Overview
- The European Commission’s execution decision establishes two phases: partial openings by late 2030 to cut trips to about five hours and a final three‑hour service by 2034.
- Portugal has begun testing the new Évora–Elvas/Évora–Caia section, which must be completed by the end of 2025 and enter service in mid‑2026 as the first partial opening.
- Spain’s plan centers on electrifying the Talayuela–Humanes line as a bridging measure and progressively commissioning the Talayuela–Madrid high‑speed section to trim times by 2030.
- Key enablers for the 2034 horizon include full ERTMS deployment, duplication works such as Poceirão–Bombel (construction 2026–2029), and major Portuguese projects like a new Lisbon airport and a third Tagus crossing.
- The decision cites Portugal’s technical and financial constraints, allocates nearly €1 billion of EU support to date, requires annual reports, and names François Bausch as Atlantic Corridor coordinator.