The rail infrastructure company Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) has announced that it has achieved a new European target for the digitalisation of rail transport ahead of schedule, following the installation of 20 km of track equipped with modern electronic signaling systems in the Lisbon metropolitan area.
The investment aims to modernize key sections of the Portuguese rail network, including the Ring Line (Linha de Cintura—located in the metropolitan area of the capital, Lisbon) and the Northern Line (Linha do Norte—connecting Lisbon to Porto), as well as the stations at Campolide, Oriente, Alverca, and Azambuja, where new control and signaling technologies have been implemented.
IP stated that it has succeeded in exceeding one of the main targets set under the NRRP regarding the digitalization of rail transport. This achievement strengthens the modernization of the network and increases safety and interoperability.
A Step Forward Toward European Objectives
Officials from the bodies responsible for implementing the European Recovery Plan, including representatives from Recuperar Portugal (the government agency that manages and monitors the implementation of the NRRP), joined the leadership of Infraestruturas de Portugal and the technical teams involved in the project during a visit to stations located on the two lines.
The completion of the systems’ installation was marked by the signing of the installation completion report, a milestone confirming the completion of the implementation phase for the new signaling infrastructure.
This modernization directly contributes to achieving the objectives of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), specifically the component dedicated to the digitization of rail transport, where Portugal has managed to meet or even exceed several technical milestones, including the implementation of ETCS/STM systems on rolling stock.
To date, Infraestruturas de Portugal has secured 478 million euros in European funds through the NRRP, representing the majority of the funding allocated to its infrastructure projects. The investments aim not only to modernize the rail network but also to increase regional connectivity, develop cross-border links, and strengthen sustainable transport infrastructure.
Portuguese authorities emphasize that these projects contribute to building a rail network that is safer, more efficient, and fully interoperable with European standards—one that is ready for the future of digital mobility.
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