Work Progresses on Salerno–Reggio Calabria HS/HC Rail Line
A new milestone has been achieved on the Salerno–Reggio Calabria high-speed/high-capacity rail project: on Lot 1A Battipaglia–Romagnano, excavation of the Serra Lunga tunnel has been completed, while excavation of the Sicignano tunnel has begun. It marks another step in the construction of 35 km of railway in the Province of Salerno, where works are being carried out by the consortium led by Webuild on behalf of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (FS Italiane Group).
This latest development features Leucosia and Mireille, two of the most advanced tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) operating for the Group in Europe. They reflect the engineering and construction expertise deployed by Webuild to deliver infrastructure commissioned by RFI that will transform rail travel across Southern Italy.
Serra Lunga is the second tunnel completed on Lot 1A, following Caterina, the first of the eight natural tunnels to be excavated using four TBMs. Caterina was completed by TBM Mireille, which had previously been deployed on Line 16 of the Grand Paris Express in France and subsequently refurbished by Webuild at its Terni facility. The facility was established to give these machines a new life in line with circular economy principles. After being relocated by approximately 400 m, Mireille reached the entrance of the future Sicignano tunnel, where it has embarked on a new journey of more than 2.5 km through the hills of the Sele Valley, between the municipalities of Buccino and Sicignano degli Alburni.
Meanwhile, between Eboli and Campagna, excavation of the 800-m Serra Lunga tunnel, completed in recent days, was carried out by Leucosia. One of three giant TBMs operating simultaneously on the project, Leucosia features a cutterhead more than 13 m in diameter. It is among the largest mechanical excavators in operation by Webuild in Europe. Its name, like those of the other TBMs on site, pays tribute to the mythological Sirens of the Gulf of Salerno. Working in a challenging geological environment characterized by highly variable ground conditions, Leucosia achieved peak excavation rates of around 15 m per day. The giant machine also completed the tunnel’s final lining by installing more than 2,900 precast segments, thanks to the work of over 100 specialized technicians operating on 24/7 shifts in full compliance with the highest safety standards.
Having completed the Serra Lunga breakthrough, Leucosia will be relocated over a viaduct in the coming months in order to reach the next excavation front: the Acerra tunnel (224 m). It will subsequently excavate the 1.2-km long Petrolla tunnel, which will be connected to Acerra by a railway viaduct. Work is also progressing on Lot 1A with the other two giant TBMs: Partenope is excavating of the Saginara tunnel, which at 3 km long represents one of the most demanding challenges along the route. Ligea is excavating the 2.2-km long Piano Grasso tunnel before embarking on the 1.5-km long Contursi tunnel. The two tunnels will be connected by viaducts over which the trains will pass.
Other construction activities on Lot 1A of the Salerno–Reggio Calabria high-speed/high-capacity rail line are progressing at a sustained pace, as the project enters its most complex and challenging implementation phase. Installation of the steel deck for the viaduct that will allow Leucosia to reach the Acerra tunnel has been completed, involving a total weight of more than 800 tonnes. Activities have also been concluded on another viaduct for the TBM’s subsequent relocation to the Petrolla tunnel, including the installation of a major steel deck weighing more than 1,300 tonnes. Excavation has started on two of the eight cut-and-cover tunnels included in the project, each approximately 1.3 km long. They are being done using the Milan Method, while excavation is underway on the 450-m long Cerreta natural tunnel, using conventional methods.
Lot 1A, whose works have been entrusted to a consortium led by Webuild and including FS Rail Construction, Ghella and Tunnel Pro, involves the construction of 20 tunnels and 19 viaducts. The project employs more than 2,000 people and relies on a supply chain of over 1,300 direct and indirect suppliers, around 80 percent of which are local companies. The project is contributing to job creation, skills development and the enhancement of the local productive fabric.
The intervention forms part of the broader project for the construction of the Salerno–Reggio Calabria line, a key section of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). It is one of the 21 projects being developed by Webuild in Southern Italy, representing a total value of more than €16 billion. They provide employment for a combined total of 10,300 people, both directly and indirectly, with 8,000 companies involved since the start of the works.
