In total, the trip between the Iberian capitals will take five hours, the Ministry of Infrastructure announced.

“Portugal and Spain have taken a decisive step to bring the Iberian capitals even closer together, with the definition of a set of concrete actions that will allow the establishment of rail links between Lisbon and Madrid by 2030, with a travel time of around 5 hours, and a high-speed link — around 3 hours — by 2034,” the ministry led by Miguel Pinto Luz said in a statement.

Specifically, the “Iberian strategy” aims, by 2030, to establish a direct link between the two capitals, to complete the works on the new high-speed line between Évora and Caia by 2025 and enter into operation in 2026, to enter into operation of the Plasencia-Talayuela (Cáceres) section by 2028, to begin construction of the second track between Poceirão (Palmela) and Bombel (Vendas Novas) in 2026, with completion by 2029 and operation in 2030, and also to complete the studies for the new Lisbon-Évora line, including the Third Crossing over the Tagus River by 2027.

By 2034, it is planned to move forward with a high-speed link between Lisbon and Madrid, with a travel time of around three hours, as well as the construction of the new Lisbon-Évora high-speed line, including the Third Crossing over the Tagus River and the duplication of the Évora-Caia line, "if the need is justified," detailed the Government.

Also planned, by that date, is the implementation of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) on several sections between Lisbon and Madrid, as well as the preparation of studies and possible construction of the new high-speed section between Caia and Badajoz and the Elvas-Badajoz International Railway Station, on the border between the two countries.

This project is part of the European strategy for sustainable mobility and cross-border rail interconnection, "involving structural investments in infrastructure, technological modernization and rail interoperability," highlighted the Ministry of Infrastructure.