A concession contract and initial financing package have been finalised between Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) and the Avan Norte consortium for the construction and 30‑year maintenance of the Porto–Campanhã to Oiã segment, the first phase of the Lisbon–Porto high‑speed rail line.
The concession was awarded to Avan Norte – Gestão da Ferrovia de Alta Velocidade, the special-purpose company formed by the LusoLAV consortium. It covers the design, build and upkeep of the 71 km Porto–Campanhã to Oiã stretch as part of the broader 143 km Phase 1, which extends to Soure, Coimbra district.
Simultaneously, IP and Avan Norte signed a financing deal with the European Investment Bank (EIB). The deal includes an €875 million first tranche—part of a €3 billion facility approved by the EIB in 2024 under the InvestEU programme. This tranche will fund the Porto–Oiã section. In addition, the project draws on approximately €900 million from other national and international financiers, €480 million in Connecting Europe Facility grants, and €150 million in co‑financing from IP.
Among works to be delivered are:
- 71 km of new high‑speed infrastructure between Porto‑Campanhã and Oiã
- A new station at Santo Ovídio in Vila Nova de Gaia
- Adaptation of Campanhã station for high‑speed services
- Construction of a new Douro river bridge
- Connections to the existing Northern Line near Canelas
- A new traction substation in the Estarreja area
IP will oversee project execution, handling technical oversight, regulatory compliance, and integration with national and EU mobility goals.
