Portugal 2030 pays for the Algarve’s metro and rail delay in Portugal 2020
the fundsthose of the next community framework Portugal 2030 will finance the light surface rail system between Faro-Airport-Universidade do Algarve-Parque das Cidades-Loulé-Olhão.
In the proposal that the Portuguese Government put up for public consultation this Monday, it is read that the program for the Algarve intends to “support the connection of a light rail system between Faro – Airport – University of Algarve – Parque das Cidades – Loulé – Olhão, with an approximate length of 35 km, contributing to the decarbonisation of the regional transport system and road safety”.
The document explains that this is “an area with the highest population concentration in the south of the country and the more than 150,000 regular residents in urban and suburban areas account for daily commuting in their own vehicle, often with a single occupant, to which they are added the movements of embarked/disembarked passengers at Faro Airport who seek these urban centers and also those who choose to continue their journey by train”.
It should be noted that the Algarve regional program has most increased its allocation to European funds, from the current €319 million in Portugal 2020 to €780 million in the new Portugal 2030.
Within the scope of the Climate Action and Sustainability program, key investments will also be promoted in infrastructure for heavy passenger transport, in urban and suburban railway rolling stock and in clean vehicles for BRT – Bus Rapid Transit systems, on axes with levels of congestion.
The program dedicated to sustainability increases by around €916 million in Portugal 2030, but should include works for Railroad 2020 and others under the responsibility of the Ministry of Infrastructure. Investments that study completed before the current framework of funds involved in Portugal 2020, which ended definitively in 2023.
Railroad 2020 slips into Portugal 2030
“Considering that the development of some sustainable urban mobility projects registered some unforeseen hypotheses associated with their technique, there is still a need to foresee the phasing of financial actions within the scope of Portugal 2020. In this situation, the Modernization of the Cascais Railway Line Cascais (2nd phase) and the Mondego Mobility System – Application of a MetroBus System -infrastructure- (2nd phase)”, is read in the document that defines priorities for the application of the new envelope of funds for 2021 and 2029.
The same is true of the other works on the 2020 Railway, the largest investment program to modernize the national network in recent decades, with an investment of over €2,000 million. Launched in 2016, this provided for the construction of new lines and the requalification of around 40% of the extension of the national number network.
The goal was to end up as works during the duration of the Portugal 2020 funds. But the Portugal 2030 proposal, now under public consultation, admits the slippage of some models of Railway 2020 projects to the new Portugal 2030 community framework.
“The investments in the Railway made in recent years must be continued, concluding the implementation of the Railway 2020 (including the phasing of some of its investments supported under Portugal 2020)”, reads the outline of Portugal 2030 made available this evening. Monday.
“In the scope of investments in railway infrastructure, projects following the 2014-20 programming period and not completed that meet the conditions required for phasing for the 2021-2027 programming period, resources for processes in the Southern International Corridor and in the program will also be supported. to reinforce capacity and increase the increase in the Porto-Lisbon axis”, adds the same government document.
high speed goes to another drawer
The first phase of the construction of the Porto-Lisbon High Speed Line should seek funding from another program of European funds, the Interconnecting Europe Mechanism.
One of the objectives of the National Investment Program for 2030 is to build a High Speed axis between Porto and Lisbon, “with an extension northwards towards Galicia, with major reductions in travel times along this axis and outside it, allowing the complete replacement of air transport between Porto and Lisbon and a complete transfer of journeys by road”.