“In Rua da China and Travessa da Presa da Agra, a group of residential buildings will be affected, with similar structures but varying levels of finish and conservation, offering views over the Douro River, Gaia and Gondomar”, the Environmental Compliance Report for the Execution Project (RECAPE) for the Porto–Oiã (Oliveira do Bairro) section of the Porto–Lisbon high-speed line, announced.

The project, developed by the AVAN Norte consortium (comprising Mota-Engil, Teixeira Duarte, Alves Ribeiro, Casais, Conduril and Gabriel Couto), must still be approved by Infraestruturas de Portugal and validated by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).

The map of expropriation zones shows that the affected properties include a row of houses on Rua da China, directly adjoining Rua do Freixo, as well as others near the junction with Travessa Presa de Agra, although some homes at a lower level, near Travessa do Freixo, will be spared.

Expropriation documents also note that “the route crosses Avenida Gustavo Eiffel, beyond which there is a CEPSA petrol station, and behind it a derelict building, with the surrounding land occupied by forest species”.

Further north of Rua do Freixo, near Rua Pinheiro de Campanhã, “the affected areas include land and buildings in poor condition, with bricked-up openings, IP installations, a detached house, and a housing block with several tenants”.

The report also refers to the Campanhã Youth Centre, whose main building will not be demolished, but where “the university residence, football pitch, three-storey building, and car park used by staff and nearby residents, adjacent to the Campanhã Intermodal Terminal Park”, will be affected.

The high-speed rail construction consortium has made modifications to the design of Campanhã Station in Porto, abandoning the idea of a fully enclosed bridge-station and instead proposing a narrower “naturally ventilated” upper walkway, which will still be covered.

The proposed station will consist of four main buildings: the west and east terminals (at the current Douro e Minho terminal), which will include public waiting areas, circulation spaces, and commercial areas; a 17-storey tower (to the east) for Infraestruturas de Portugal offices; a pedestrian overpass with a large open central canopy; and the west and east squares, including a car park with 620 spaces on the eastern side.

The first phase of Portugal’s high-speed rail line, between Porto and Soure, is scheduled for completion in 2030, while the second phase, Soure–Carregado, is expected to be finished by 2032, ensuring a connection to Lisbon via the existing Northern Line.

Meanwhile, the planned Porto–Vigo connection, in Galicia (Spain), is also expected to open in 2032, with stations at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, Braga, Ponte de Lima, and Valença (Viana do Castelo district).

Overall, according to the previous government, the total investment cost for the Lisbon–Valença corridor is estimated at between seven and eight billion euros.