Lisbon Metro Circular line tunnel now connects Santos to Rato

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The Circular line should start operating by June 2025.

The connection between the future Santos station and the new Rato/Santos tunnel has become a reality since March 13, the day on which progress was made with the demolition of the tympanum that separated the new Santos station from this new tunnel. The Rato, Estrela and Santos stations are already connected.

Say the Lisbon Metro that the work on the future Santos station is progressing at a good pace and that the excavation of the station’s central nave, which is located in the space of the Firefighter Sappers Regiment Headquartersis in the final stretch of implementation.

The future Santos station will be located to the west of the block defined by Av. D. Carlos I, Rua das Francesinhas, Rua dos Industriais and Travessa do Pasteleiro. All levels of the station (from the pier to the surface) are served by mechanical stairs. It will have access to Travessa do Pasteleiro and Avenida D. Carlos I (on the corner of Largo da Esperança). The main access will be at Largo da Esperança, integrating the fire department elevator. There will also be access to the Madragoa neighborhood by elevator.

As regards the Estrela station, one year after the end of the excavations associated with its construction, construction work continues within the scheduled deadlines. The station will have access to the old Pharmacy building. Estrela Military Hospital.

Scheduled to open in the first half of 2025, the Circular line will connect the Rato station to Cais do Sodré, in an extension of another two kilometers of network and two new stations (Estrela and Santos), joining the current Yellow and Green lines in a new circular ring in the center of Lisbon.

The execution of the extension of the Yellow and Green lines is divided into four lots. Lot 1 involves the execution of rough work between the end of Rato station and Santos station; Lot 2 includes the execution of rough work between Santos station and Cais do Sodré station; Lot 3 aims to build two new viaducts and expand the Campo Grande station and Lot 4 involves the construction of finishes and systems for the future Circular line.

This circular line makes it possible to densify the metro offer in the city of Lisbon and at the same time reduce travel times within the city. Through the circular line, rail transport from Cascais and the Tagus river are connected to the central axis and urban rail transport from Sintra, Azambuja, Setúbal and regional railways in Entrecampos, without the need for any transfer.

Photograph: Lisbon Metro