On 12th January 2024, Portuguese infrastructure operator IP issued a tender for the construction of the first 70 km Porto Campanhã – Oiã section of the high-speed rail (HSR) line between Porto and Lisbon. The Iberian-gauge line will be built through a public-private partnership (PPP) in which private companies will be awarded a concession to operate the line for 25 years. The first phase is divided into two contracts. The Porto – Oiã (Aveiro) section is expected to cost around €2 billion, with €480 million coming from the EU's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The remaining Oiã – Comibra – Soure section of phase 1 of the project is expected to cost around €1.75 billion and will receive €249 million from the CEF. The first phase of the project is due to be completed by 2028. Existing stations on the line will be upgraded to support HSR operations. A new station will also be built in Vila Nova de Gaia. The entire project is expected to cost €5.5 billion. The tender is being launched in time to secure CEF funding, after the European Commission (EC) warned that the tender must be launched in January 2024 for the project to remain eligible.
