The new high-speed train that will connect two European capitals in just three hours
A NEW highspeed train will be connecting two major European cities cutting current commute times by six hours.
A new train service will connect Lisbon and Madrid directly.
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If the European Commission signs off on the project - which it is planning to later this year- services could start in 2030, in time for when the two countries will be co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Currently, getting the train between the Spanish and Portuguese capitals can take over nine hours, and involves four changes.
But the new service will be direct, thanks to the construction of a bridge over the Tagus River.
The new journey will be direct and take around three hours.
In total, the line will stretch 100km and the first part of the line is due to open this year.
In addition, there are plans to improve the existing connections between Porto and Vigo and Porto and Lisbon.
The train service between Porto and Lisbon will be twice as fast and there could be the introduction of a direct route from Vigo to Lisbon.
According to The Local, there are hopes that the new services will reduce the number of flights between Lisbon and Madrid and between Lisbon and Porto to be cut, positively impacting the environment.
The two capitals have not been linked by a direct train service since 2020, when Spain's state-owned rail company Renfe cancelled its overnight train-hotel service.
Portugal's government is also planning a new airport in the Lisbon region as part of the push to improve connections to the country.
Located in Alcochete, around 40km from Lisbon, the airport is due to be operational by 2034 and will replace Lisbon's Humberto Delgado airport.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted between Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Whilst the stadiums have not yet been confirmed, the official bid includes 20 stadiums across the three host countries.
Spain has put forward 11 stadiums including Real Madrid's Bernabeu and Portugal is set to use three stadiums including two in Lisbon and one in Porto.
A new 17-city train is also launching in Europe this summer, running six times a day.
Plus, a new budget train route will connect two popular Spanish cities.
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thesun
