Lisbon's Metro Circular Line Nears Completion — Santos and Estrela Stations Set to Open This Quarter

After years of delays, tunnel boring, and neighbourhood disruption, Lisbon's long-awaited Metro Circular Line is approaching its final stretch. The project — which will connect Cais do Sodré to Rato and introduce two entirely new stations, Santos and Estrela — is currently scheduled for commercial service in the second quarter of 2026, according to Metropolitano de Lisboa. If it opens on time, these will be the first new metro stations in Lisbon in a decade, since the Blue Line extension to Reboleira in April 2016.

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What Is the Circular Line?

The name refers to the transformation of the existing Green Line (Telheiras–Cais do Sodré) into a circular loop. Currently, the Green Line terminates at Cais do Sodré. The new extension adds a 2-kilometre tunnel from Cais do Sodré westward to Rato, passing through two new underground stations:

• Santos — serving the riverside Santos-o-Velho neighbourhood, popular with students and young professionals
• Estrela — near the Jardim da Estrela and the Basílica da Estrela, one of Lisbon's most visited landmarks

Once complete, the Green Line will loop continuously: Telheiras → Cais do Sodré → Santos → Estrela → Rato → and back, creating a true circular service. Passengers will be able to travel between the western neighbourhoods and the rest of the metro network without surface transfers.

Why It Took So Long

The Circular Line has been one of Lisbon's most troubled infrastructure projects in recent memory. Originally announced with a completion target of 2021, it was pushed to 2024, then to 2025, and now Q2 2026. The delays were caused by a combination of factors:

• Geological surprises: Tunnel boring through Lisbon's limestone and basalt proved more complex than anticipated
• Archaeological finds: Construction crews uncovered Roman-era and medieval artefacts in the Santos area, triggering mandatory excavation pauses
• Pandemic disruption: COVID-19 slowed work and complicated supply chains for specialised equipment
• Contractor disputes: Disagreements over cost overruns led to renegotiations between Metropolitano de Lisboa and the construction consortium

The total project cost has risen to approximately €331 million, funded in part by the EU's Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and European structural funds.

The Red Line Extension — Still Stuck

Lisbon's other major metro expansion, the Red Line extension to Alcântara, has fared far worse. The plan calls for four new stations — Amoreiras, Campo de Ourique, Infante Santo, and Alcântara — connecting the current Red Line terminus at São Sebastião to the western waterfront. A €322 million contract was awarded in late 2023, but the project has not yet broken ground. Legal challenges, administrative delays, and disagreements over the routing through the Amoreiras area have kept the project in a holding pattern.

Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz has said the Red Line extension remains a priority, but no firm timeline for construction has been announced. Most analysts expect it will not open before 2030 at the earliest.

New Tram Line 16E

In parallel, Lisbon's surface transit operator Carris unveiled plans for a new tram line designated 16E, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026 and completion expected between 2027 and 2028. The line would complement the metro by serving neighbourhoods not reached by underground rail.

What It Means for Residents and Commuters

For anyone living in or commuting through western Lisbon, the Circular Line will be transformative:

• Santos currently has no metro access — residents rely on buses, trams, and a steep walk to Cais do Sodré. A metro station will cut commute times and reduce surface congestion
• Estrela is similarly underserved, despite being one of Lisbon's most densely residential parishes
• The circular operation means no more dead-end journeys on the Green Line — trains will loop continuously, reducing wait times at interchange stations like Baixa-Chiado and Marquês de Pombal

For expats and tourists, the new stations will also improve access to the National Museum of Ancient Art (near Santos) and the Jardim da Estrela, both popular destinations that have historically been awkward to reach by public transport.

Metro de Lisboa operates daily from 06:30 to 01:00. Single journeys cost €1.80 with a Viva Viagem card, or are included in the Navegante Metropolitano pass (€30/month for unlimited metro, bus, and tram travel within the Lisbon municipality).