Lisbon Metro Expansion: Red Line Extension to Alcântara Starts in December 2025

Lisbon Metro Expansion Moves Forward

The expansion of Lisbon's Metro Red Line to Alcântara is set to begin in December 2025, as announced by the Secretary of State for Mobility, Cristina Pinto Dias. This major infrastructure project, valued at 405 million euros, will extend the Red Line through key areas including Campolide/Amoreiras, Campo de Ourique, and Avenida Infante Santo.

Project Details and Funding Challenges

Originally, 357.5 million euros of the funding was expected to come from Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). However, delays in starting the work have resulted in the loss of part of this European funding. The contract for the extension was awarded in 2023 to the Mota-Engil consortium for approximately 321.9 million euros, but legal challenges from other bidders caused significant delays.

In March 2024, the contract received preliminary approval from the Court of Auditors but still awaited a decision from the Lisbon Administrative Court due to ongoing legal disputes. As of October 2025, the project was further delayed pending the Environmental Conformity Report for the Execution Project (RECAPE) and authorization from the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection.

Current Status and Future Plans

Currently, the Red Line operates as a circular route connecting São Sebastião and Aeroporto stations. The expansion aims to enhance connectivity in western Lisbon, providing better access to densely populated neighborhoods.

Violet Line Also Moving Forward

In a related development, the Violet Line (Linha Violeta), a new light rail surface line connecting Odivelas and Loures, will also be commissioned in December 2025. This 11.5-kilometer line will feature 17 stations:

• 9 stations in Loures serving the parishes of Loures, Santo António dos Cavaleiros, and Frielas (approximately 6.4 km)
• 8 stations in Odivelas serving Póvoa de Santo Adrião, Olival de Basto, Odivelas, Ramada, and Caneças (approximately 5.1 km)

The stations will include 12 surface stations, 3 underground stations, and 2 trench stations, offering diverse accessibility options.

Bidding Process and Costs

The first public tender for the Violet Line was launched on March 15, 2024, but all proposals were rejected for exceeding the base price by an average of 46%. In July 2025, Lisbon Metro received four new proposals ranging from 598.8 to 716 million euros, indicating the significant investment required for this new transit corridor.