Spain is “not interested” in building a high-speed railway link between Vila Real de Santo António and the Spanish city of Huelva in Andalusia, Portugal’s Minister of Infrastructure said in Parliament today (Thursday).
The project is considered “fundamental” by the Portuguese government, but interest is apparently one-sided, Pedro Nuno Santos explained during a hearing of the Parliamentary Commission of Economy, Innovation, Public Works and Housing.
“We are completely in favour of the project. We cannot understand why the Mediterranean corridor ends in Huelva and is not extended to the Algarve. Our tourism sector is missing out,” Pedro Nuno Santos said.
But without Spain’s collaboration, the railway link will never be more than a pipe dream.
“The problem is that Spain has shown no interest, which makes our job very difficult. We can’t build a link to Huelva if the Spanish don’t want it,” he admitted.
Nonetheless, the minister said Portugal continues to present its case to the Spanish government.
“We are doing what we can. Meetings have been scheduled, but the interest is not the same as ours,” said Pedro Nuno Santos.
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