Portugal secures funding for rail capacity digitalisation

Rail capacity digitalisation in Portugal will be supported by EUR 600,000 in European funding. Infraestruturas de Portugal secured the funding under an application submitted in partnership with RailNetEurope. It will introduce measures to develop the digital management of rail capacity.

Rail capacity digitalisation and RINF rollout

A central part of the work is the full implementation of the Infrastructure Register (RINF). This will be done in line with European requirements. It also includes integration into a new technical cadastre system. Infraestruturas de Portugal plans to develop a new IT application. It will also reorganise internal procedures. The aim is to centralise, digitise, and continuously update railway infrastructure data. This component is due for completion by the end of 2028. The RINF element plays a key role in railway interoperability at the European level. This is also noted by RailNetEurope.

Capacity management and commercial terms

Another part of the investment is aimed at alignment with the new European Regulation on capacity management. Its final version is expected in the first half of 2026. The project includes a review of current processes and data. It will identify potential shortcomings. In addition, it will prepare an implementation plan for the new commercial conditions.

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At the same time, it is intended to improve internal efficiency. It is also intended to facilitate the transition through change management measures. This component is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2029.

Meanwhile, Infraestruturas de Portugal will also review its performance monitoring systems. It will identify areas for optimisation. Planned measures include a wider range of indicators. They also include automated data collection and better data quality and consistency. The aim is to align with the new European performance management model. This will be done through a structured organisational adaptation plan. This phase is likewise expected to be finished in the first quarter of 2029.

CEF support and the wider European project

Portugal received financial support through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) under the 2024 project proposals. This was reported by RailwayPro. It forms part of a broader project worth 1.2 million EUR. The project is called “Management for the Digitalization of Railway Capacity 2025–2029.” Through this investment, Infraestruturas de Portugal will implement three major initiatives. They cover the infrastructure register, commercial conditions, and performance management.

At the European level, the EU contribution to this project amounts to 45 million EUR. RailNetEurope coordinates the project and has received 8 million EUR in European funding. Participating railway infrastructure managers come from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden.

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