Overview
- Brussels formalized a new 2034 completion date for the cross-border route, replacing an earlier 2030 goal, with a three-hour end-to-end journey time targeted at completion.
- The European Commission attributed the delay primarily to Portugal’s technical and financing constraints, while noting both governments tried to meet the original schedule.
- Spain and Portugal must submit at least annual updates to the Commission and Atlantic Corridor coordinator François Bausch, including budget commitments and notice of significant delays.
- Nearly €1 billion in EU funding is earmarked, including about €235 million for Portugal’s Évora–Elvas section and roughly €750 million since 2014 to strengthen the Extremadura–Madrid link.
- Six partial openings are planned before end-2030 to enable direct services of roughly five hours, with a further cut to about three hours by 2034 as the Third Tagus Crossing and full ERTMS come online.