The Spanish official believes that Spain will have finished the section from Madrid to Badajoz long before Portugal makes the connection to Lisbon.

The Spanish Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, stated that Spain will complete high-speed rail links to the borders of Tui and Badajoz long before Portugal finish your share of common projects.

In an interview with SER radio, the government official dedicated more than an hour to the topic of the railway and highlighted that Madrid is “very advanced” compared to Lisbon, especially on the Extremadura axis. “We will have our homework done long before the Portuguese”, he stated.

Regarding the Lisbon-Madrid line, Puente reiterated that Spain is committed to completing, by 2030, the connection between Madrid and Badajoz, close to the border. For Portugal, the minister points to a horizon only between 2032 and 2034 to complete the remaining part of the connection, admitting that Madrid could reach the border limit without the Portuguese side being ready.

Regarding the Porto-Vigo connection, the Spanish minister maintains the same critical view: “Portugal is working on the Lisbon-Porto connection and at the moment nothing is starting for the Northnothing has been done or planned.” According to Puente, Spain will be able to reach the Tui border before Portugal moves forward with its component of the project.

Despite criticism of Portugal’s delays, Óscar Puente praised the Portuguese “good disposition” and positively compared Portuguese and French cooperationwhich he considers more difficult.

The Spanish official’s interview comes weeks after Portugal and Spain signed, on October 30, an agreement to ensure direct Lisbon-Madrid trips in around five hours until 2030using mixed high-speed and conventional line infrastructures. The objective of reducing the journey to three hours is set for 2034, depending on new investments.

Portugal committed, among other things, to completing studies on the Third Tagus Crossing by 2027 and completing the Évora-Caia line in 2025, with entry into operation in 2026.

The Spanish official believes that Spain will have finished the section from Madrid to Badajoz long before Portugal makes the connection to Lisbon.

The Spanish Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, stated that Spain will complete high-speed rail links to the borders of Tui and Badajoz long before Portugal finish your share of common projects.

In an interview with SER radio, the government official dedicated more than an hour to the topic of the railway and highlighted that Madrid is “very advanced” compared to Lisbon, especially on the Extremadura axis. “We will have our homework done long before the Portuguese”, he stated.

Regarding the Lisbon-Madrid line, Puente reiterated that Spain is committed to completing, by 2030, the connection between Madrid and Badajoz, close to the border. For Portugal, the minister points to a horizon only between 2032 and 2034 to complete the remaining part of the connection, admitting that Madrid could reach the border limit without the Portuguese side being ready.

Regarding the Porto-Vigo connection, the Spanish minister maintains the same critical view: “Portugal is working on the Lisbon-Porto connection and at the moment nothing is starting for the Northnothing has been done or planned.” According to Puente, Spain will be able to reach the Tui border before Portugal moves forward with its component of the project.

Despite criticism of Portugal’s delays, Óscar Puente praised the Portuguese “good disposition” and positively compared Portuguese and French cooperationwhich he considers more difficult.

The Spanish official’s interview comes weeks after Portugal and Spain signed, on October 30, an agreement to ensure direct Lisbon-Madrid trips in around five hours until 2030using mixed high-speed and conventional line infrastructures. The objective of reducing the journey to three hours is set for 2034, depending on new investments.

Portugal committed, among other things, to completing studies on the Third Tagus Crossing by 2027 and completing the Évora-Caia line in 2025, with entry into operation in 2026.