Share the article
Spain and Portugal are two of the sunniest destinations in Europe, and since they borders each other and share the same Iberian peninsula, you would expect that cross -border train journeys, especially between the two capitals, will be flexible.
This cannot be further from the truth: if you ever have the task of planning a overland trip from Madrid to Lisbon, You will know that it can be quite challenging.
Currently the fastest option includes one train switch, from Madrid to Badajoz (in Spain) and then switch to a (painfully slow) Portuguese train, which lasts a total of 7 hours – and that is if any delays have to be excluded.
It has been a long time ago, but before this decade is over, a fast service will launch between the capitals, causing traveling to Only 3 hours:
A new high -speed train from Madrid to Lisbon
After signing a long -awaited project to connect the port cities of Bari and Naples, sitting at the opposite ends of the Italian boot, the European Commission will build a fast train that connects Madrid, in Spain, in Spain, in Portugal.
For whatever reason, rail connections between the fraternal countries are at best sub -optimal, Largely because of their delayed development Compared to other European states.
For a large part of the 20th century, for example, they were under strict dictatorships that do not prioritize cross -border connectivity.
As a result, travel from Madrid to Lisbon, or vice versa, can be quite an adventure: you look at either at one 7 to 9 am bus ride or, as described earlier, an equally long Train trip with at least one change, although it can sometimes be up to 4.
There is a direct, overnight train, or it used to be before the pandemic, although it is more like a tourist attraction itself than purely as a transport mode, which works at a hotel-on-wheel model and at raised rates due to low demand.
It’s not like Madrid and Lisbon Thousands of kilometers are apart From each other, also: it is only 388 miles, and to think that you can already go from Paris to Berlin in a night train, with a distance of 654 miles in about 11 hours.
When is the train launching?
A direct, fast train from Madrid to Lisbon is long Too late, but you can thank FIFA for giving a little extra push.
If you wonder why that is in 2030, Spain and Portugal will co-host the World Cup 2030, and as we have seen with earlier world cups in South Africa, Brazil and most recently France, Large infrastructure projects are in order.
The aim is to deliver the high -speed train before the competitions begin, and no matter how ambitious that plan could be, many have also suspected that the French could transfer their big opening from a stadium to the heart of the city of Paris, let alone the Seine.
Moreover, this is not a Mayan train that we are talking about.
Some of these numbers have already been laid and as inefficient as it can be, there is Already rail infrastructure The Iberian peninsula overstrain: in other words, the only thing needed is to make changes and a generous EU budget.
As far as the latter is concerned, that is already secure, and it is not as if Spanish and Portuguese officials are too busy with a siesta In the meantime, both:
Fewer flights, more train connections
A second railway bridge over the Tagus River, which Lisbon extends, has been confirmed that it is in the early stages of construction. It is expected that it will open the road for a fast train in the future, while the Al iconic 25 April bridge will continue to deal with traffic and slower regional trains.
Moreover, the respective governments work to build their parts of the line, and just like the rest of the EU, They are under pressure from Brussels To drastically reduce emissions and help the block to achieve his climate goal.
There are currently more than 40 daily flights between the capitals, with a duration of 1h15 – 1h35.
As soon as the train is launched, it is predicted that it will be reduced, especially in view of the planned travel length of just 3 hours, against the current 7-9 hours.
Ready for your trip? Check the latest input requirements for your destination here
✈️Become a member of our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like -minded travel buddies!
Subscribe to our latest messages
Enter your e -mail address to subscribe to the latest Breeknieuws from Path, directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Traveloffpath.com
Opinions here are only the author, not those of a bank, credit card emitting, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been assessed, approved or otherwise approved by one of the entities that are included in the post.
