“In Portugal, projects take too long. We conduct many studies. The studies have been done in recent decades. We have studies, they will be updated. Let’s move on to projects so we can be in the ‘pole position’, so when there are necessary and sufficient funds in the State Budget or from Europe, we can prioritize these projects,” said Miguel Pinto Luz.
The official spoke at a press conference to present the conclusions of a working meeting on Rail Transport in the Atlantic Corridor, which took place this morning in Aveiro.
The minister stated that these projects, concerning the high-speed rail connection between Aveiro and Salamanca, will be undertaken by the Government in collaboration with the Regional Coordination and Development Commission of the Center, the Intermunicipal Communities, and the municipalities of the central region, noting that the co-investment model is not yet finalized.
“We have had similar models in other infrastructure design processes, with other CIMs, other CCDRs, and therefore the Government is willing to work with the CCDR to find the best way to co-finance […]. We want to make these projects happen, and they need to move forward,” he stated.
Miguel Pinto Luz further expressed that he witnessed substantial cohesion among the various municipalities, across all political colors, on both sides of the borders, emphasizing the need for consensus in these structurally significant national projects.
“We have committed mayors, a committed Government, committed entrepreneurs, and a proactive, committed CCDR, so all the stakeholders are here to realize these projects that are absolutely essential,” he added.
The official also mentioned that the Beira Alta line, a component of this corridor which has undergone modernization works, is in the certification process and revealed that the line should be operational by the end of the year.
“Next month [August], CP trains will be in the certification process with drivers operating the line in certification, and we believe that by the end of the year, prospectively October, we will have the line operational, and that is our commitment,” he stated.
During the meeting, the minister received the regional joint declaration for the Development of Rail Transport of the European Atlantic Corridor on the Iberian Section, signed in April in Guarda, by all the mayors and presidents of the inter-municipal communities of the central region.
The meeting also reinforced the advocacy for the construction of the rail link between Aveiro, Viseu, Guarda, and Salamanca, extending to Madrid and France, from the perspective of integration into the European Atlantic Corridor, at high speed (trains traveling at speeds up to 250 kilometers per hour).
“As there is a priority dimension in our operation, in our option, for the circulation of goods, it does not make sense to have speeds above 250 kilometers per hour to usefully serve the central region and the country’s needs, with a rail link exceeding that speed,” explained the mayor of Aveiro, Ribau Esteves.
