Exciting news for travellers wanting to enjoy pastel de nata and patatas bravas within a few hours of each other, as Portugal has now confirmed plans for a high-speed rail connection between Lisbon and Madrid, setting a target completion date of 2034. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has stated that all necessary conditions are now in place to deliver the long-discussed project, following agreements now reached. 

Journey times set to drop to around three hours

Plans indicate that travel between the two capitals could take roughly three hours once the full high-speed network is completed. Earlier phases are expected to deliver a journey of about five hours before further upgrades reduce the duration. 

Existing infrastructure already covers part of the route, particularly between Evora and the Spanish border. Technical validation currently underway may allow some completed sections to begin operating before the entire project is finished.

So where will the train stop? 

Proposed stops on the Lisbon to Madrid high-speed route are not yet confirmed but current planning outlines a series of key stops across Portugal and Spain. In Portugal, trains are expected to depart from Lisbon, with intermediate points including Poceirao and Evora before reaching a planned international station near Elvas, close to the Spanish border.

Crossing into Spain, the route plans to continue through Badajoz, followed by Merida and Caceres, before heading north to Plasencia. Further stops have been indicated in Navalmoral de la Mata and Talavera de la Reina, with connections into the wider high-speed network near Toledo before arriving in Madrid.

Service patterns have not yet been finalised, meaning some high-speed trains may operate non-stop between major cities while others call at additional intermediate stations. 

New track sections and river crossings

Development of the railway will include new track sections, improved signalling systems, and studies for a third Tagus River crossing near Lisbon. 

A positive step for the future between two great countries

The completion of the Lisbon to Madrid high-speed line will establish a direct rail link between the two EU capitals, replacing existing indirect routes. This infrastructure will boost commercial travel and tourism between Portugal and Spain, integrating the Iberian Peninsula into the wider European high-speed network where cross-border rail travel is standard.

With the high-speed connection currently scheduled for 2034 it will just miss out on the Spain, Portugal, and Morocco hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Despite missing the tournament deadline, the project still shows long-term commitment to improving international mobility. Once the service is up and running and fully operational, the faster transit times should strengthen regional ties for decades to follow. 

Big positive change is coming for Mijas, as the Town Hall approved a package of investments totalling more than 33 million euros at its April plenary session on Friday, April 24, with votes in favour from the governing team.

The funds, activated through a budget amendment, will be directed towards road infrastructure, sports facilities, public equipment, cleaning services, and water supply works. The package also includes the drafting of projects for street remodelling and pedestrianisation across the municipality.

A large portion of the investment is set aside for parking improvement

A significant portion of the investment is dedicated to Mijas’ municipal parking plan. The new car park in Mijas Pueblo will move forward with a budget of 6.5 million euros, covering both the project design and the tendering of construction works. The Los Santos car park, already under development, is set to open in the near future. Additional parking projects earmarked for project design and works tendering include Parque Andalucia, with a budget of 250,000 euros, and sites at Las Cañadas, La Candelaria, and El Juncal.

Other projects included in the amendment are the installation of new underground waste containers across the municipality, the renovation of the popular La Butibamba park, and the completion of the remaining sections of the Senda Litoral coastal path connecting to Fuengirola.

Roads and sports facilities are among the improvements included

Road improvements form another key part of the package. The council has allocated funding for the widening of the Camino de Coin between the Victims of Terrorism roundabout and the Camino de Campanales junction. The bridges providing access to the Gran Parque have received a budget of 800,000 euros. 2.5 million euros has been set aside for resurfacing the road network throughout Mijas. 

Great news for sports also with works at the Las Lagunas sports complex also included, with funding set aside for the design of a project covering the replacement of the grass pitch, as well as new storage and changing room facilities at the annexe football ground.

The Spanish Navy vessel Tambre has located and identified two torpedoes plus one naval mine dating back to the Second World War on the Mediterranean seabed, close to where fishing trawlers pass by.

Crew members aboard the minesweeper Tambre (M-33) made the find while serving with NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2, known as SNMCMG-2. Defence officials released details on April 23. One torpedo lay at a depth of just under 100 metres, adding complexity to the operation in this busy waterway.

Sonar operators first picked up several suspicious contacts on the vessel’s underwater detection systems. Experts then classified the shapes and positions as likely torpedoes and a mine. Technicians then launched the remotely operated vehicle Pluto Plus, fitted with sonar and cameras, to capture clear underwater images that verified the objects as Second World War ordnance.

Technical challenges at depth

Manoeuvring the Pluto Plus at 100 metres demands exceptional skill as its operators must maintain precise remote control while coordinating closely with the ship’s team. Images released by the Spanish Ministry of Defence show the torpedo resting on the seabed, its form still recognisable after decades underwater.

Such remnants continue to endanger commercial shipping and military vessels. Even long-submerged explosives can threaten safe passage across busy sea lanes if disturbed. For this reason, minesweepers still carry out regular surveys to detect, classify and, where required, neutralise these hazards.

Role of Spanish minesweepers in maritime safety

Participation in SNMCMG-2 forms part of wider efforts to protect freedom of navigation in ever busier waters. The Tambre contributes its advanced minehunting capabilities to the multinational group under Operation Noble Shield.

Torpedoes fired during wartime that missed their targets often sank to the bottom, where corrosion slowly degrades their casings over decades. Some retain live warheads capable of detonation if disturbed by nets, anchors, or dredging. Currents and storms can shift their positions, bringing them into contact with modern maritime activity.

Most modern encounters end safely thanks to protocols: crews report suspicious objects, avoid handling them, and allow naval explosive ordnance disposal teams to intervene with remote detonation. NATO mine countermeasures groups, including vessels like Spain’s Tambre, routinely locate and neutralise such items during patrols to reduce risks to shipping and fishing.

While fatal accidents have decreased with better awareness and equipment, the sheer volume of WWII remnants means occasional incidents continue. It is recommended that anyone encountering a suspected torpedo or similar device should maintain distance and contact local authorities immediately rather than attempt recovery.

In this instance, so that no one does venture to the sea floor in an attempt of salvaging the explosive, the authorities have understandably not released exact coordinates to avoid drawing public attention to the site.