At the 11th hour (to qualify for European funding) the outgoing government has launched the tender for the highly controversial high-speed TGV rail link between Lisbon and Porto. The project that will cost at least €4.5 billion is to be constructed in three phases, the first of which, requiring a new bridge to be built over the river Douro, should be completed by 2028. The line is designed as an alternative to the Lisbon-Porto air link, and promises to carry passengers at speeds of up to 300km/ h.
