It is permitted to confiscate funds for the electrification of the Douro line from Marco to Regua.

The government has announced an urgent public benefit for the electrification of the section from Marco de Canaveses to Régua on the Douro line, according to the Diário da República (DR) from Monday.

Electrification of the Douro Line

The electrification of the Douro Line has been completed up to Marco de Canaveses, and in January, the deadline for the international tender conducted by IP, which was extended twice, expired for the electrification work on the Marco - Régua section, with an investment of 118 million euros.

Source in IP

A source in the IP informed the Luza agency last week that the evaluation of the proposals submitted for the international tender for the electrification of this section is ongoing.

Explanations of the resolution

According to the decree published on Monday, signed by Secretary of State for Infrastructure Frederico Francisco, the Government announces the urgent public benefit of the expropriation of real estate and related rights necessary for the implementation of the project, and grants the company Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), as the manager of national road and rail infrastructures, the right to administratively organize the mentioned plots.

Improving connections

This is explained by the fact that the project "significantly contributes to improving connections with various urban centers, services, and industries along this railway axis, ensuring the strengthening of social and territorial balance, along with promoting the sustainability of the transport system."

"Considering the positive effects for the railway sector, among which more efficient management of the rolling stock on electrified sections and a reduction in operational and maintenance costs should be highlighted, a situation of public interest with an urgent nature is being created," the document states.

Project implementation

The project explains that in order to implement the electrification of this area and to meet deadlines, it is "urgent to ensure timely provision of the land covered by these measures, and therefore to begin the expropriation of real estate and related rights necessary for its execution, the occupation of which aimed to be limited to what the project indicates, both in terms of final use and temporary use."

Objects of expropriation

The properties for expropriation are located in Marco de Canaveses and Baião, Porto district, Mesão Frio, and Peso da Régua, Vila Real district.