed rail line between Lisbon and Porto, while also contributing to increased safety and efficiency of train operations.
During the working visit, the new equipment already installed, the site organization, and the technical phases of the project were presented. Strategic aspects regarding the implementation of projects funded through the PRR and the use of European funds were also discussed.
The modernization represents an important step for the development of rail transport in Portugal, contributing to increased service reliability, reduced environmental impact, and the preparation of infrastructure for high-speed rail transport.
The Lisbon–Porto high-speed line will have a total length of approximately 290 km and will be fully operational in 2032. The project is being implemented through a PPP, with two contracts signed to this end.
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