The contract was made with the Italian company JSW Steel Italy Piombino SPA and foresees phased deliveries of the rail, which will be transported to Portugal by sea.

"The first ship with a load of 3,500 tonnes of 54E1 rail is scheduled to arrive in Lisbon between October 4th and 6th, after which, starting on October 7th, it will be transported by rail to the IP Logistics Centre at Entroncamento by rail freight company Medway", a press release said.

The transport of the rails will be carried out by three trains over seven days, IP said, adding that "this is a highly complex logistics operation, namely in the movement of wagons and technical reception of the rail".

A second ship will carry 3,850 tonnes of 54E1 rail, and should arrive in Lisbon on October 26 and the third ship with the remaining 1,250 tonnes of 54E1 rail will arrive in Lisbon on 20 January next year.