A new call, launched by the Sustainable 2030 program, allocates approximately 66 million euros to Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) to improve the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the Northern Line. The funding, with a maximum co-financing rate of 85%, aims to implement the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).
Interventions include the installation of the ERTMS/ETCS Level 2 system in the Granja–Gaia section, the GSM-R communication system between Campanhã and Entroncamento, and the preparation of the Entroncamento–Souselas section for ETCS Level 2. These measures will enhance traffic control, increase operational capacity, and ensure safer communications.
The modernization of the Northern Line to European interoperability standards will also create the necessary conditions for the future Porto–Lisbon High-Speed Line. The Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Castro Almeida, emphasized the importance of making rail transport more efficient to attract more traffic and contribute to decarbonization.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, added that the goal is to have "a railway that everyone can rely on", one that is safer, more modern, and reliable. The Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, highlighted that making public transport more accessible, sustainable, and safe is a significant step towards the necessary energy transition.
