It looks like the rail travel renaissance in Europe is showing no sign of slowing down, as Spain’s new, hard-left government is keen to revive an important route – the Madrid to Lisbon sleeper train – which was discontinued by Spanish rail operator Renfe in 2020.
Surprisingly, this service was the only direct link between the two Iberian capitals. Since it was cancelled, passengers travelling between the two cities by rail now have to change trains at least twice, and sometimes up to three or four times. The journey can take over nine hours, longer than catching the bus, which only takes seven hours, and driving, which takes six.
The lack of rail links between Spain and Portugal has been a problem for a while. There’s a lot of political contention around the issue and a lack of commitment to expensive and complicated projects, but the new Spanish government is calling time on excuses.
According to The Local, representatives from the government have said that the reintroduction of the sleeper train is ‘something that many citizens on both sides of the Spanish-Portuguese border are waiting for.’
They’ve also said that it would not only improve economic and commercial relations between the two countries, but would have significant environmental benefits due to rail travel being a great alternative to those short-haul flights that they’re trying to ban.
This comes after recent news that the rail operator could also expand its high-speed network to connect the two capitals. There are plenty of other high-speed routes where that came from, with Spain launching speedy services between Madrid to Valencia, Murcia, and the coastal region of Asturias this year.
Did you see that a new sleeper train from Rome to the Dolomites is launching soon?
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