Lisbon's Metro and tram network is expanding
A Circular Line connecting Rato to Cais do Sodré is now targeted for early 2027, plus a longer-term Red Line extension and the first tram expansion in 70 years.
A new Circular Line is taking shape
Lisbon's Metro network is in the middle of its first significant expansion in years. The headline project — known as the Circular Line — extends the Yellow Line from Rato to Cais do Sodré via two new stations, Estrela and Santos, closing a gap that has long forced a change of line for that particular crossing. The line was originally due in December 2023; after repeated delays and a cost overrun that pushed the budget from around €210 million to roughly €380 million, Metropolitano de Lisboa is now targeting the first quarter of 2027 for opening, with test operations planned for late 2026.
A second, larger project is still working through approvals
Separately, and further behind, is a planned Red Line extension running from São Sebastião to Alcântara, adding four new stations — Amoreiras/Campolide, Campo de Ourique, Infante Santo and Alcântara — and connecting toward the 25 de Abril Bridge area. This project has environmental approval but has faced repeated administrative and legal delays; construction timelines have shifted multiple times, so travellers shouldn't expect it in the near term.
What this means for visitors
In the short term: nothing changes about how you get around today — see our getting around guide for the current network. Once open, the Circular Line's Estrela and Santos stations will make it noticeably easier to connect between the Cais do Sodré area (where trains for Cascais depart) and neighbourhoods further west without backtracking through Baixa. It's a genuinely useful change for a common visitor route, not just a locals' commuting improvement.
A first tram expansion in 70 years
Separately from the Metro, Lisbon's tram operator Carris has announced a new line — designated 16E — the first expansion of the tram network in over seven decades. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 with completion anticipated in 2027–2028, running as a first phase of a longer-term light rail plan. It's a slow-moving project, but a notable one for a network that's contracted significantly since its 1950s peak.
Nothing to plan around yet
None of this affects a trip booked for the near future — treat it as background context rather than something to factor into your itinerary. Check our getting around guide for how the network works today.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a new Lisbon Metro line opening soon?
- The Circular Line, extending the Yellow Line from Rato to Cais do Sodré via two new stations (Estrela and Santos), is now targeted for the first quarter of 2027 after repeated delays and cost increases.
- Will Lisbon Metro changes affect my trip?
- Not in the near term — the network visitors use today is unaffected while these projects work through construction and approvals.
- Is Lisbon's tram network expanding?
- A new line (16E) was announced as the first tram network expansion in over 70 years, with construction expected to start in 2026 and completion in 2027–2028.