Faro, Huelva, and Sevilla renew call for advancement of high-speed rail link
Mayors meet in Seville and prepare a trip to Brussels to push for an earlier construction timeline of this international railway.
The Mayor of Faro, Rogério Bacalhau, and the Mayors of Huelva, Pilar Miranda, and Seville, José Luis Sanz, have once again reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a high-speed rail link connecting the three cities.
In an institutional meeting held at the Seville City Hall—following previous meetings in Huelva and Faro—the three mayors agreed to travel to Brussels in the near future to advocate for the acceleration of the construction schedule for this international railway line.
It is worth recalling that during the 35th Luso-Spanish Summit, held in Faro in October 2023, the governments of both countries emphasised the importance of conducting thorough mobility flow studies and cost-benefit analyses as essential conditions for moving forward with the project.
The mayors of the three cities recognise these studies as crucial for determining the economic, environmental, and social viability of the high-speed rail connection and for planning efficient integration with national rail networks and the trans-European transport network. However, they call on national and EU authorities to recognize this project as a European priority and to begin mobilizing financial resources immediately to launch preliminary studies and groundwork—particularly regarding the Seville–Huelva section.
According to the signatory mayors, “the Faro–Huelva–Seville connection is more than just a regional need—it represents a historic opportunity to transform the Algarve and Andalusia into strategic gateways to Africa, Latin America, and the rest of Europe.”
“It is through the existence of modern and sustainable infrastructure that the full tourism, industrial, and commercial potential of our regions can be realised, while also promoting social and territorial cohesion,” they added.
For the Municipality of Faro, “this is an investment in our future—an investment that enables us to overcome our peripheral geographic condition and bring us closer to Europe’s economic core, while simultaneously taking crucial steps toward achieving environmental decarbonization goals.”
“The future we want is built today, and that is why we must demand political and financial support to move this project forward.”
