New sleeper train to connect two European capitals after being scrapped four years ago
LISBON and Madrid could be linked by a new sleeper train next year after the route was scrapped during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The direct route between Lisbon and Madrid was discontinued by Spanish rail operator Renfe in 2020.
Its possible revival was first announced back in November 2023.
And earlier this year, prime ministers in both countries endorsed plans to improve cross-border rail connections.
It was previously thought that parts of the route wouldn’t be operational until 2034 at the earliest.
However, local newspaper Portugal News reports that the sleeper service between the two capitals could be operational next year.
The approved proposal states: “The Portuguese Government is deepening negotiations with the Spanish Government for the reactivation, during the first half of 2025, of the Lusitânia and Sud-Expresso night train services, through the railway companies CP – Comboios de Portugal, EPE and Renfe.
“The Portuguese Government, together with the Spanish Government, adopts night rail services as part of the Iberian railway strategy, namely in the Portuguese National Railway Plan.”
Since the route was cancelled four years ago, passengers travelling by rail between the cities have needed to change at least twice, with journeys taking nine hours to complete.
Car journeys between the two cities take just six hours.
The new route will be the only direct rail link between Lisbon and Madrid.
Portugal and Spain are linked by train, with direct services connecting Vigo and Porto and Badajoz and Entroncamento.
Before the new route can open to the public upgrades to the rail infrastructure need to be addressed, including electrical voltages and signalling systems.
Spanish railway operator Renfe also needs to invest €15million (£12.8million) to adapt part of its stock to suit the railway infrastructure in Portugal.
Portugal is also developing a new high-speed train line, parts of which are slated to open later this year, with journeys set to run in 2025.
Earlier this week, Vietnam’s National Assembly approved plans to build a high-speed railway network.
The new route will run between Hanoi (the Vietnamese capital) and Ho Chi Minh City, covering more than 957 miles of the country.
Slated to cost $67billion (£53billion), the high-speed train will be able to reach speeds of up to 217mph, reducing journey times by 25 hours.
Construction work will start in 2027, with trains operating from as early as 2035.
Once up and running, the train will pass through 20 provinces and cities in Vietnam – although a full itinerary, including stopping stations, has yet to be confirmed.
Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world
Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland
“After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass.” – Caroline McGuire
Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
“Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you’re whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too – as you’ll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way.” Kara Godfrey
London to Paris by Eurostar
“Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord.” – Sophie Swietochowski
Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail
“From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.” – Hope Brotherton
Beijing to Ulaanbatar
“The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city’s high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I’ve witnessed anywhere.” – Ryan Gray
Earlier this summer, a new train route let you pay just £7 to travel to three European countries – Italy, Croatia and Slovenia.
And a new train route dubbed “easyJet on rails” will link France, Belgium and the Netherlands.