The completion of railway works is anticipated by the end of this semester, late June or early July, followed by a certification phase. This phase, crucial for project completion, remains indefinite in duration due to reliance on independent entities beyond IP’s control. Henrique Teles provided these insights today.
Teles addressed this during the Railway Transport Seminar, organized by Transportes & Negócios, taking place in a hotel in Porto.
He expressed optimism, stating, “We expect the certifications to be finalized in the second semester. The minister of Infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz, has already indicated that the certification will be concluded in the summer, and that is our expectation.”
On March 31, the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing confirmed the civil construction on the Beira Alta Line was complete. However, he noted the certification process would take “several months,” influencing the timeline for its reopening.
Miguel Pinto Luz further elaborated on this on the same day, confirming civil construction completion by the first quarter of 2025 and outlined the next steps toward certification for commercial operation.
During a technical visit to the Beira Alta railway line, spanning Mortágua to Pampilhosa stations, Pinto Luz informed media about the lengthy and unavoidable certification process, refraining from committing to a specific reopening date.
The Beira Alta Line had been closed since April 2022 for modernization, initially expected to last nine months.
In November 2024, the stretch between Guarda and Celorico da Beira reopened, with the segment from Celorico da Beira to Mangualde available for commercial service as of April 6.
Pinto Luz endorsed the government’s strategy, developed in collaboration with Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), of staggered reopening of each segment. Labeling it a “winning strategy,” he noted it allowed citizens to utilize the line progressively.
Highlighting the investment’s scale, he stated, it remained below 675 million euros, with nearly 50% covered by community funds.
Pinto Luz emphasized the strategic importance of the construction, especially at Concordância da Mealhada, stressing interconnected infrastructure policy involving roads, railways, and national port logistics.
He advocated prioritizing railway investments, noting that while Portugal excels in road infrastructure compared to the European average, it considerably lags in railway development.
