Rail transport services have been liberalised in Portugal, after an EU-driven law was introduced, active as from Tuesday, January 1st, 2019.
A number of legislative changes have been announced by the Government which aims to stimulate competition on the national rail network.
Private rail operators now are allowed to take over rail services with the expectation that foreign operators will be interested, despite decades of under-investment in the national network.
"This new paradigm is essentially characterised by the right of access to railway infrastructures of all member states of the European Union on a fair, non-discriminatory and transparent basis for the operation of passenger services and, as well as by reinforcing the obligation to follow a competitive procedure for the award of public service contracts," according to the new Decree-Law.
According to this law, any Portuguese or international company may operate services on the country's railway lines.
