"I don't have a rigorous number, but the global investment between Lisbon and Valença, if we include the second phase of the Porto - Valença connection, should be around 7 to 8 billion euros", Frederico Francisco told Lusa.

The Deputy Secretary of State for Infrastructure detailed that each section put up for tender will cost around two billion euros, divided into Porto-Oiã, Oiã-Soure, Soure-Carregado, Braga-Valença (including connection between Porto and the Francisco Sá Carneiro airport) and, finally, the airport - Braga.

Asked about the value and its comparison with the estimated cost for the new Lisbon airport, which is around 8 billion euros, Frederico Francisco considered that the money will be "better used" on the railway.

Precisely to connect the high-speed line to the future Lisbon airport, access to the capital planned for the third phase of the project, "depending on where the future airport will be located, can enter from the right bank or the left bank of the Tagus River, always maintaining the possibility of trains arriving in Lisbon via the Northern Line", which will be quadrupled upon arrival in Lisbon to receive high-speed services.

Regarding the connection to Porto airport, asked whether a connection from the current Leixões line to the airport infrastructure would not be enough, the Secretary of State argued that, despite the costs, it is a "difference between [travel time between] Campanhã and the airport takes 10 minutes or takes 40".